Thursday, October 18, 2007

DO YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY LEARN STUFF TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL???

date: today, thursday october 18, 2007
time: approximately 11 am
place: box office at the theater
characters:
peggy- late 20's fun-loving and GREAT at what she does... and ALWAYS does it with a smile.

work-study student- freshman, late teens, high-pitched nasal voice. vacant expression when being given directions- but really really sweet and good intentioned.


peggy: hey there wss, i have a FUN project for you this morning.

wss: oh good, i like those.

peggy: here is a list of all the people that i will be printing tickets for today. their addresses are on this sheet here... would you mind addressing these envelopes so that i can mail these tickets out by this afternoon?

wss: sure, you're right, it does sound like fun!

(5 minutes later)

wss: ummm... so i have a question

peggy: (looking up from the mess on her desk that is known as the ticket orders) sure, go ahead!

wss: so when i put these addresses on, do i have to also put the city and the state and stuff?

peggy: (tuning in at the last part of the sentence) i'm sorry could you repeat that?

wss: yeah, so when i want to mail someone something i put their street name and stuff right?

peggy: umm, yes

wss: okay and then i also put the city?

(peggy's eyes widen with each word)

peggy: yes... and then you also include the state and zip code.

wss: oh, okay... (looks down at her paperwork)... and do i put the city and state on the next line down?

peggy: (smallish giggle) ummm... yup- right underneath the street address... have you never written a letter before?

wss: well, no not really... well a long time ago... i just couldn't remember how it's done. i think email is WAY BETTER!

peggy: i guess you just might be right.

END SCENE

so i am sitting here perplexed! am i the only one that thinks it weird that this sweet girl doesn't know how to address a letter? don't you learn that in the 3rd grade or something???

or did they throw that topic away in the pile of "has-been important things to know" just like "how to play a record" or "how to dial a rotary phone"???

yeah maybe your right WSS- email is much better- less killing of trees and all and less information to have graduated high school with!

4 comments:

Annie said...

are you joking? That is ridiculous!

Linda said...

i used to have to help some of my clients address their letters home because they weren't allowed to email. sad, but it is not as uncommon as you think (although it should be)

Randi said...

peggy. e-mail me immediately at: johansen_randi@yahoo.com. that's a direct order, soldier.

Rachel said...

that is so funny! just today a girl I work with (an english speaking Harvard student) asked if you put the stamp in the upper right hand corner of the envelope! what is happening to the world, I scream as I don't capitalize the first words in my sentances.