Do I Know You?

By Jerry Mack Grubbs

A phone call I received at 12:14 pm . . .

Phone ringing . . . (Me speaking) This is Jerry.

(Caller speaking) Who is this? (Me) Jerry Grubbs. Who were you looking for?

(Caller) I dialed 910-8986. (Me) No, you dialed 910-8989. You misdialed.

(Caller) I dialed 910-8986 so why did you answer the phone? (Me) You didn’t dial 910-8986, you dialed 910-8989. You need to hang up and redial the number you were trying to dial.

(Caller) Who are you? (Me) I’m Jerry Grubbs.

(Caller) Do I know you? (Me) No, I’m the guy you called by mistake.

(Caller) Are you a directory assistance person? (Me) No, I’m just the person you called when you misdialed.

(Caller) If you aren’t a directory assistance person, how do you know what number I should dial? (Me) You told me the number you were trying to dial when you misdialed and called me instead.

(Caller) Should I try to dial the other number 272-6781? (Me) I don’t know who you are trying to call. You just need to hang up and redial the original number 910-8986.

(Caller) Who is at that number? (Me) I don’t know, you were the one who told me that number.

(Caller) Should I try to call the other number? (Me) Which number?

(Caller) 272-6781. (Me) Just hang up and redial the same number you were trying to dial when you called me.

(Caller) Whose number is that? (Me) I don’t know whose number that is. You are the one who gave me that number.

(Caller) What number? (Me) Look, you just need to hang up and dial your same number 910-8986 again.

(Caller) I already dialed that number and you answered. (Me) No, you dialed 910-8989 which is my number not the number you were trying to dial.

(Caller) Are you a directory assistance person? No, I am Jerry Grubbs, the person you called by mistake.

(Caller) Who did you say you were? (Me) I’m Jerry Grubbs.

(Caller) How did you get my number? (Me) I didn’t get your number, you called me. Who are you trying to call?

(Caller) Loa. (Me) Who is Loa?

(Caller) My wife. (Me) Would you like for me to call your wife and have her give you a call?

(Caller) Do you think I should call her? (Me) No, I asked you if you would like for me to give Loa a call?

(Caller) Do you know her number? (Me) Yes, I have your wife’s number.

(Caller) Where did you get my wife’s number? (Me) From you.

(Caller) I didn’t give you Loa’s number. (Me) Would you like for me to call her and have her call you back?

(Caller) Okay.

Phone call I made at 12:21 pm . . .

Dailing 910-8986 . . . ringing . . . (Recorded Voice) I can not come to the phone right now. Please leave a message and I will return your call.

(Me) Loa, this is Jerry Grubbs. You don’t know me but I have been speaking with your husband and I think you should give him a call. He seems to be confused about a few things. You are welcome to call me but please give your husband a call. I repeat, he just seems confused but I didn’t get the feeling that he was having an emergency.

Phone call I received at 12:38 pm . . .

Phone ringing.

(Me) This is Jerry. (Loa) Hello, Mister Jerry. This is Loa Clawson the person you called earlier.

(Me) I’m not a mister, I’m just Jerry. Loa, did you get my message? (Loa) Yes, and I am so sorry that my number is close to your number. My husband has Alzheimers and he has been very confused today.

(Me) Loa, please don’t apologize, that is the beauty of the telephone. If I hadn’t wanted to help I could have just hung up. What you are facing is much more challenging than a misdialed phone number. I wish you the best in your life’s struggles and challenges. (Loa) Thank you Jerry for being kind to my husband.

(Me) Loa, how would you have treated my mother in a similar situation? (Loa) With kindness.

(Me) Then we are even aren’t we. (Loa) Does your mother have Alzheimers?

(Me) Loa, that isn’t the point. The point is that you would have treated her with kindness. (Loa) But you didn’t know that when my husband called you.

(Me) I treated your husband the way I chose to see him. (Loa) I hope you never get this awful disease.

(Me) Me too. (Loa) Goodbye Jerry and thank you again.

(Me) Goodbye Loa.

Phone call at 1:49 pm . . .

(Me) This is Jerry. (Dad) Hello son. Where are you?

(Me) It is good to hear your voice dad. I’m glad you still know who I am. (Dad) What did you say?

(Me) Nothing.