The youth selling rabbits on the side of the road had a large sign to catch the eyes of motorists.
It proclaimed that the rabbits for sale were of the highest quality. It also carried the declaration that they were ‘Bespoke Rabbits’, this was in large red letters. The animals in question were squirming around in a sack. The seller, a rough-looking youth in tatty clothes and a dirty face sat on an upturned milk crate. He occasionally lifted the sign and waved it around to attract attention. He was positioned just before a layby section, allowing prospective buyers to park while negotiating prices. The English teacher from a local school, who happened to be passing, couldn’t resist pulling in. With a smug look, he approached the seller.
“Young man,” he began, “I feel you have a gross misunderstanding of the word ‘bespoke’”
The youth looked around in a shifty manner. “These are top quality rabbits, mate. They are definitely bespoke.”
The man said, “No. They can’t be.”
“They certainly are, I speak for the high quality of them personally!”
The man grinned. “Look. If something is bespoke it means that it is made to an individual order; in other words it is custom-made.”
The salesperson faltered. “Well, there you are, then. I personally placed each rabbit into the sack individually. I’m now prepared to take individual orders.”
The teacher was gobsmacked at the youth’s sense of entrepreneurship.
He bought one.