How do I warn visitors that the biscuit tin is full of buttons?
Funny'How many biscuits would you like?' I asked my friend, holding the familiar round tin.
I opened it and found buttons, elastic and a small tape measure. Mum said, 'That one's been sewing for years.'
It has. I knew that. The tin lives on the kitchen shelf, and I still automatically offer its contents whenever someone comes over. Last month my brother accepted the same offer and held out a plate.
Mum enjoys the reveal and says it's a harmless family tradition. My friend laughed but then asked whether we actually had any biscuits. We didn't. I felt as though I'd advertised a snack and delivered haberdashery.
Should I move the tin, add a label, or simply stop making the offer? Mum doesn't want her sewing things moved, and I don't want to turn every visit into a warning about misleading containers.