Slightly Accenting Your Assumptions

(I work in an inner city betting shop and as such, we can have some pretty scary customers from time to time. One day, I’m having a chat with a scruffy looking but otherwise friendly customer I’ve never seen before when this happens:)

Customer: “You’re not from round here are you? Are you from [Major City on the other side of the country known for its distinctive accent]?”

Me: “Not quite! I’m from [Smaller City close to the other major city whose accent is very similar].”

Customer: “Oh, I love [Smaller City]! It’s beautiful up there isn’t it?”

Me: “It really is; I miss the countryside around it to be honest. I take it you’ve been?”

Customer: “Oh, yeah, I did ten years in [Small City Prison, famously one of the highest security prisons in the country]. I love it up there!”

(He turned out to be one of the loveliest customers in that shop. I never did find out what he did time for, though!)