Customer: “My mother is dying at **** Hospital. She is prearranged through you.”

Me: “I see her file right here, sir.”

(I talk about our funeral home’s services.)

Customer: “Now, could you go ahead and run her obituary tomorrow?”

Me: *confused* “I thought she hadn’t passed away yet.”

Customer: “She hasn’t, but I would like to go ahead and run the obituary.”

Me: “Sir, I’m afraid we can’t do that. We need to wait until she actually dies.”

Customer: *unhappy* “Well, if you say so.”

(The woman did not die for another 8 days.)