Thursday, August 21, 2003

I’ve just added the Just Call Me The Yellow Pages category because of the myriad phone calls I get here at the office with requests for other phone numbers.

This just in:

ME: US Marshals Service.

HIM: I’m wondering if you have a national directory? I got a call from a friend who got a call from a friend in the middle of the night that shook her up pretty bad and I want to be able to help her but I don’t know who to contact. (He went on about how the caller was mentally ill.)

This is going to be a beaut. I recognize the area code on my caller ID as being from the western part of Virginia, so already he’s got a strike against him - I know he thinks he reached HQ.

ME: There is no national directory, sir. Your best bet for something like that is to check the internet....

HIM: Sure, if we had the internet. She doesn’t have it and I don’t have it at home. We’re in Lynchburg and the caller is in Pennsylvania.

ME: Well, I’m not going to be able to help you much. Do you know where in Pennsylvania?

I was thinking I could give him the USMS number to a field office up there. Heh.

HIM: No, I have no idea.

What the? Then how on earth do you expect to know who to call then? Good grief.

ME: Well, I think you’ll need to get some additional information before you can start calling folks up there then. I’m sorry I can’t help you.

HIM: That’s OK, thanks.