Long-necked chicken

We’re in a restaurant known for its fried potato chips/cookie things. (Oily but good!)

One customer is having a jest with the owner. Both ladies of around the same age. The customer ordered a quarter of a chicken that comes served in chops, but shows her plate: “So much neck! There’s no meat on that! Does one chicken even have such a long neck? Is it possible?”

The owner says all chickens are divided into four quarters; left/right axis & top/bottom — and this customer just got the part with the neck, even though it’s chopped into pieces. In the end though, the customer does get some discount on her meal and they’re all friendly & laughing again.

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