My wife wanted to make her famous Thai curry, so I was searching for a lime in the shop. Finally I found the limes and took a nice one. Coming back to her, she was talking to somebody. He was one of the workers of the shop, very overweight, had grey thin hair and grey stubble.
"Look who I found in the shop!", she exclaimed.
I had to look thoroughly and was lucky she helped me out: "It's Ralph! From the pub!"
Of course I knew: "Oh, now I see it! I didn't recognise you in that uniform. How are you doing, mate?"
He stood there with a bucket, a mop and had obviously just put out a sign. "Caution! Slippery when wet!" He must have had to clean the mess somebody had made, dropping a jar or a bottle.
We just stood there, so I asked him: "I never knew you worked over here. We have been in the shop a million times, never saw you before."
He looked a bit lost for words, answered finally: "I have been working here 27 years already. Time flies. It does not feel that long. I don't feel any older than when I started. I just asked your wife how old she thinks I am. What do you think my age is?"
When people ask this question it is always risky. Too young, you don't take them serious; too old, you are insulting them. I would have said something between 65 and 70, but did not dare to say it.
My wife helped me again: "I said that Ralph is 55."
Grateful I reacted: "I would have said the same."
Ralph looked happy with the answers: "I'm actually 60. But most people think I am a lot younger. I have a young appearance."
He looked at his bucket and mop: "I better get on with the job. I never understand why I always have to do these odd jobs. I never get the nicer tasks."
I reacted: "It's probably because of your young appearance."
He nodded and added: "Probably."
He turned around and shuffled away in his penguin style of walking.
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