Names Have Been Changed to Protect the Dim

3 days ago (so Gmail tells me), I--along with everyone else who works where I do--received an email from a coworker asking us if anyone were available to cover a list of shifts, for reasons that were quite good and not relevant to the story.

I replied:

I can do (shift deleted) if that's helpful.

Sorry I can't do more: I'm either already working, in class, or out of town for the rest.

Perfectly reasonable response, yeh? So, this morning, this is waiting for me in my inbox:

Thanks


I was able to cover all the shifts except (other shift deleted)

Now, I think she means that she would like me to take the shift I offered to take, but it's not super-clear, so I ask for clarification:

I'm sorry, do you mean that you do or do not need me to cover for you on (date of shift deleted)?

As is the way of the world, I get only obfuscation:

That is correct.

So, what we have established, for sure, is that she has no one to cover (other shift), and that is it correct that she either does or does not need me to cover (shift) for her.