What I get paid for

As probably very few of you know, I am employed by one of the umpteen college bookstores in town, and it is my job to make sure that the textbooks that no one wants to pay for and even fewer people want to read are on the shelves when the semester begins. People may not appreciate my job, but it freaking rocks so there. Anyway, one of my favorite things to do at work is place orders because talking to publishers in New York and Boston is almost like talking to publishers in Uzbekistan. I had a very wonderful experience with a publisher in San Francisco today, but it really works better as a dialogue, so bear with me.

Jeri: Order department, this is Jeri.
Sarah: Yes, hi, Jeri, I'd like to place a textbook order please.
Jeri: I'll need you to fax the order to me.

So I fill out a coversheet on which I ask Jeri to please verify the price information (publishers are notoriously bad about this), I fax the order, and I get back to other bookstore business. And then about an hour later the loudspeaker blares that there's a call for me, so I hurry to the phone and it's Jeri.

Jeri: Hi, Sarah, I didn't realize that you wanted me to expedite this order. I'll need a credit card number.
Sarah: Ok sure, no problem. Oh, could you tell me the price of the book and if the store gets a discount?
Jeri: Well, since you're only ordering one book you technically shouldn't get a discount, but you sound sweet so I'll give you 20%.
Sarah: Oh wow, great! Thanks! Can you tell me the total and the confirmation number?
Jeri: Well, I'll have to email you the total once the order processes, but if you'll wait just a few minutes I can give you a confirmation number.
Sarah: I don't mind waiting.
Jeri: Ok. Well, since it's going to be a while we might as well chit-chat. How's the weather in Texas?
Sarah: Oh, it's nice. A little chilly, but sunny and nice.
Jeri: You know, I've been to your school before. People are VERY friendly there. Like, "Howdy y'all!" and "Yes ma'am."
Sarah: People aren't like that in San Francisco?
Jeri: OH NO! But I'm from New Orleans so I like friendly people.
Sarah: Oh really? I'm actually going to New Orleans over Spring Break.

And BOY did that get Jeri going. For the next 15 minutes Jeri told me where to eat, what to see, and how not to get mugged in New Orleans. At the end of the conversation she said, "Now Sarah, if you have any more questions about New Orleans you just call me!" As soon as I hung up the managers were all "Sarah? Spring break? New Orleans? WTF?" It was a super laugh. And then one hour later an email popped into the bookstore's inbox that read, "Hi Sarah! It was great talking to you about the greatest city in the world except for maybe Bangkok. Here's the information about your order. Take care! Jeri." You too, Jeri.