Postcards from the Imagination: Are Americans Getting Stupider?

I have a lot of reading to do tonight, and since Seth's down in Cambridge for the evening, I just wanted to order a pizza and get busy. JUST--ha!!

Pizza Joint Employee: Thank you for calling the Pizza Joint, pick-up or delivery?

Me: Delivery.

PJE: And your phone number?

Me: 555-5555

PJE: OK.........that's ___________ Plaza?...oh, wait, no, I mean Place?

Me: Yes. Apartment XXX.

PJE: (dismissively) Right, right, right. What can I get for you?

Me: Just a medium pizza with extra cheese.

PJE: OK......(long pause)

Me: Can I order a medium, or do you only have large and small?

PJE: Oh no, we have medium, but I can't find it. We have a new computer system.

Me: Oh, okay.

PJE: Found it. OK.......(another long pause). Sorry, I can't find the extra-cheese button, but I'll make sure I tell them.

Me: Okay.

PJE: Ok, that'll be $11.50 and it'll be ready in 35-40 minutes.

Me: And that's for delivery, right?

PJE: R-i-g-h-t.

Me: I just wanted to check, because you said it would be ready in 35-40 minutes, not delivered.

PJE: Y-e-a-h......(long pause).

Me: Do you need anything else from me?

PJE: You're total will be $12.25. I forgot to put in the delivery. $12.25 and it'll be there in 35-40 minutes.

Me: Thanks.

I'll bet it has mushrooms and anchovies when it arrives.

So...? Did it have anchovies?! The suspense is killing me!

No, no anchovies. The delivery man got a little lost after I buzzed him into the building, but eventually my pizza arrived sans fish or fungus. ;-)

Whew. That's a relief.

Postcards from the Imagination