to answer, or not to answer?

Ever notice how someone's phone can be completely silent until it's their turn to order at a restaurant or checkout at a store? It's like there is some force out there that knows the most inopportune time for a phone to go off and will make sure that is the only time it rings. Or someone's sole purpose in life is to call you at the exact moment that is not convenient for you.

Maybe there is another life force out there that gets its kicks out of making phone calls to people at the right moment to tick off the cashier or fast food worker. Aliens. Who knows, they could be out there.

And they definitely have access to cell phones.

Whether from some type of terrestrial being, or a part-time call-at-the-wrong-moment employee, there has to be an answer as to why the phone rings just as a customer comes up to my window.

You know, I wouldn't really have a problem if people could just ignore their phone for the 60 seconds it takes to process their transaction, but that would be too easy (and I wouldn't be able to post this article on phone calls, right?). People act like if they don't answer their phone right away, they will risk losing the lottery or a natural disaster will occur. When their cell goes off, they seem to say things like, "Whoa, I gotta take this call lady, or I'm gonna be evicted from my apartment!" Or, "Hey, if I don't answer this, then the sky really will be falling tonight."

Seriously?

Or there are the people who come in with their Bluetooth in their ear, looking like they mean business, and you never know if they are talking to you or the imaginary person on the other end of the line.

There are times when, after jumping in on their personal conversation more than once because I thought they were talking to me, I accidentally ignore them when they really are talking to me.

Awkward!

Sorry, didn't know you were actually talking to me this time.

At one of these moments, the customer I was helping, randomly says, "This is not the way to start off a relationship."

ಠ_ಠ

Sorry, did I do something to offend you? And I wasn't aware we had progressed to the point of an assumed relationship -- I met you like, not even 8 seconds ago...

There are also times when a customer needs to call another financial institution or company before they can complete their transaction at my window, whether it's to verify some information or get an all clear sign to proceed. These said customers take it upon themselves to solve their problems on the phone.
In my window.
While a line starts to form behind them.

It's not like we provide a lobby area, complete with comfortable, cushioned chairs, for their convenience.

No, we don't do that (insert sarcastic reading voice). We're not that nice (eye roll).

So this weekend, I will be spending my time googling to find out which planet these phone calls come from, and also how to fire a laser gun.

the end.