I picked up what we call at work the "must answer" line. That means when a person hits "0" on their keypad instead of leaving a voicemail, the call bounces out and rings to all of the phones in my department.

"May I help you?" I ask.

"Yes, I'd like to talk to Ms. So and So OR Mrs. Such and Such, and I DON'T want voicemail", the guy says in a snotty voice.

I look at my watch, it's 12:40, it's lunch hour. "neither one is in just now", I say. "Such and Such is at lunch and she'll be back within the hour, So and So is out and her office light is off, so I don't know if she'll be back." I say.

"Don't you keep track of people there?" he says.

"I don't report to So and So (she's my boss' boss) sir, so she doesn't usually tell me where she's going."

I'm trying not to be snippy, but if you call almost any office between the hours of 12 and 1, it seems to me the chances of getting voicemail are HIGHER. But maybe that's just me.

"So they'll both be back this afternoon", he says.
"I believe so, yes." I say.

"Thanks for all your help." He says in that snotty tone of voice that lets me know he doesn't mean a word of it.

sheesh.
No wonder I hate talking on the phone.

I should have transferred him to a fax machine.