Is that a Duck?

(from 2001)

I received a phone call last week from a creditor who was inquiring about my recent change of address. It seems I had forgotten to inform the Texaco credit card folks of my move to Lake Gaston, and they were politely wondering if the current North Carolina charges were, in fact, my own doing.

Is that a Duck?

On that particular morning I had taken the call on a wireless phone. I was sitting on the dock enjoying a cup of coffee.

“Excuse me, Mister Lee… but is that a DUCK I hear in the background?” asked the account representative.

“Yes, it is,” I replied, heading to the house in order to examine my most recent Texaco credit card statement. “I’m now living on a lake,” I explained.

When I got to my office I sat down next to my computer, where I had left a Microsoft Golf game program running. (MS Golf often lets fly with a “RiBBit!” sound effect to distract you during a back-swing.)

“Excuse me, Mister Lee,” the voice said again, this time hesitantly. “… but is that a FROG I hear in the background?”