Shocked my socks off

This afternoon the phone began ringing and it was clear that the callers did not want to be identified. The caller ID said ‘Unknown”. While this is not an uncommon occurrence, business is not usually this brisk. Curiosity finally overcame good judgment and I answered the phone. It was a military recruiter. I was pleased to say, without a shred of dishonesty, that the lad was not home. When the recruiter pressed me for a time when the lad would be home, and a good time to call back, I conceded that I didn’t want him talking with my son. I told him that I do not want my son in the military and I do not want any recruiters to call my house. I was polite, but left no doubt that I meant what I said. And the recruiter was polite as well, but he did ask if I didn’t think it was a good thing for our young people to defend their country.

That was the wrong thing to say to me and I launched into a diatribe on the 50 reasons why joining the military right now seems to have a lot less to do with defending this country than playing out someone else’s political and military fantasies in far away places. And I ended with, “But I’m sure you have heard this before.”

The recruiter almost sighed and said, “Yes, I’ve heard that before.”

And then he shocked my socks off by adding something that I’d never expect to hear coming out of a recruiter’s mouth. Something that would not make him a popular guy with his superiors.

I’m certain that was way off script. I’m pretty certain he’d be skinned alive if his superiors had heard him say it. And I’m pretty sure you can guess what he said. I was so surprised I didn’t know what else to say. So I said, “Thank you. Have a good holiday” and hung up.