Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Carol D Marsh's avatar

My mother avoided a scam today. I mean, today, the very day this post arrives in my email. I trust the universe to show me ways and paths, so clearly I must share about my mother's not trusting.

Here's the scam: someone (this guy had a heavy accent, and right from the beginning, Mom suspected he was trying to make himself difficult to understand) who claimed to be from Verizon called and demanded $130. He said her service would be turned off unless she paid up. Mom, whose Verizon service had legitimately been turned off a month ago (long story, involving an old account that we keep trying to close but that Verizon resurrects every once in a while) was immediately in high anxiety. Her TV, phone, and internet service are all Verizon. She's so frail she can't get up from her chair without two people lifting her. The TV and phone are her world.

Scared as she was, she didn't lose her wits, which, at 92, proves her to be an amazing, strong woman who's a good role model for her three daughters. The guy began bullying her about the money and that's what made her suspicious. Finally she asked where he was calling from. He refused to answer. She hung up and called me.

So this is a little story not so much about trust as it is about knowing when not to trust.

Expand full comment
Tabitha Burns's avatar

“I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her.”

I was fourteen when somebody said that about me for the first – and last – time.

The whole of Year 10 was going on a trip. When I arrived at school, I was surprised to learn we were having one lesson as normal before leaving; I’d thought we’d be out all day, which is why I’d only brought in a packed lunch and lipgloss.

My first lesson was Physics. Mrs P always made me sit at the front of the science lab. ‘Lab’ sounds white and shiny; it was actually a dark, old classroom with scarred wooden benches and rickety stools.

Mrs P told us to get out our exercise books, so she could check we’d done our homework. Oops. I tried to explain myself, but she didn’t believe me. “I’m going to ring home about this. Go and get the number from Reception.”

“Miss, why don’t you get the number off her?” someone asked as I walked out.

“Because I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her,” I heard Mrs P say, after I’d closed the door.

Had I done the homework? I don't remember!

Expand full comment
7 more comments...

No posts