What's my sister's name?

November 11, 2007

My sister has worked for the same company for 13 years, but until recently, I had never had the need to call her at work. But it finally happened, and I called and asked for Cheri. There was a pause, and the person at the other end asked "Do you mean Cheryl?" and I said yes. When my sister came on the line, she was laughing, and I asked her what was going on. She told me that her boss was confused because no one EVER calls her Cheri, at least not twice. Later, when I had time to think about that, I wondered how I could not know that. In over 40 years, she never told me that she preferred Cheryl to Cheri. Now that I know, I try and remember to call her Cheryl, but more than 40 years of habit are break. She never complains when I slip, and I guess that makes sense, because I don't care what she calls me either, as long as she calls me her sister.