My Life, Act IV

Me: "Sam, I'm going to put something in the compost. If the phone rings, it's ok to answer it, ok?"
Sam (looking up from his game): "Wait, where are you going?"
Me: "To the compost. Just out back. Answer the phone if it rings, ok?"
blank look
Sam: "ah...... ok."
Me: "Wait. How 'bout we practice this. Hang on a second."
Shuffle for my cell phone, find it, dial home.
**Ring**...**Ring**
Me: "Sam, you need to pick it up."
Sam: "Oh, ok."
Picks it up
Me: "Ok, now press the "Talk" button and answer it."
Presses "Talk"
Me: "You need to say "Who is this please?"."
Sam: "It me, Sam."
Me: "No. No. That's what you say. You say, "Who is this please?". Let's try this one more time."
I dial again. Sam picks it up AND presses "talk" (Excellent job, BTW!)
Sam: "Hi"
Me: "No, say: "Who is this please?"
Sam: "It's me, Sam."
Me: **blink**
Third try was the charm.
We'll review this again later.