The first one was from the Duchy itself, Luxembourg, the second came across from England and the third man from nearby France.
The only three things all three men had in common was that they were professional politicians, never elected in their present roles by universal suffrage and their lust for food.
So they decided to share a meal at lunchtime and each was allowed to order one plate for their three course luncheon.
The Luxemburgian ordered snails. "They may be slow moving slimy and - for some - disgusting looking animals, hiding their heads iwhen threatened and carrying their own feces on their backs, but for whom is open minded and patient enough, as long as we soak them in garlic at the appropriate temparature, with the right tools, they eventually become delicious, easy to swallow and extremely nutritious", he justified.
The Englishman voted for salmon. "An aminal naturally keen to go against the tides, which only makes it stronger and more delicious over time, whether they are swimming in Scotland agains the will of the British Union or in Norway against the influences of the European Union", he explained. "Furthermore, science has proven that salmons always inevitably return to their origin, the place where they first spawned".
The Frenchman voted for cheese. "It is the only possible choice", he said. "Only the French have been able to turn an excess of sour milk into one of the world's most refined amuse bouches, demonstrating our early vision towards an environmentally sustainable society". He also admitted that "it allows us to fill our bellies and restaure ourselves, just in case we will not be able to digest the previous platters".
What Juncker, Johnson and Barnier had for lunch in their meeting yesterday is pretty much the only news the world received and that itself should tell us something on what was communciated, suspected, but not made formally known.
So after three years of hectic popular debate in streets and in parliaments (preceded by decades of less noisy and intense arrangements on surrounding matters), and all the corridor and backstage wishpering we sort of accept to be inevitalby associated with politics, matters get resolved over a face to face meal in less than three hours.
And that's how it has been for most of human history, hasn´t it ?
The only difference in today's 21st century is that words travel much faster and in much more directions than the intended recipients, cultivating a wide perception of power to the people.
But, for now, that is all it is, a perception.
What this will come to mean for the Union in Britain is a totally different matter.
