When my husband and I showed up at a very popular restaurant, it was crowded.

I went up to the hostess and asked, "Will it be long?" The hostess, ignoring me, kept writing in her book.

I asked again, "How much of a wait?"

The woman looked up from her book and said, "About ten minutes."

A short time later, we heard an announcement over the loudspeaker: "Willette B. Long, your table is now ready."