(I’m clearing away salad plates from an old couple’s table. The wife’s entree doesn’t need a knife, so I pick up her dirty knife.)

Wife: “You can just leave that here. I don’t want you to have to replace the one dropped on the floor.”

Me: “Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize—”

Wife: “No, no. He hasn’t dropped it yet.”

(I leave, confused. A few minutes after I bring them their entrees, I hear a clatter. I turn to see the husband has dropped his knife on the floor.)

Wife: *gives me a thumbs up*