Kitty Litter

“Sandy” (not her real name but close enough), one of the new girls at the office, was shellshocked as she spoke on the phone earlier today. She later approached me to tell me a strange and infuriating story, part of which I’d overheard but decided not to ask about.

A bit of background is necessary to understand the situation. Names have been removed to prevent identification. (A section I edit for) joined (a big Valentine shindig) last February and gave away prizes in cooperation with (a popular toothpaste brand). “Sandy” was assigned to inform the winners of…well, their wins…and to take care of distributing the prizes.

Thing is, “Sandy” had to go off on several marathon shoots with the rest of the staff. Given the grueling schedule, I am grateful I got to vegetate in the office. I don’t recall ever answering a call from a bitch named (okay not her name but close) Vivah Vovah, but when she called this morning, she haughtily informed “Sandy”, “Ako yung nanalo ng prize.” (I’m the one who won a prize.)

(Duh, as if there weren’t any other winners?) “Sandy” is mild-mannered, and didn’t rise to the bait; instead, she asked who the person was.

Vivah Bobah arrogantly replied with her name, and then told “Sandy” her secretary had been going to the office and calling to claim her prize. But no one ever tried to claim a prize for Vivah Bobah. Unless Bobah’s secretary happens to be the Invisible Woman.

I know there were some idiots who came to the office without calling first, and who tried to blame me for “not letting them know” the prizes weren’t available. Like that’s my problem? I always told them, “I was not involved in this; I handle a different section. If you have a complaint, wait for the section people to come back and take it up with them.”

For persistent pests, my response was, “I’m not in charge here. I edit another section, and I can’t help you. Sorry.” Though I was irritated at the pushy, know-it-all ones, I tried my best to be polite, even taking their numbers down and leaving notes for “Sandy”.

One woman even went as far as to suggest that she open the (toothpaste brand) boxes herself so that she could “save a trip”. Our office messenger Mang Mario prevented the boorish bitch from doing so, telling me later he was afraid he’d be blamed if something disappeared.

Now, not all winners were like this. Some were decent people who came to the office and who, upon being informed that the prizes could not be released since the person in charge was out, actually apologized for the inconvenience! Others called and, upon being told the same, cheerfully said they would just call back. None of these people, though, was Vivah Bobah or her alleged secretary.

Anyway, Vivah Bobah called this morning already in a fighting mood, and she found poor, patient “Sandy” on the other end of the line. “Sandy” explained the reason for the delay in giving out the prizes, and apologized sweetly.

Not good enough for Vivah Bobah. She proceeded to berate “Sandy”, claiming her secretary had made many trips to the office and had wasted lots of time calling the office to find out when she could claim her prize. When “Sandy” apologized and told her she could claim her prize anytime. Vivah Bobah then sarcastically asked “Sandy” if she was going to be in the office all afternoon, then said, “Siguruhin mong hindi ka out to lunch pagdating ng secretary ko.” (Make sure you’re not out to lunch when my secretary arrives.)

Bobah then inquired about her prize. “Baka naman iisang toothpaste lang yan,” she snarled. (Is it just a single tube of toothpaste?) Undaunted, “Sandy” fired back, “No ma’am, it’s five.” Whereupon Vivah Bobah sarcastically told “Sandy” to keep it for herself because she might need it more. I was astounded to hear “Sandy” apologize then thank the lout for calling.

There is no excuse for Bobah’s behavior. “Sandy” owed her nothing. To call the office already in a towering snit over something else and then to take it out on whoever answers the phone is just plain stupid. Vivah Bobah was lucky I didn’t answer the phone as I’d’ve told her to fuck off. Sure, if her story was true—which I highly doubt, since I was answering the phones in the weeks the staff was out—then she’d have a right to be pissed. But since she was probably lying about her secretary and the calls, what right did she have to be angry?

Was there a point to all the unpleasantness? Had Bobah been pleasant, she could have filed her alleged complaint and probably gotten free delivery of the prize as consolation for her suffering. But then I doubt she understands that approach. Too many Pinoys don't, and prefer to throw their weight around (see Ian Casocot's true story about "momsters" for more horror). (The comments from witnesses in the comments page of that entry deserve to be read as well.)

For that matter, correct me if I’m wrong but if you win a prize from a random drawing, well, it’s a gift, not a right.

Why do people have to be this rude? “Sandy” was completely blameless in the episode. I suspect Bobah was inflamed further by “Sandy”’s refusal to fight her. But that’s even more stupid. How pathetic does your life have to be for you to have to pick fights with people who haven’t done anything to you?

I did realize one thing: no matter how nice you are to some people, some people really are out to just take things out on someone else. And there’s nothing you can do about it. It isn’t fair? Here’s a cliché to answer that: Life isn’t fair.

It just sucks when life is unfair in your direction. A lot.

Labels: small annoyances