On the phone

Teacher on phone with parent: Mrs. Jones*, I’m not saying Billy* cheated. All I’m saying is he had a sheet of paper with the answers to the test on the floor under his desk, and every few minutes he leaned over and looked at it. And I don’t allow that kind of studying.

Bayport, New York

Suit on cell: I don't want you shooting blanks in the dark…

New York City, New York

Overheard by: Traci C

Engineer on phone to pumper: You gotta have the sucking and the blowing. (pause) Does he have liquid? (pause) That's why you gotta keep on blowing and sucking. (pause) Yeah, great, thanks.

Dallas, Texas

Child welfare worker on cell: I won’t be over at my client’s place long. I just need to go there real quick and see her child naked… Maybe I shouldn’t say this in the middle of a mall.

Woodland Hills Mall
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Overheard by: Bob

Receptionist: Hello! Thank you for calling Avon Safety*, where safety comes first. How may I direct your call?
Voice #1: How do I direct the call?
Voice #2: [indecipherable]Voice #1: I don’t know. That’s all it says…
Receptionist: Hello? This is not a recording.
Voice #1: She said it’s a recording.
Receptionist: No! This is not a recording! Hello?
Voice #1: What do I do?
Voice #2: Hang up.

Avon, Massachusetts

Overheard by: Fae

Man: *Erica, the phone’s for you.
Old coworker: What?
Man: It’s for *Erica!
Old man: Oh, ok. [picks up the phone] Hello?… Oh, hold on. [puts phone down] *Erica, the phone’s for you!

Washington Navy Yard
Washington, DC

Receptionist on phone: My body always tells me when it's time for a piece of beef.

Fairchild Court
Plainview, New York

Office girl: I gotta call Peter to tell him he forgot his balls.

Inkster, Michigan

Overheard by: Don't wanna see 'em

Office girl on phone: Am I coming into you or are you coming into me?

Melbourne, Florida

Overheard by: John

Coworker on phone: I believe the court will look unfavorably at you getting arrested, yes… Well, yeah, obviously a misdemeanor would be better than a felony… I am not saying it’s okay. I’m saying that the court tends to sort of get pissed off at you when you get arrested at all, but it’s even worse when you get arrested for a felony-level offense. What do you mean, you’re not planning on getting caught? You’re asking me about what your chances would be of getting your kids back if you got arrested… I’m pretty sure that’s a felony. And no, I don’t think the court will be lenient with you if you say you hold the drugs to make money to get your kids back. Not the criminal court or our court… Um, that’s definitely a crime. Okay. Bye [hangs up]… How weird is it that I felt like there was nothing wrong with that conversation until after I got off the phone with her?

425 Shatto Place
Los Angeles, California