It's Friday night, and Lilith and her friends Leonard, Lulu and Liam plan on an all-night movie marathon. Leonard has rented several videos, and Lulu and Liam have brought the wine. They're all pretty hungry and decide to have some pizza delivered. Lilith makes the call.

Picasso: Poppi's Pizza Palace, Picasso speaking. What can I get you?

Lilith: Hi. Yeah, I'd like to -- what? Your name's Picasso? Did you say "Picasso speaking"?

Picasso: Yes, ma'am, that's right. My mom majored in art history, and my dad was an art history prof. You get the picture, I think. Anyway, would you like to order a pizza this evening, ma'am?

Lilith: Well, yeah, let me think now. Umm, I need to make a rather large order. I hope that's okay.

Picasso: Our aim is to please here at Poppi's. We guarantee prompt delivery within 45 minutes of placing your order, with your pizza still piping hot. Order away to your heart's content.

Lilith: Cool. Okay. First, I want two large double pepperonis, one thick, one thin. On the thick one, add mushrooms and onions. And make the thick one double cheese, too. And then, I want olives and green peppers added to the thin pizza. You got all that?

Picasso: On the thin pizza, ma'am? Do you want black olives on that, or would you prefer green?

Lilith: Oh, I have a choice?

Picasso: That you do.

Lilith: Okay, then, well, make it, umm - green. Yeah, green olives.

Picasso: All right. That's two large double pepperonis. One thick with double cheese, mushrooms and onions. The other thin with green olives and green peppers.

Lilith: Yes, that's right.

Picasso: Do you want double cheese on the thin crust pizza?

Lilith: No, no thanks. Also, I want to order one medium, four-cheese veggie, with a whole-wheat thin crust. And can I choose the vegetables?

Picasso: Like I say, we aim to please. What would you like?

Lilith: Both red and yellow sweet bell pepper, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil leaves if you have any.

Picasso: You're in luck, ma'am. Poppi brought some fresh basil back from the farmer's market just this morning.

Lilith: What're the four cheeses, Picasso?

Picasso: Well, first mozzarella and Monterey Jack are shredded and mixed together and sprinkled on top. Then feta cheese is crumbled onto the pizza. Next go on the veggies, and last but not least fresh, hard, finely-grated parmesan is sprinkled all over the entire works. How's that sound?

Lilith: My mouth's watering already.

Picasso: Anything else, ma'am?

Lilith: Yes, in addition, I'd like three small pizzas. One with a thin crust, another four-cheese, but without any veggies except for sun-dried tomatoes. One thick-crust Canadian bacon and pineapple with double-cheese. And, I guess, make the last one a thick-crust crab and shrimp pizza. That'll be it, I think.

Picasso: Okay. Two large double peps. A thick double cheese with shrooms and onion. And a large thin with olives and peppers. A whole-wheat medium garlic four-cheese with basil, sweet bell and sun-dried tomatoes. Three small. A thin four-cheese with sun-drieds. One thick double-cheese ham and pineapple. And one thick crab and shrimp.

Lilith: Yes, that sounds just right. My address is 1330 Willow Lane.

Picasso: 1330 Willow. Okay, ma'am, the total comes to, at $18 a piece for two large pizzas, $13 for the medium, and $8.50 each for three small, all together that'll be $74.50.

Lilith: Hey, you guys, it's about seventy-five bucks. Everybody shell out. Okay, Picasso, thanks.

Picasso: It's 11:30 now, so your pizzas will be at your door by fifteen past the witching hour. Sounds like a movie marathon.

Lilith: You got it.

Picasso: Enjoy, and thanks for calling Poppi's.

Lilith: Thank you, Picasso. Talk to you next time. Bye!

About the Author

Douglas Ellsworth is an expat Oregonian resident of Taiwan. He works as a translation editor for a central government bureau that handles international trade and economics issues. His online interests can be ascertained by visiting http://www.chasochasm.ws