fox | what's your name? bob? can you spell that?

So okay. I'm working here at the Council for Ketchup Marketing (not to be confused with

ellen_fremedon's workplace, the ~~Judean People's Front~~ Ketchup Advisory Board), on assignment from This One Temp Agency. I have just scheduled an interview with a Real Employer (the ones who were "reaching out to me", per my last post) for tomorrow afternoon, and according to TOTA policy I'm not supposed to inform the CKM about this myself; I'm to call TOTA and let them do it. Ditto if I'm sick or caught in traffic or whatever -- any time I'm not going to be there, I'm supposed to call the agency and let them handle informing their client. This seems goofy to me, although I understand the thinking behind it, so whatever, not my place to argue.

Except that I just had the following conversation:

receptionist (mumbling): This One Temp Agency, how can I help you?
me: Hi, this is Fox calling, for The Agent Who Called Me The Other Day, because I think I'm supposed to tell you guys that I have to leave my assignment early tomorrow afternoon for an interview instead of telling the manager here directly.
receptionist: Yes, that's right; hold on, please.
me: Okay, thanks. [waits on hold 1 minute approx.]
receptionist (returning): Okay, the person you need to speak to is either This Guy or That Guy, but -- oh, hang on, here comes This Guy. One moment. [puts me on hold]
me: Okay.
receptionist (returning): Ma'am? What was your name again?
me (unimpressed): Fox.
receptionist: One moment. [puts me on hold, as happens when a call is transferred]
this guy: This is This Guy.
me: Hi. I'm calling because I'm on an assignment this week, but I've got an interview tomorrow afternoon in The Sticks, so I'll need to leave earlier than, you know, 5pm. And I think I'm supposed to tell you that instead of the people here.
this guy: Right. Okay, let me just -- your name is Fox?
me: Yes.
this guy: And tomorrow is your first day on this assignment?
me (puzzled by this question): Uh, no. I was here last Friday and I'm here now; I'm just saying I need to leave early tomorrow.
this guy: What time are you leaving tomorrow?
me: Probably 2, 2:30? Because the interview is out in The Sticks, and I have to go home first and get my car. But it's someone's last day tomorrow, and there was just an e-mail about cake and farewell parties and whatnot, so it seems like it'll be slow anyway and not a bad time not to be there.
this guy: Okay. Did you already talk to That Guy?
me: No -- I just called, and I've been on hold for a couple of minutes. You're the only person I've talked to.
this guy: And tomorrow is the last day of the assignment?
me (what?!): No, it's -- at least all of this week, that is, but the manager here isn't quite sure.
this guy: Okay. And you've already told her about this?
me: No, because I understood I was supposed to tell you first. You're the only person I've talked to.
this guy: Right. Okay, well, we'll take care of it.
me: So should I -- I mean, I'm on lunch now, but when I get back upstairs, should I tell the manager, now that I've told you?, or --
this guy: No, we'll handle it, and we'll be back in touch to let you know when we've told them.

Of all the dumb, you know what I'm saying?

I think I'm going to mention it to the manager here at CKM before I go today anyway. Because, damn.

what's your name? bob? can you spell that?

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