Why I should never say words, Part Two.

Remember this? Here's part two.

So I'm in my office and hear my coworker talking on the phone in German. It's her birthday, so she's been on the phone throughout the day taking birthday calls. At some point, though, her tone and pitch change and it sounds like she's talking to someone different -- she talks higher and slower. It sounds like she's talking to a child -- in German.

Context: At some point I got it into my head that she had a son. She's never said that though.

Me: I go and wish her a happy birthday. We small talk about birthdays and other stuff. Then I run out of conversation. So I say:

"So, who was the child you were talking to earlier on the phone?"

Her: [Blank, then puzzled look on her face.]

"What?" [Another coworker overhearing us begins to laugh.] What do you mean?"

Me: Oh nothing, I just though you were talking...your voice just sounded...you know what, I'm an idiot...never--

Her: "A child? [Coworker laughing harder.] I don't understand."

I try to clear it up, but there's no way to clear it up without insulting her, or insulting the person she was talking to. I might as well have asked her if she was pregnant. Luckily we are interrupted while our other coworker nearly falls under her desk.

Conclusion: I'm an ass.