Inability to tell the time...long

[penniless student]

Well, I've finally quit my part time job in a facilities management office to concentrate on university studies... those pesky finals start next month! So here's one from my first ever out of hours shift. Now... although we are a facilities management place, we also answer the phones for *city* council between the hours of 6pm and 8am. My shift was 6-11pm, and boy, do you get the loonies.

This took place a while ago, so forgive me if I'm a bit sketchy on the details....

Background information: We have a directory of extension numbers etc if people know who they are asking for. Otherwise, as we are out of hours, we only have the information available to the general public.

Me:
CFL: Crazy Fireworks Lady

Me: Opening spiel

CFL: Yes, I was wondering what you knew about a firework display that took place last night. It scared the life out of me, I thought guns were going off! I couldn't find any information about this. The public need to know what is going on!! *rant continues*

Me: *Hurried search through *city* council web pages. Nothing. Hurried google. Nothing.* I'm sorry Madam, I don't seem to be able to find anything about this either, but we are the out of hours service, if you would like to call back between the hours of 8am and 6pm there should be someone...

CFL: *cuts me off* It was ridiculous, I called the police, and they came round, and even THEY didn't know it was supposed to be happening!

Me: Yes mada....

CFL: *continues to cut me off and ramble on about police and how RIDICULOUS it all is* So can I log a complaint with you?

Me: No madam, this is the out of hours service, but...

CLF: Well! Can you take a message then???

Me: No madam, because I am located in a completely different office, but I can.... (was going to say put you through to the messaging service of the complaints department)

CLF: So if you can't take a message, and you can't log a complaint, what CAN you do?!?!

Me: I'm sorry madam, but if you call back during office hours...

CLF: What are office hours?

Me: Between 8am and 6pm

CLF: But it's not 6pm yet!!!

Me: It's... um.... twenty to seven, madam.

CLF: Oh... *mumbles*... well in that case if YOU CAN'T HELP ME I'll not waste any more of my mobile phone bill talking to you, but really... *proceeds to rant on for about another 10 minutes (literally) about the police and how stupid the whole business is, meanwhile my call stats are falling through the floor, I'm about ready to strangle myself with my headset cord and my coworker is in absolute hysterics!!*

She did, finally, hang up. I have many more... am supposed to be writing an essay but will keep them coming in my breaks!

[Dips]

They happened the night before she called? Meaning she waited until after business hours the next day to call and complain? Some sense of urgency there.

The story also reminded me of one of my late neighbors. We live near a gravel pit and they blast with dynamite once or twice a day. It's loud and it makes the ground shake a bit. The first time I heard it, it startled the heck out of me.

This poor lady called the police every single day when it happened. They'd explain that it was the blasting from the gravel pit. She'd accept that.

The next day she had forgotten and would call the police again.

The police came up with a creative solution. They asked the owners of the gravel pit to call the lady and let her know just before they set off each blast. As long as she was warned it was coming, she'd be OK and wouldn't call the police.

God bless them, they did it. They didn't have to, but they did it until she passed on.

[Sliceanddice]

.... six words: stupid teenage boys and intentive parents.... nothing more