"Mug-nificent." Earl's careful fingers slid along the rim of a beautiful, brand-new Wedgwood Jasper Conran Chinoiserie Green cup he had just received from the auction. "The deep emerald color, the impeccable inner whiteness, that shiny but unobtrusive handle... Ahh, if you were full of tea right now, I'd say you would be too hot to handle." Perhaps the pun wasn't the best, but Earl was alone in his store at this early hour, and all the antique cups in there never really minded his humor. "Now then, you go there on this shelf and don't conspire with others, I don't want a cup d'etat." With a giggle, he placed the Wedgwood cup onto the nearest shelf.

The doorbell suddenly rang a high porcelainy sound, and Earl turned towards it, ready to face his first client of today.

"Welcome to 'Earl's World of Cups'!" With a nod of his head, he looked at you expectantly. "Please, take your time to look around, dear cup-stomer."