I might not want to help .. What can I respond to "are you busy on Friday?"

[YouDefinitelyShouldNotDoThat]

The mum of one of my daughter's friends often texts to asks me for some help, and I'm often more than happy to. However I like to know what her request is before I answer messages like today's "Hey, are you busy on Friday?". In this particular instance I do have a bit of free time but want to be selective about what I fill that with, as it's my half day off work with the kids. What can I reply so that I can find out her request without revealing what my 'free' time is?

Doctor/dentist hospital appointment? Should take a couple of hours up 😁

Doctors or dentist, and then if she wants to get together to do something amazing, the appointment can be cancelled

"I'm not sure at the moment. Why do you ask?"

"Why, what's up?"

"Hi, I've got some things on, why do you ask?"

“Depends what time, why do you ask?

‘My answer entirely depends on why you want to know’…

" yeah, unfortunately, got work to catch up on before the weekend. What's your plans" ?

'Friday's quite busy, do you need something?'

I’d purely go with “what’s up?”

My very much rehearsed, practiced and oft used automatic reply is “yoga class, swim and food shop”— (but I’m open to their other better suggestions if it’s not chores).

‘Hard to say at this point.’

Don’t proceed to ask ‘why do you ask?’

Typical chaos! What you up to?

I’ll have to check my diary, why?

'Hey, are you busy on Friday?'

'hehehe, I'm busy everyday. Why do you ask?'

"What's up?"

I think I am this week, why do you ask?

"I need a babysitter" ah yeah sorry.

"I have a free ticket going spare for xxxx" ah ok let me see if I can cancel

😂

Depends!!! Why??

Lol with 3 kids isn’t everyday busy?

I know someone who texts like this. And you don't mind helping, but it's the sleepwalking into it/ being ambushed feeling.

It’s like a wet lettuce competition here sometimes? ‘Yes I am’ is a complete answer.

Not sure yet

Depends why you're asking.

Exactly. Who actually makes up the dentist?!

Just say “Yeah, busy most days at the mo”

Yeah up to my eyes Friday x