Fred might be kind of a dick.
Five in the evening on Monday, five to six hours before Allison's shift is supposed to start, John puts in a phone call to Oubliette Video and asks for Fred.
Fred: Thank you for calling Oubliette Video, this is Fred.
John: Ah, hey. I'm calling for Allison...
Fred: *interrupts* Allison doesn't work for another several hours, is there something I can help you with?
John: No, wait, I'm not calling to talk to her I'm calling for her. She's not feeling well, isn't going to make it to work tonight.
Fred: *long, loooooong pause* Who is this?
John: My name is John, I'm Allison's...boyfriend.
Fred: *incredulous* Her boyfriend?
John: *sighs* Yes.
Fred: You get why I'm having trouble with this idea, right?
John: ...yes.
Fred: Oh-kay. So what's wrong with her? I mean, Allison's come to work looking like she was on the bad end of a fight more than once.
John: It's been a long weekend. We found her brother, he's gone back to California. She's...kind of overwhelmed at the moment.
Fred: ...Allison. Overwhelmed.
John: Yes.
Fred: ...Uh-huh.
John: Look, is it just okay that she takes tonight off?
Fred: Yeah, it's fine. How do I know you're not some creeper stalker or something trying to make an alibi?
John: ...What?!
Fred: I said, how do...
John: *interrupts* The next time Allison works, I'll come in and introduce myself properly, how's that?
Fred: ...All right that's fine.
John: Thank you. Have a good night. *hangs up*
Fred: Thank you for calling Oubliette Video, this is Fred.
John: Ah, hey. I'm calling for Allison...
Fred: *interrupts* Allison doesn't work for another several hours, is there something I can help you with?
John: No, wait, I'm not calling to talk to her I'm calling for her. She's not feeling well, isn't going to make it to work tonight.
Fred: *long, loooooong pause* Who is this?
John: My name is John, I'm Allison's...boyfriend.
Fred: *incredulous* Her boyfriend?
John: *sighs* Yes.
Fred: You get why I'm having trouble with this idea, right?
John: ...yes.
Fred: Oh-kay. So what's wrong with her? I mean, Allison's come to work looking like she was on the bad end of a fight more than once.
John: It's been a long weekend. We found her brother, he's gone back to California. She's...kind of overwhelmed at the moment.
Fred: ...Allison. Overwhelmed.
John: Yes.
Fred: ...Uh-huh.
John: Look, is it just okay that she takes tonight off?
Fred: Yeah, it's fine. How do I know you're not some creeper stalker or something trying to make an alibi?
John: ...What?!
Fred: I said, how do...
John: *interrupts* The next time Allison works, I'll come in and introduce myself properly, how's that?
Fred: ...All right that's fine.
John: Thank you. Have a good night. *hangs up*