EMPLOYEE (answering phone)
Main Library, Information Services, may I help you?

CUSTOMER
Yes, do you know about that Hale-Bopp Comet that is up in the sky?

EMPLOYEE
Yes sir, I'm aware of it. What can I help you with?

CUSTOMER
Well, there are two guys that discovered it, Mr. Hale and Mr. Bopp, I guess. I was wondering if you could tell me when their birthdays are?

EMPLOYEE
Please hold sir, and I'll try and find that information for you.

Being new on the job, employee conducts a frantic and time-consuming search. He finds an article on the discoverers of the comet in 'People' magazine. The article gives their ages, employee does the math and gets back on the phone.

EMPLOYEE
Thank you for waiting. I found an article on them and from that I determined what years they were born, would that help you?

CUSTOMER
No, I'm afraid not. I need the exact dates and preferably the times they were born.

EMPLOYEE
That might be difficult. It took a long time just find their ages. I could try to find a phone number for someone else who may be able to help you.

CUSTOMER
Maybe, let me tell you why I'm calling. Are you familiar with the book of Revelations in the Bible?

Even though employee is new on the job, he knows when a caller mentions the Bible there is an 80% chance this will be a weird call. By mentioning Revelations, the caller has shot those percentages into the comet-laden stratosphere.

EMPLOYEE
Yes sir.

CUSTOMER
Well, I live in Gaston county and my tractor broke down on the side of the road the other day. I was attacked by a savage dog and a man came and saved me from the dog. He is the ex-police chief of Gastonia. It says in Revelations that the righteous will be saved by the people in authority. I thought this applied to my situation and with this comet up in the sky and all I figured it would be useful to do horoscopes for the discoverers of the comet. That's why I need their birthdays.

EMPLOYEE (stunned)
Uhh ... yes. Sir, I was thinking, maybe I could find in this article where these guys work and you could try to get a hold of them that way.

Employee has learned one of the comet discoverer's name is Alan Hale. He debates whether to bring up the "Gilligan's Island" connection, but decides not to.

CUSTOMER
No thank you, I've put you to enough trouble. Have a nice day.

EMPLOYEE
Thank you sir, you too.