Rude Dude

I’m always on the lookout for possibilities of earning extra income, so when I saw a promising ad on an online jobhunting site yesterday I copied the contact person’s name and her office and mobile numbers. The following happened earlier this morning, and the dialogue below approximates what I remember from the phone conversation:

Late morning. I lift the receiver and dial a landline number. I wait a moment.

MALE VOICE: (Effeminate-sounding): Hello?
ME: Good morning. Is this [name of publishing company]? I’d like to inquire about the ad—
MALE VOICE: Kunwari ka pa. Kilala kita. Nakikilala ko ‘yung boses mo.
ME: (Taken aback) Excuse me?
MALE VOICE: Huwag mo na akong lokohin, Donnie. Boses pa lang, kilala ko na. Ikaw iyan.
ME: I’m sorry, but I think you mistake me for someone else. I’m Mr. Alvin [my surname], and I’d like to inquire about the ad your company posted at the JobsDB—
MALE VOICE: Ang kulit mo, Donnie. Nasa akin lahat ang mga applications, at walang [my name] sa mga iyon, kaya tigilan mo ako. Ang kulit mo.
ME: (Exasperated) I am NOT Donnie. May I please talk with Ms. Zapata?
MALE VOICE: (Slightly condescending) At nakuha mo pang magalit. She will only be here after lunch. Okay? Goodbye. (Quickly hangs up)

Annoyed, I take a moment and look at my filofax. I dial a cellphone number and wait.

FEMALE VOICE: Hello. Yes?
ME: Good morning. Is this Ms. Zapata?
FEMALE VOICE: Yes? May I know who’s this?
ME: Hi Ms. Zapata, my name is [my name] and I’d like to inquire about the ad you posted at JobsDB.com, about your company looking for writers and editors. I called up your office earlier and the one who answered mistook me for someone else and insisted that I was that person.
FEMALE VOICE: (Shocked) Oh I’m so sorry about that. I’m really sorry.
ME: What time may I call your office so that I can talk with you over the landline?
FEMALE VOICE: I’m actually on the road, on my way to the office and will have my lunch. You can call me after lunch. Again, I’m really sorry. I will talk to him about it.
ME: Okay, Ms. Zapata. I’ll call after lunch.
FEMALE VOICE: I’m really sorry, Mr. [my surname]. I’m truly am. I’ll expect your call.
ME: Thank you. Goodbye. (Ends call)

Early afternoon. I dial the office landline number again. I wait a moment.

MALE VOICE: Hello?
ME: (Slightly cold) May I please speak with Ms. Zapata?
MALE VOICE: (A beat) Are you the one who called earlier? Mr… Mr…
ME: MR. [MY SURNAME]. May I talk with Ms. Zapata?
MALE VOICE: Oh, about your call earlier, I apologize for that. I’m really sorry. I really thought—
ME: (A bit impatient) Could you please forward this call to Ms. Zapata?
MALE VOICE: I truly apologize for what happened earlier. I’m really, really sorry, sir.
ME: (Indifferent) OK. (Insistent) May I please talk with Ms. Zapata?

I am put on hold. After a moment, I hear MS. ZAPATA’S voice.

I really hope he got a nasty memo. That should teach him, the fuckup.