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Overheard a conversation from a couple cubicles down from me today.
(I work in a state government agency, by the way.)
A woman from another department (let's call her Marie) approached my co-worker (let's call her Sandra) and asked for some information. This is not uncommon. In fact, I think I've seen Marie come through our department before, so she knows how stuff works. Today, she forgot.
Marie: Hi, Sandra. I need to find a Form 20.
Sandra: Ha-ha. Good luck!
Marie: Ha-ha. Yeah. Anyway, it's one that came in today, so I know it's in your area somewhere.
Sandra: Probably, but we got almost 700 of those today.
Marie: Uh...
Sandra: Do you have the form's tracking number?
Marie: ... no.
Sandra: Well, do you have the person's name?
Marie: No.
Sandra: This is going to be hard, then. How about the county it was supposed to come from?
Marie: No, I don't know that either. But I need to find this form for <complicated reason>.
Sandra: Sure, and I'd like to help you find it, but I still don't know which of the 700 you might need. How about the person's rep?
Marie: No, sorry.
Sandra: Do you have anything?
Marie: Well, I know it came in today.
Sandra: ...
Marie: By mail. It came in the mail.
Sandra: So not UPS or FedEx? Well, that rules out about four of the 700.
Marie: <dramatic sigh!> Well... I guess I'll just have to go back upstairs and try to pull up something for you.
Sandra: <all smiles> Okay! We'll be here!
Marie stormed out of our department, and none of us saw her again the rest of the day. Guess she didn't need that form after all...
(I work in a state government agency, by the way.)
A woman from another department (let's call her Marie) approached my co-worker (let's call her Sandra) and asked for some information. This is not uncommon. In fact, I think I've seen Marie come through our department before, so she knows how stuff works. Today, she forgot.
Marie: Hi, Sandra. I need to find a Form 20.
Sandra: Ha-ha. Good luck!
Marie: Ha-ha. Yeah. Anyway, it's one that came in today, so I know it's in your area somewhere.
Sandra: Probably, but we got almost 700 of those today.
Marie: Uh...
Sandra: Do you have the form's tracking number?
Marie: ... no.
Sandra: Well, do you have the person's name?
Marie: No.
Sandra: This is going to be hard, then. How about the county it was supposed to come from?
Marie: No, I don't know that either. But I need to find this form for <complicated reason>.
Sandra: Sure, and I'd like to help you find it, but I still don't know which of the 700 you might need. How about the person's rep?
Marie: No, sorry.
Sandra: Do you have anything?
Marie: Well, I know it came in today.
Sandra: ...
Marie: By mail. It came in the mail.
Sandra: So not UPS or FedEx? Well, that rules out about four of the 700.
Marie: <dramatic sigh!> Well... I guess I'll just have to go back upstairs and try to pull up something for you.
Sandra: <all smiles> Okay! We'll be here!
Marie stormed out of our department, and none of us saw her again the rest of the day. Guess she didn't need that form after all...
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