Government Health Care

Southern Man had a question and, reluctantly, dialed the appropriate 24/7 toll-free number to ask it. The conversation went like this...

Computer voice: Thank you for calling [big government office]. You can say [list of options].

Southern Man: Representative.

Computer Voice: You'd like to speak to someone. Is that correct?

Southern Man: Yes.

Computer Voice: Great, I'll get someone for you...

...brief pause...

Computer Voice: We're experiencing high call volume at this time. If you like, we can call you back in...

...brief pause...

Computer Voice: ...sixteen hours and forty-five minutes. Would you like for us to call you back then?

Southern Man: (sighs) Yes.

If they're true to their word Southern Man should get his callback at about four tomorrow morning. The chances of him actually hearing the phone at that hour are slim to none. But he'll put the phone by his pillow tonight just in case...

[Added the next day...] They called back, a little ahead of schedule, and the representative was able to answer my question. How about that?