Alright, let me tell you about this one time I had to use the ol’ flat tire excuse for work. It wasn’t my proudest moment, but hey, things happen, right?
So, the morning started off like a total disaster. I must have hit snooze like, five times too many. Woke up in a complete panic, looked at the clock, and just knew there was no way I was making it on time. Like, not even close. We’re talking seriously late.
Figuring Out What to Say
My brain immediately started scrambling. What could I possibly tell the boss? I went through the usual suspects:
- Traffic? Nah, too common, maybe they’d check the reports.
- Feeling sick? Didn’t feel like faking a cough over the phone or dealing with follow-up questions.
- Family emergency? Felt a bit too dramatic for just being late.
Then it hit me – the flat tire. It felt kinda perfect. Believable, explains a significant delay, and doesn’t sound like I just couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed (which was, honestly, closer to the truth that day).
Making the Call (Well, Text)
I grabbed my phone, heart still pounding a bit from the rush and the impending lie. Decided a text was better than a call – less chance of sounding flustered. I typed something quick, like:
“Hey [Boss’s Name], gonna be pretty late this morning. Woke up to a flat tire. Working on getting it sorted now. I’ll let you know when I’m heading in.”
Sent it off and held my breath for a second. Felt kinda crummy, but also relieved I had something to say.
The Aftermath
My boss texted back pretty quickly, just an “Okay, thanks for letting me know. Drive safe when you get it fixed.” Phew. Dodged that bullet. No questions asked.
Of course, there was no actual flat tire. I just finished getting ready at a slightly less frantic pace, grabbed coffee, and eventually rolled into the office a couple of hours late. No one mentioned the tire when I got there. I didn’t bring it up again either. Just got straight to work.
Look, I’m not saying it’s a great habit. It was a one-off thing because I messed up my morning. But the flat tire excuse? Yeah, it got me out of a tight spot that day. Just gotta hope I don’t actually get one anytime soon, karma and all that.
