someone at the work cafeteria asked me how I was when I bought my food

Long ago when I worked the desk at a hotel, I greeted a guest with “Hi, how are you?”

With a look that conveyed the long difficult day he’d had, he replied “Are you actually asking, or just making small talk?”

“ Just fulfilling my end of the understood social contract” I replied, my practiced smile unwavering.

His head cocked sideways and his expression went blank as he contemplated this for a few moments. Then he forced a smile and put a dash of lilt in his voice as he replied “In that case, I’m fine! Thanks for asking! Checking in please?”

😂