Flossed Over Half Of The Information

Me: *Picking up the phone.* “Hello, you’ve reached [Dental Office], this is [My Name] speaking. How can I help you?”

Caller: “I need to find out the timing of an appointment for my spouse, John Smith.”

Me: “Err… We don’t have anyone by that name. Could I have the patient’s last name?”

Caller: “Yes, it’s Smith [And Then A Bunch Of Other Syllables I Left Off]. Didn’t you hear me?”

Me: “Ah, yes, I have found a patient with the name John-[Lots-More-Syllables] Smith-[Lots-More-Syllables]. His appointment is on [date].”

Caller: “I need to reschedule it.”

Me: “Okay. May I ask the nature of the scheduling conflict, so that I know what options to offer you?”

Caller: “He is in the hospital. Didn’t you hear me?”

Me: *Wondering when my hearing supposedly gave out.* “Oh dear, I’m sorry to hear that. Do, err, do you have any idea when he’ll be out?”

Caller: “I need to cancel it entirely. Didn’t you hear me?”

Me: “Yes, I can see how that might be simpler. Why don’t you call us when he is released with a clean bill of health?”

Caller: “Did you cancel the appointment? I need to make sure, since you don’t seem to be listening.”

Me: “…Yes, the appointment is canceled.”

Caller: “Thank you. Good-bye.”

I wonder how she’s going to react the next time she tries to order a sandwich and only gets the half she said out loud.