TWO CALLS

One day last week I received only 2 phone calls the whole day.

The first call started out, “May I speak to the person in charge of this business?” He said he was Dave, calling (from India) to verify this was the number and address for the Superpages online. Since it was my personal unlisted phone number he was calling, and the address was my home and not my business I stayed on the line to straighten things out.

Dave of India was not a patient man; he read the disclaimers at 100 mph and when I asked for clarification he told me not to interrupt, and started the schpiel again from the top.  I spent about 15 minutes with Dave - both of us completely aggravated with each other.

The second call started out, “May I speak to the person in charge?”

I said, “…of?”

The caller said, ’I’d like to speak to the lady of the house.” 

I said “Who is this?”

Then he identified himself as an old friend calling to make a donation to my not-for-profit Arts organization.

There was a clear moment of light and freedom and I heard the replay of my tone of voice; the one geared up for Dave of India, the one that was full of disdain and resentment – the tone of voice I imagine I’ll hear in others that prevents me calling to ask for help.