A Fresh Start

Brrrrrrring, brrrrrring, brrrrrrring.

 

“Hello.”

 

“Yes, one moment please.” 

 

“Mom, you’re wanted on the telephone.”

 

Have you heard that saying, if looks could kill?  I received one of those from my mother at that very moment.  I just smiled at her and handed her the receiver.

 

In a sweet, friendly voice my mother said, “Hello.”

 

“Oh yes.  Mmmmhmmmm.  Yes, uh huh, well, I don’t know if I would be able to, but I’m going to put my daughter back on the telephone because we were just talking about your dance studio the other day.  What a coincidence that you should call because I’ve been telling her that she should take some lessons and I’m sure she would love to take advantage of your offer.  One moment, please.”

 

“Shelly, this lady would like to speak to you.”  My mom smirked smugly as she passed the receiver back to me.

 

“Hello?”

 

“Well yes that sounds good.  Yes, I have been thinking of it.  So just to make sure I have this straight, do I get two free dance lessons with no obligation to purchase more?”

 

“Mmmm hmmm.  Oh well, I’m not sure when I have two evenings free right now.  I just joined another class and I have another meeting on another evening.  Do you know what?  This really isn’t a good time for me, but just a minute and I’ll let you speak to my daughter because I’m sure she would be interested.”

 

“Melissa, you’re wanted on the telephone.”

 

Melissa with tears of laughter running down her cheeks was trying to refuse to take the telephone receiver from me.

 

So I spoke more forcefully and loudly, “Melissa, you’re wanted on the phone…hurry up.”  I continued to smirk at her smugly, having deflected the dreaded telephone marketer call once again.

 

“Hello.  Yes, I would be interested, thank you.  I can make it for blah, blah, blah”

 

That my friends, is an example of how to ‘pass the buck’, or coupon as the case may be.