Another temp adventure

Sorry for the posting pause, folks, but I've been working a LOT and trying to justify the expense of the gym I go to, so I haven't been home a lot lately and haven't had internet access at work *sob.* It just so happens I'm all alone at the office today. If I haven't returned your calls or e-mails lately, I'm very sorry. Today, you just might get lucky.

A few days ago I worked a day at a switchboard at a major company in downtown Jackson. It was a little challenging, as I had people calling for well over 100 people and there wasn't really a good employee list, but I did alright. However, it's one of those systems where anyone from anywhere in the building can call out and the same number will show up on the caller ID, and it's the switchboard number, so if you call back the number on the caller ID, you won't get the person that called you, you get me.

Got all that? Good. Some people don't. And are very rude about it, too.

Temp: Good morning, name of major downtown company.
Caller (Girl, about 15): Somebody called me from there.
Temp: This is name of major downtown company, are you working with anyone here, or do you know anyone here?
Caller: No, who called me?
Temp: I'm sorry, ma'am, I don't know who would have called you. This is the name of major downtown company switchboard, and any one of over a hundred people could have called you and this number would have shown up on your caller ID.
Caller: You don't know who called?
Temp (getting impatient as 3 other lines are lighting up): No ma'am, I'm sorry for the inconvenience.
Caller: THIS NUMBER showed up on my caller ID. Did YOU call me?
Temp: No ma'am. Anyone in this building could have called you and this number would have shown up.
Caller: Make sure it doesn't happen again.

So I hung up on her. Rude? Probably. I had 3 other lines ringing while Miss Power Trip deliberately misunderstood my explanation. I did, however, send out a memo to the entire company letting them know to never call that number again.

One danger of living in the Deep South and not having been born and bred here is the accents. I've gotten used to a lot of it but there are times where I just cannot understand - especially when the caller is on a cell phone.

Temp: Good morning, name of major downtown company.
Caller: Izz Jawess thaya?
Temp: I'm sorry, ma'am, I didn't quite understand the name.
Caller (a bit louder): JAWESS.
Temp: What department please? (A genius attempt to stall while trying to figure out what in the world this woman has just said.)
Caller: Ah'm sawray, ah don't know thayat. Izz Jawess Lastname.

So I hung up on her. I'M KIDDING. I finally realized she was asking for Joyce and happily transferred her. I hope Jawess isn't a transplant, too. Might've been a rough conversation.