When is a Tuna Roll not a Tuna Roll?

I had a strange experience whilst innocently getting my lunch yesterday. The conversation between me and the shop assistant (Roll Preparation Co-ordinator) was as follows:-

Me: “Can I have a tuna roll please”?

Roll Preparation Co-ordinator: “Do you want butter on that”?

Me: “Yes, just a bit thank you.”

RPC: “Fine, do you want tuna on that”?

WHAT!!! Had I heard her correctly? Was it not a tuna roll I had asked for? On the basis that I had in fact asked for a tuna roll would it not be likely that I would want tuna on the roll? What else would I be likely to want on a roll, having asked her for a tuna roll? Surely the definition of “tuna roll” would be a roll with tuna cunningly inserted into it.

Perhaps “Can I have a tuna roll” is some sort of spy code? If so maybe she was merely making absolutely sure that it was a tuna roll I was after and that I wasn’t really telling her that a Top Secret Agent involved in Project Underpants was ready to deliver his briefs.

I paused momentarily, not wanted her to see that I was somewhat flummoxed, shot her what I hoped was a winning smile and said “Yes, tuna please”, before grabbing the roll and diving out of the door to try to make sense of my encounter.

The tuna roll tasted OK though, but I think that the next time I go in, I will ask for a tuna roll and then complain when they don’t put cheese salad in it instead.