"It's so hard to say no", said Ellen after she was bullied into working a Sunday. Eeyore, who by choice is supposed to work every weekend, routinely calls in sick at least twice a month. Ellen has such loyalty and dedication (not to mention guilt) that she usually gets suckered into working since Eeyore's idea of finding a replacement is to look around her pantry ("Nope, nobody in here!').
Me: "Ellen, just say you have plans"
Ellen: "Well, sometimes I really do have plans"
Me: "Just don't answer the phone"
Ellen: "Oh, I couldn't do that!"
Me: "Well, say you couldn't possibly work because you just finished a bottle of wine"
Ellen: "At 10:AM?"
Me: "OK, then say you just had a pitcher of bloody Mary's at brunch"
Ellen: (giggling) "Oh, that would go over well. I couldn't lie about that!"
Me: "Don't lie then. Every Sunday morning, just put a splash of champagne into your orange juice and when they call, say you are celebrating Lucky Charms. Tell them and you do it every week and maybe they will stop calling".
