Merci

Seated around a table we can see seven Italians, one Greek, one Welsh, and a Spanish. One of the Italians at the end of the table asks the Spanish, who sits at the centre, if please could you pass me the bottle of water. Twice. Both events are neatly split in time, causally disconnected. On both occasions the Italian acknowledges the action with a low yet audible, French, Merci! The fact does not go unnoticed by the Spanish, and triggers a barely perceptible little grin. Only his mind, the Italian's, knows the reasons to play such a trick on him.