Schooled at the drive-through

I consider myself pretty effective at communication.  It is a skill that is required in my field.  I send messages in a corporate environment and even teach some classes.  I believe that clear communication is somewhat important.

I pulled into the drive-through of a local fried fish fast-food establishment for lunch today.  I was in a bit of a rush.  A product of today's budget crunching environment is the typical question "would you like some condiments."  I was lucky enough to be asked this time and I replied "one of each."  I received a simple nod and the window closed.  Now, my usual request is: one cocktail sauce packet, one tartar sauce packet, one ketchup packet and one malt vinegar packet.

The employee handed me my bag of food with a smile and I drove away.  When I arrived back at work and began pulling my lunch and condiments from the bag, I issued an audible laugh which garnered looks of concern or confusion from some co-workers (I couldn't really tell which).

My meal was simply a piece of fish, a piece of chicken, a few shrimp and a smattering of french fries.
From the bag containing my lunch, I extracted:

1 ketchup packet, check
1 tartar sauce packet, check
1 malt vinegar packet, check
1 cocktail sauce packet, check

along with:
1 hot sauce packet
1 lemon juice packet
1 buffalo wing sauce tub
1 spicy thai dipping sauce tub
1 ranch sauce tub
1 condiment cup filled with barbecue sauce
1 condiment cup filled with honey-mustard

Literally, one of each and every condiment in the establishment as I had requested.  Touche, drive-through employee, touche.  I had no idea they even had some of these sauces.  Words mean things and I failed the test.  Thanks for the humorous reminder and I'll be more specific next time.