Conversation with the Man

I never answer the phone if the caller ID doesn’t identify a number or a person, but some no-name caller was ringing my phone several times a day so I finally picked it up.


“Hello, I’m calling from the police drug enforcement bureau, how are you today?”

“I’m okay.”

“Great. Do you know why I’m calling?”

“No.”

“You don’t?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Well I’m calling because the war on drugs is in a crucial situation now with all the meth out there. I’m sure you’re aware.”

“Yeah?”

“And we’d like to give you a sticker that shows that you are with us in the fight against drugs.”

“Listen, I...”

“I’m calling today to ask, if we were to send you an envelope in the mail with one of these stickers, would you be able to make a contribution?”

“How would you know where to send it?”

“Don't worry. We know where you live.”

“Uh, money is pretty tight around here, Let me talk it over with my wife.”

“That’s true for everybody these days, but if we were to send you one of these stickers do you think you could dig deep and keep the kids off drugs?”

“We’re really having to limit how many donations we...”

“It don’t matter how much you give but for the sticker do you think you could afford forty bucks? This money is also going to a fund for the families of slain police officers.”

“Well, go ahead and send me the materials...”

“Before we send the sticker, will you make a pledge for forty bucks?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“I really need to have a pledge today.”

“Let me...”

“Can I have a pledge of forty bucks?”

“No.”

“Okay, thank you.” CLICK.