FIRST IMPRESSIONS …

“HELLO, IS THAT MARY P?” Ouch. Lordy, this woman is loud.

“Yes, it is.” I move the phone a couple inches away from my stricken ear.

“I GOT YOUR NAME FROM AN AD IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE?”

“Ah, yes.” I pull the phone another couple inches out. A loud mother is pretty likely to have a loud child.

“MY BABY IS NINE MONTHS OLD.”

Another couple inches. And can I really deal with this volume for the next three years?

“I’LL NEED DAYCARE FOR LATE JUNE…”

My ears are still ringing. My arm is almost straight out. No, I can not.

“AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WOULD HAVE ANY SPACES?”

I suppose I could prop the phone against the back of the couch… Or, I could just…

“I’m sorry, I’m fully booked for at least a year.”

“OH, THAT’S TOO BAD! WELL, THANKS ANYWAY! I GUESS I’LL JUST KEEP ON PHONING AROUND.”

“Sorry about that. Good luck!”

“BYE!”

Phew.