Setting: My colleagues and I are buying dinner at a food stall. I’ve gotten my food and waiting for my colleague to get hers before we head back to the office to tuck into our food.
My mobile phone rings. I look at the screen – An unfamiliar number that doesn’t exist in my phone book. Nonetheless, I answer the call.
Acquaintance R:
Is that Jo-an? (My No.1 pet peeve – people calling me Jo-an!)
Me: Eerrr, this is Joan.
R (sounding embarrassed):
Oh *pause* sorry. Oh hi Joan, this is Ruth…from CS? (That’s Communication Studies – my course of study at uni)
Me: Yes Ruth?
R:
Oh, I’m just wondering if you would be interested in some financial planning schemes. I think by now you should have worked for quite awhile and should have some savings. I’ve been in this line for two years already and maybe I could help you.
(At that point I felt like bursting her bubble and tell her that I’ve only just started work and have spent most part of the time after graduation pursuing postgrad studies. Ha!)
Me:
Uh-huh. But I’m not interested in any financial plans at the moment as I already have plans on hand already. (which is true!)
R:
But we could still have a chat and maybe some of the different plans can fit into some of yours. Which days and times are better for you to meet?
Me:
Ummm….I don’t think so. I already have other financial plans.
R (sounding disappointed):
Oh ok. But don’t get the wrong idea ok? (So tell me, what exactly is the right idea?)
Me:
Well, if you really want, maybe you could just email me the stuff you have.
R (still sounding disappointed at her failure in securing an appointment):
Oh ok. Well, we’ll keep in touch yah? (sounding earnest)
Me:
Er, ok. Bye.
I press the red phone icon on my Nokia to end the call. Then I start bitching to my colleague about R who really should start getting people’s names right first before she goes soliciting business. She must have gotten my number from the contact list where everyone in the cohort left their contact details before graduating.
How insincere can one get? She probably can’t remember how I look like! We hardly spoke in the four years in uni! And she calls after 2 years upon graduating and wants to keep in contact? Pppurrrr-leeeaaaseee. Spare me.
Eeeks.