December 5th
Silverware
As far back as Penny could remember, she was always baffled at the etiquette of the Creighton Ward antique silverware. Her father stressed quite strongly that she MUST learn how to use the cutlery, if she was to become a Lady. Whatever that meant.
So, every year, without fail, the large collection of silverware came out of the cupboards, was unwrapped from its tissue paper, and the staff meticulously cleaned it.
She knew what that meant. Yet another crash course on what fork to use for what dish. She'd been to many homes, and they never went through this rigmarole. And so patiently, she sat there, reciting each course, and what piece of cutlery was to be used.
It was tedious, but since the Creighton Wards were a 'traditional' lot, it was just one of those things that she had to endure.
It came in useful one particular time, however, when the newly appointed Prime Minister attended a banquet alongside Royalty. Sitting to his left, she discreetly tutored him on table etiquette, and was quite impressed when he managed to get through all the courses without embarrassing himself too much.