A curious encounter

I was speaking with a man at the supermarket today.  He asked what I was doing here in America, and when I told him I was studying the harp, he said:

‘The harp! YES! The cello of the opera!’ 

I have no idea what that means, (as I pointed out, VERY firmly)*  but I know that I like it.

I think that’s what I’ll tell people from now on.  

Next time someone asks me whether I wished I played the piccolo, I shall laugh merrily, shimmy over their feet with my MASSIVE harp, then tap them firmly on the nose and say, ‘But I do! The harp is the piccolo of the roller disco!’ 

And then walk away, harp in tow, with a stride far more majestic than fits the situation.

*No, I didn’t really. But can you imagine??

…

 ’The harp! YES! The cello of the opera!’ 

 ’Nono. That doesn’t mean anything.  I think you’ve got what you just said mixed up with something that makes sense.  Good day sir.’ 

End Scene

p.s. I realise I used the word firmly twice in a very short space.  But sometimes you just have to do things firmly, and no other word will do.