9 out of 10 dentists surveyed recommend the 100 Word Challenge for their patients who engage in online literary challenges. This week's word is pleasure, and my entry is called "Service Time"
“My pleasure,” she said. It was the corporate line, drilled into them when they were trained. Just say it, regardless of whether you mean it, and after a few slipups, she incorporated it into her patois. “Number 4 Meal with Fries and a Sprite? Certainly. My pleasure.” Over and over again, for hour upon undercompensated hour. Pleasure was something to hoard, to be won, not a prize to be handed out to every caller. She sighed, careful not to let the mic pick it up. “Welcome to Chick Fil A, may I take your order?”, she asked with false cheeriness.
Customer service is sometimes the hardest to give, isn't it? I drilled it into my own daughters . . . the customer is always right (even if the customer is WRONG!) They are tops in CS now. :) Nice take on the word. Thanks.
ReplyDelete20 years ago I worked answering phones at a huge hotel in Nashville. When we answered, and the caller told us where to connect them, we were required to say "my pleasure" before connecting the call. I never understood what that meant in the context of a phone call.
ReplyDeleteLike your take on the challenge. Looks like your NaNo is rolling right along, huh?
Customer Service and fast food... I can only imagine that while being "one of the easiest" jobs, it's also the hardest. Great take on the prompt!
ReplyDeleteThank you all.
ReplyDeleteYes, NaNo is rolling, so far. I'm pretty much completely caught up-I have on pace to finish in November.
But of course, that's dependent on my being able to put in another 1667 words today.
It's busy, but terribly fulfilling.
That should say "I AM on pace to finish in November."
ReplyDeleteGeez, it's early.
There's something in your writing I haven't yet been able to put my finger on. An irony often, yes, but something more. I'll be chewing on that.
ReplyDelete