the three second delay

ninety-nine point nine

percent

of the phone calls

i get on my

phone are scammers

speaking

in a heavy accent

trying to steal something

that i have

and they don't,

and yet

i answer anyway, 

i'm patient with the three

second delay,

i answer just

in case

it's someone i know

and wants

to go to lunch, or just

say hey.