Agent Of Illumination

I went to the hardware store during the day to get a key made. The guy who was going to help me was very grizzled, long grey tangled hair; he limped and his face was in a decided scowl. I, on the other hand, was a guy who had the leisure to go get a key made in the middle of the day. I could see that he was disinclined to have anything to do with me besides key making. But next to the key machine was another machine that I hadn't seen before. I asked him if it was a knife sharpening machine, he said it was. I asked if it worked, he said, "It doesn't get them as sharp as I like them." He made it clear that he was disgusted. I asked if he sharpened his own knives (like I do) and that one question launched a long conversation about knives, sharpening stones, and techniques. It was a great chat, he lightened up and we parted in a friendly place.