Insights from a person of questionable sanity

Saturday 10th March.

I was working for the Careers Service at my university (I am no longer so in need of a job to pay internet bills...lol...therefore, if you want to keep me about please donate generously! ) I've worked there as an administrator but since January this year I was working as a telephonist to conduct a national survey. It is basically call up our recent graduates to find what they are up to, whether they're working or studying and where etc. etc.

There were some hilarious incidents, like one of my colleagues had to call someone called 'Yeu Ling Hang'. So she dialed the number and said 'May I speak to Yeu (you)'. It turned out that this person had moved away but the person at the other end thought it was a prank call! 'Can I speak to 'You'. 'Yes. You are speaking to me.' 'Is this 'You'?' 'Yes. This is me.' :-)

On Saturday something rather extraordinary happened to boring old me!
Each of us is given a name list to get through. So I was half way through. I dial the number and this man picks up. He sounds normal enough. I introduce myself, that I am speaking on behalf of my university and the purpose of my call and a little information about the survey. I then ask him if he has time to answer a couple of quick questions. He agrees.

Sop the first question on my list is 'Are you working?' He replies no.
Me: Are you studying then?
Him: No:
Me: Right. So you're not studying and you're not working? (I'm thinking in my head 'LOSER'. What the hell are you doing than.)
Him: No. Not doing anything.
Me: Right, ok last question.... (I have to skip to the end because he isn't working and he isn't studying. I imagined him to be a lazy bum)
Him: Well...you see.... [pause]. I'm not doing anything [voice a little high pitched]-
Me: Yes, I know. Don't worry about it. I wish you the best of luck-
Him: I've been looking after my wife.
Me: oh ok. Is she not well?
Him: She was terminally ill and I was looking after her for the past year until she died. So thats why I've not been doing anything. i was looking after her.

You can imagine how '****e' I felt. What do you say in a situation like that?
I apologised for bothering him. He said its ok. Normal civilities exchanged. I hanged up. Had take a few minutes out to calm myself.

But life went on and the world kept turning.

But I can't get him out of my head. I can't remember his name but I can still hear his voice and it has got to the stage where I know if I don't write about this guy he will keep haunting me. Its like hes begging to be written about, anyone, someone! So I'm doing a short story on him. Might put it up here later! Obviously I've made some bits of stuff...it could be that his wife has just died and he hadn't told anyone and I was the firs person. Could be he killed her himself (euthanasia). And then he slits his wrists and waits patiently by her side. i haven't made my mind up yet! I don't have a fixed plot in my head.

I have to go and eat something before I drop from starvation.

Goodnight, and Good Luck.