Targeted With Military Imprecision

(I’m training a new employee and this is the second week. They still have a piece of paperwork that needs to be finished with a member of the training department.)

Me: “So what time did [Training Manager] say they would be available for the paperwork?”

Trainee: “She said anytime after a thousand.”

Me: “A thousand? A thousand what? A thousand clicks? A thousand steps? A thousand minutes? A thousand what?”

Trainee: “I don’t know! That’s all her message said, “after a thousand.”

Me: “Okay, can I see the message? I need to figure this out so we can schedule time for you to be away from training.”

(They show me the message; I take a moment to collect myself so I don’t laugh.)

Me: “Okay, that’s ten-hundred. That’s 10:00 am.”