The Result of Talking to Strangers

The phone rings and Sheeta, who is at a friend’s house, answers the phone. Her friend Emily comes in just as the conversation starts.

Person A: Hi

Sheeta: Hello

A: Um, who is this?

Sheeta: (pause, Sheeta quickly confers with Emily) my name’s Akmal.

A: Akmal? What kind of name is that?

Sheeta: Heeeeeeey! My mother gave me that name!

A: Oh. Okay. (pause) What’s your last name?

Sheeta: Ki-nig-it. Spelt K-N-I-G-H-T.

A: What?

Sheeta: Knight. That’s my last name.

A: Knight? Where’d that come from?

Sheeta: Hey! My friend gave me that name!

A: Oh. Okay. (awkward pause) Wait. I thought your mum gave you that name?

Sheeta: No. My mum gave me Akmal. My friend gave me Knight.

A: oh, umm... Okay then. So... can I speak to your friend now?

Sheeta: Do you like cheesels?

A: Uhh, what?

Sheeta: Do you like cheesels? It’s perfectly fine, just like my name.

A: uhh, okay but-

Sheeta: What’s your problem?

A: What? But-

Sheeta: You still haven’t answered my question.

A: (Pause) uhh, yes..?

Sheeta: Cool. (Pause)

A: Are you going to say something....?

Sheeta: No, I was waiting for you to say something.

A: Oh, okay. Well-

Sheeta: Do you have a question for me?

A: Umm (pause) okay, I’ve got one...

Sheeta: Hit me!

A: Okay... Can I speak to your friend now?

Sheeta: (Pause)

A: well... Are you going to answer my question?

Sheeta: Uhh.... yeah. But not yet.

A: Well, what are they doing?

Sheeta: What are you talking about? I just answered your question.

A: What? But you- all you did was tell me that they couldn’t talk yet.

Sheeta: What? (Pause) Oh. Now I get it. Ha, I answered your question to if I was going to answer
your question.

A: But, that wasn’t my question.

Sheeta: Yeah.... well, it sounded like a question to me.

A: Look, can I just speak to your friend now?

Sheeta: Yeah, okay. (Hangs up)

A: Hello? Hello? Hel- Dam it!