Go to What I SHOULD Have Said... main page
Here is one story retold,
albeit with a pithier ending:
From Katie:
Stupid Phone People..
What happened: Well, my phone was ringing, so of course I picked it up. It was some gilr who had the wrong number, when I told her this she asked me what MY number was. Not wanting to give out my number to any old stranger I asked her why. She then went on about how she needed it so she didn`t call it again, I told her I didn`t know it, even though I did. She then started asking if there was anyone around who did, I was just kinda shocked at how rude she was being, it doesn`t sound as bad but you should have heard her, I didn`t know what to say and just told her it wasn`t my phone. Then she says,"Do you ALWAYS answer other people`s phones?"
What I said: I just said, "You know what.....good bye."
What I SHOULD have said: "Do you always call the wrong person and then ask for their number?"
L'esprit d'escalier
The French call it l'esprit d'escalier, "the wit of the staircase," those biting ripostes that are thought of just seconds too late, on the way out of the room-or even, to tell the truth, days later. It's happened to you: you've suddenly thought of just what would put your foe in his or her place, but past the time when the arrow could sting its victim. You've stewed in your own juice ever since, and the chance for singeing repartee is gone forever.
Or is it?
Dorothy Parker or Oscar Wilde may have had the rapier wit to tweak their tormentors on the spot, but for the rest of us, we offer the Internet's only L'esprit d'escalier web site!