A Busload Of Garbling
I’m a community nurse who works with patients who live at home. I get a call from a patient who is due to attend a clinic in my office that day.
Patient: *Garble garble* “—make it—” *Garble* “—bus is—” *Garble*
I can’t hear most of what he is saying because he is obviously standing next to an idling bus that is making too much noise.
Me: “[Patient], I can’t hear you. Can you move away from the bus a bit?”
The patient remains standing next to the bus.
Patient: *Garble garble* “—TOO LOUD, I CA—” *GARBLE* “—YOU!”
Me: “[PATIENT]! MOVE. AWAY. FROM. THE. BUS! I CAN’T. HEAR. YOU!”
I repeat this about four times at increasing volume.
Patient: *Mumble, mumble*
The bus sounds move away.
Patient: “What did you say? I was trying to say that I couldn’t hear you because of the bus.”
Me: *Face-palm*
When he arrived, he said he was trying to call to say he would be late because the bus had broken down.
Question of the Week
Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?