Tell John to answer the phone instead.

You tell John to answer the phone. Although mildly irritated, John agrees and answers your phone for you. He exchanges a few choice words with his impromptu conversational partner and hangs up. You ask, “Who was it?” “That was your mother calling,” says John. You both doubt and fear his response.

You don’t think John wants to talk today. You should probably give whoever that was a call back and apologize. Or don’t. I’m not a cop.

What do you do?

> Check the phone and call back whoever it was that called.