Just say "I'm calling out or personal reasons". And leave it at that.
Today my tire popped while actually driving to work. I had to pull over and wait for help. I didn't know how long that was going to take so I called my job to let them know I won't be coming in. My supervisor picked up the phone, I say "Hey so and so, I won't be coming in today because I have a flat tire". She replies in a " Are you serious tone?" You're calling out just because you have a flat tire? I say, yes. I don't know how long it's going to take my help to come to put a spare on. Then she goes okayyy...I'll just take you off the schedule. Smh.
Mind you my job is a hour away from where I stay. I'm not driving the highway for an hour with a spare on. My car help came. Come to find out that I needed a brand new tire because the current wasn't even patchable. So after my help put on the spare, I had to drive all the way to the tire shop, pay for a brand new tire and wait for them to put it on. Everything is fine now and I'm still not going in to work. Being late is already a half a point. Calling out completely is one hole point. I'll take the hole point.
I say all that just to say. Stop explaining yourself to these jobs. You can be the best worker, be a completely honest person and they are still a holes. It's ridiculous. I guess if I were in a car accident, called out and said I wasn't coming it because of that it would be a problem as well.
These jobs are ridiculous. My supervisor didn't even ask me was I okay, did I need anything just straight to "You're calling out because of that?" It's crazy.