It's happening more and more often these days with the new, improved garbage service, my garbage not being picked up, that is.
"Solid waste."
"My garbage wasn't picked up."
"Where do you live?"
"Can you spell that."
"Are you calling about the new bins?"
Now this is important, say nothing about bins or answer yes because then your garbage really won't get picked up.
"No, just my regular garbage pickup."
"I'll pass this on to the supervisor."
Click.
Time passes.
Redial the number, which I should save in my phone already.
"Solid waste."
"Yeah, my garbage wasn't picked up."
"See here you called before. It takes one to two business days. I'll pass this on to the supervisor."
Click.
Time passes.
Redial.
Busy, busy, busy.
Finally a ring.
"Solid waste."
"Um, my garbage wasn't picked up, and it's been more than a couple of business days."
"Where do you live?"
"Can you spell that?"
"You called before. We have a skeleton crew on Mondays. It'll be picked up tomorrow."
Guess Mondays don't count as a business day either.
Click.
Time passes.
Redial.
"Solid waste."
"My garbage still hasn't been picked up, and it's almost the end of the day. I don't want it missed again."
"Where do you live?"
I spell it this time.
"I see you called before. It'll be picked up tomorrow."
"But you said that yesterday."
"Well, it's not the end of the day. They come round in that small pickup, you know, up till 6 o'clock."
"So there's still time for them to pick it up today?"
"Is your garbage outside ma'am?"
"Yes." With the bugs and vermin and cats, and God knows why it isn't strewn from one end of the street to the other by this time.
"They'll pick it up. I'll pass this on to the supervisor."
Click.
Time passes.
My finger hovers over the redial. Really can't face calling Solid Waste again; maybe it's time to call my councillor's office already. They take care of things like this. But wait, what's that I hear. An engine. Look outside. Garbage gone. Thank you God. Until next time.
"Solid waste."
"My garbage wasn't picked up."
"Where do you live?"
"Can you spell that."
"Are you calling about the new bins?"
Now this is important, say nothing about bins or answer yes because then your garbage really won't get picked up.
"No, just my regular garbage pickup."
"I'll pass this on to the supervisor."
Click.
Time passes.
Redial the number, which I should save in my phone already.
"Solid waste."
"Yeah, my garbage wasn't picked up."
"See here you called before. It takes one to two business days. I'll pass this on to the supervisor."
Click.
Time passes.
Redial.
Busy, busy, busy.
Finally a ring.
"Solid waste."
"Um, my garbage wasn't picked up, and it's been more than a couple of business days."
"Where do you live?"
"Can you spell that?"
"You called before. We have a skeleton crew on Mondays. It'll be picked up tomorrow."
Guess Mondays don't count as a business day either.
Click.
Time passes.
Redial.
"Solid waste."
"My garbage still hasn't been picked up, and it's almost the end of the day. I don't want it missed again."
"Where do you live?"
I spell it this time.
"I see you called before. It'll be picked up tomorrow."
"But you said that yesterday."
"Well, it's not the end of the day. They come round in that small pickup, you know, up till 6 o'clock."
"So there's still time for them to pick it up today?"
"Is your garbage outside ma'am?"
"Yes." With the bugs and vermin and cats, and God knows why it isn't strewn from one end of the street to the other by this time.
"They'll pick it up. I'll pass this on to the supervisor."
Click.
Time passes.
My finger hovers over the redial. Really can't face calling Solid Waste again; maybe it's time to call my councillor's office already. They take care of things like this. But wait, what's that I hear. An engine. Look outside. Garbage gone. Thank you God. Until next time.
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