Who is on the line?

Who is on the line?

Back in the days of landline, it was considered discorteous to dial into a number and ask who the receiver was. For heavens sake, you called. Please, declare your identity.

Chief Sunmonu Asani schooled me in the finer details I have in me. He is such a complete gentleman that mentored you by acts rather than words. What he preaches, he does. No wonder we were all in awe of him.

His line of communication is the most detailed I ever seen. It took me studied diligence to decode his lines and abide by them.

He sends you a memo, you reply via a memo. He sends an email, you respond via email. If he does you a text message, you don't call back. You simply reply via SMS. He has  2 lines. He calls you from his MTN line and you miss the call, your call back must go to the MTN and not the GLO.

He is such a peacefully organised man.

Saturdays, while I worked there, were our lax days. You came late, left early. Though not permitted but I found a way to be casual about the office on Saturdays.

Didn't know what happened that particular Saturday I just found myself in the telephone answering cubicle. I was making calls and transferring them on the PABX. It looked routine, still illegal.

Then someone called.

Me: ' Hello. Conair Cargo Services limited'
Caller: 'who's on the line?' He asked.

Me: 'Sir, you called. Say who you are,please.'

Caller: 'Chairman'
Me: 'Chairman  of where? What's your name please?'  Feeling impatient.

Caller: ' Chief Asani'

Everything clear from my eyes,head and nostrils, one time.
Come see stammering and stuttering.
I barely managed to patch him through.

As soon as he entered the office that morning, he came straight to my office.

And hmmmmmmmm.

He offered me a firm handshake.

Such a great man.

The little memo that the Secretary sent didn't matter much. I was statis-sated.