Beware The SARS! The SAAAAARSSSS!!!

(During my tenure at a major department store, we had a customer who would call all the time to have us shop for her over the phone. She was a chatty one and often just wanted to talk. This happens when a certain respiratory disease from overseas is very much in the news.)

Me: *answering phone* “Thank you for calling [Store] better sportswear. This is [My Name]. How can I help you?”

Customer: “Hello, dear!”

Me: “Hello, Mrs. [Customer]. How are you today?”

Customer: “I’m doing fine, dear, but I was calling to check up on you and the other ladies there. I know lots of your clothes are made in China, and I’m worried about the SARS. Has anyone there gotten sick?”

Me: “No, we’re fine. I… I don’t think SARS can travel on fabric.”

Customer: “Check on that, please; I’m just worried about you all there with all those clothes in from China.”

Me: “I certainly will, Mrs. [Customer]. You take care.”

Customer: “Oh, you too, dear. Watch out for the SARS!”