annafugazzi | Order of the Fenex

For his dad's birthday this year, EK made him a cross-stitched phoenix:

Dad was pleased. And instead of making it into a cushion, he wanted it framed. So this week I took it to a framing store.

Clerk: *gives extensive, informative and very helpful suggestions re. frames*
Me: *nods and says uh-huh a lot*
Clerk: All right, then, I'll type up the estimate... *types in size, frame, etc.* Hm... what would you call the picture... *types in Flaming chicken under "description"*
Me: LOL! Yeah, I guess it does look a bit like that.
Clerk: *blinks, a bit startled*
Me: Like a chicken. It's actually a phoenix.
Clerk: *keeps blinking*
Me: You know, a phoenix? Rises from its ashes? *pause* It's a mythical bird. It dies in flames, then it's born again out of its ashes.
Clerk: OK... *smiles vaguely* So... do you want me to type that in, then?
Me: *struggles not to snicker* Yeah, sure.
Clerk: *types in Fenex*
Me: *struggles some more*
Clerk: I'll put "flaming chicken" in brackets, though, for the other staff, in case I'm not here when you come to get it done. Just so they know what it means.
Me: Um, yeah. Thanks. That'll... that'll probably help. *keeps straight face on till safely out of store* *snorfles on the street*