i used to work in a call center for a roadside assistance company, from late 2015 to early 2016. it was easily the most miserable job iâve ever had, and the turnover rate was very high. people stuck on the side of the road tend to be quick to anger - understandably so - and it wears on you after awhile.
so i had been having a string of very time-consuming, draining calls. my line rings again, i steel myself for another angry caller, and i pick up. â[redacted] roadside assistance, how can i help you?â i chirp, in my Customer Service Voice.
âyeah, hi,â a gentleman with a thick southern accent responds. âmy motorcycle wonât start.â
i brace immediately for another long call. motorcycles were notoriously difficult to work with - a lot of insurance companies wouldnât insure them, and a lot of tow companies refused to pick them up because they require a specific sort of trailer.
âiâm sorry to hear that, sir. whatâs your current location?â
âoh, iâm just at my house. i was wondering if it would be okay for me to just load it into my trailer and take it to my buddyâs shop. would that interfere with my insurance?â
i click through his account and am Relieved to discover heâs in the clear. âNo sir, it looks like youâre good to go. Can I help you with anything else?â
A pause. âHave you heard the good news?â
My Anxiety, which had been receding, suddenly spikes into the fucking stratosphere. I live in the rural south. The âgood newsâ usually means âJesusâ and i was in no mood to be proselytized to for god knows how long.
i steel myself for the Religious Talk. âWhat news, sir?â
âMcDonaldâs is now serving breakfast all day!â
I laughed so hard I almost cried. I hope that guy ate as many hashbrowns as he could.