Speaking at different volumes

Last night, while at work, I became sick. I started getting a progressively worsening sore throat which kept me from speaking very loudly. At it's peak, I was barely whispering the routine lines to the customers. "Hi, how are you?"
They would then respond with a loud, jovial "Just fine! How are you?"
"Fine thanks"
"OH! Cat got your tongue? Frog in your throat? Gone hoarse?" (What is it with using animals as scapegoats for our sicknesses?)

Now when two people are plotting or gossiping, they both tend to speak at the same, low volume, but when one person is whispering becuase they are sick, the other person has no reason to be quiet and must feel compelled to take up the slack.
For some reason, this was just very awkward to be a part of.