I was on the phone with an associate when another associate rang the other line. “Could you hold for a moment?” I said, and transferred the connection. “Yes, hello?” I said. “It is paramount that you listen carefully,” he said. “What could it be?” I said. The call dropped. I was trying to redial when a third associate began calling in. I gulped my coffee and answered. “You won’t believe the news,” she said. “The news?” I said, when suddenly another associate walked in through my door and spoke above the phone. “I was thinking we could maybe get a tuna for lunch,” he said, hands on his hips. “I apologize, but I missed the news,” I said. “The news?” he said. “I spoke no news.” “If you could repeat yourself,” I said. “I said,” he said, “that I spoke no news.” “How do you feel about it?” she said. “About what?” I said. “About the developments,” she said. “I keep losing you,” I said. “Losing me?” he said. “I was wondering about lunch, is all.” Another associate poked his head through the door. “I have your associate on the line in here,” he said, “and he’s very cross about how long you’ve had him on hold. He’s threatening to go straight to upper management.” I transferred the call to the associate. “I’m sorry for the terrible wait,” I said. “The wait?” he said. “You’ve hardly kept me waiting at all.”