A Good Number

Not infrequently, I’m at a business establishment and I receive this question: “What is a good number for us to call you?” Now I don’t know about you, but I usually try to give nonexistent or disconnected numbers when I want to be called back.

Right?

In fact, I often try to leave a fax number for people to call so that I can destroy the caller’s fragile ears. Not uncommonly, I carry a list of fax numbers in my phone or wallet just for that purpose.

All kidding aside, that question “What is a good number for us to call you” is one of the dumbest questions commonly encountered in commercial establishments across the United States. I think it ranks higher than, “Are you finished sir?” _ A question that occurs when I am still feeding my face with a plate full of food in front of me. I know they don’t say that stuff in Europe or any other civilized country.

Why the hell would I give a bogus number to someone, especially when I clearly desire to have him or her call me back?

Now, admittedly, this doesn’t apply to annoying and pushy salespersons who push me to give my phone number. In these cases of course, I say, “no thanks, bug off fella.” Or something along those lines. But sometimes when they persist, rather than punching them out like they deserve and watching their nose drip blood as they continue to beg, I may give them a false number, a fax number or better yet, the phone number to the IRS Oval office, er, I mean, office.

SRC