This happened today afternoon :
It was a rainy afternoon when I decided to call the customer service of an online bookshop to check on an order. After a brief wait, a friendly female voice answered on the other end of the line: “Good afternoon, how can I help you?”
I explained my issue, and she started entering my details into her system. While she worked, there was a moment of silence. Suddenly, I heard two quick sneezes in succession.
“Excuse me!” she said quickly, sounding a bit embarrassed.
“Bless you,” I replied politely. A few seconds passed, and then I heard three more sneezes, almost like a little series. Once again, she apologized.
“Bless you—again!” I said with a smile. I could sense how uncomfortable she felt as she tried to continue speaking, but her voice sounded strained, as if she needed to sneeze again.
It was as though she was fighting an invisible force. Finally, after a noticeable pause in her breathing, she couldn’t hold back anymore and sneezed twice in a row.
“I’m so sorry!” she said again, this time almost sounding desperate. Her voice was slightly muffled, and I could imagine her trying to regain control of the situation.
“No problem,” I said reassuringly. “Bless you. Are you dealing with a cold or allergies?”
She sighed softly and explained, “No, this is totally normal for me. Once I start sneezing, I just can’t stop. My family and friends always tease me about it.” As she spoke, I could hear her struggling against another sneeze. It sounded almost like a “false alarm,” stopping at the last second.
“I know exactly what you mean,” I said. “The same thing happens to me! Sometimes it just won’t stop, and I completely understand how uncomfortable it can be.” She chuckled quietly, but I could tell she was beginning to feel a bit less self-conscious. “How many times do you usually sneeze in a row?” I asked curiously.
“Usually at least ten to fifteen times,” she said, and once again, I heard her suppressing a sneeze. “Sometimes even more.”
“Well, then there are still a few to go,” I joked. “I’ll jot down some notes in the meantime. Take your time and let it pass. Oh, and if it won’t come out—looking at bright light often helps. It works for me every time.”
She thanked me, and I heard her take a deep breath. A few seconds later, the first sneeze came, then the second and third, followed by an entire series. I heard soft sniffles, and after a brief pause, it happened again: ten, eleven, twelve—I counted silently until the fifteenth sneeze. Finally, it was quiet again.
“That’s all of them now,” she said, sounding relieved.
“Bless you—for all fifteen sneezes,” I said with a laugh. “Shall we continue now?”
“Yes, thank you for your patience,” she replied, and I could hear the smile in her voice. The rest of the call went smoothly, except for two more sneezes, which no longer seemed to bother her. She was more relaxed, and we discussed everything we needed to.
As we wrapped up, I said, “The next time I have a sneezing fit, I’ll definitely think of this conversation.”
She laughed warmly. “Thank you for your understanding—this has been such a pleasant call. Have a great day!”
We hung up, and I thought to myself how even a simple call to a bookshop could turn into such an unexpected and memorable story.
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