Listen

Vacuuming with noise cancelling earphones when a client rang.

I switched off the vacuum and took the call.

The client began explaining the background to her question. After a minute with vacuum in one hand and phone in the other, I muted my microphone, pocketed my phone, and resumed vacuuming; client-focussed with a muffled whine background.

The client talked without pause for about five minutes. Floorboards grew cleaner.

She finished. I paused, waited a few seconds to be sure she was done, took a second or two to reach into my pocket, pull out my phone and unmute my microphone.

I was about to begin my advice when she said:

‘You are such an attentive listener.’