“May I have a word with you?”

said A to B and C.

“The only English word that works,”

said B to A and C,

“is the one that starts with C

and ends with me, the B.”

“That’s right,” said C

to A and B.

“Let’s get ourselves in line.”

“Do you mean to make the word,”

began the letter A,

“or to line up to get in

the word someone will say?”

“Oh, never mind,”

said B to C.

“A always thinks he’s first.

Riding in a cab with him

will surely be the worst!”