FLC OF DC9 IS ISSUED CONFUSING CLB CLRNC AND HEADING CHANGE; THEN ISSUED 1000 FT DSCNT CLRNC. CTLR USES NON STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY AND APPEARS 'HARRIED.'

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WE WERE A LIFEGUARD FLT OUT OF MBS TO DTW LEVEL AT 3000 FT MSL. THE CTLR REQUESTED WE CLB TO 6000 FT AND TURN R ON COURSE. WE WERE SHOWING 2 O'CLOCK TFC 2000 FT ABOVE US SO WE ASKED AGAIN WHAT WE SHOULD DO. THIS TIME IT WAS 6000 FT ON PRESENT HEADING. THE CTLR SOUNDED HARRIED AND WAS USING SOME NON STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY. CTLR THEN RPTED WE WERE CLR OF TFC AND TO CLB TO 10000 FT. WE REPEATED INSTRUCTIONS AND CLBED TO 10000 FT. AT LEVELOFF CTLR TOLD US TO DSND TO 9000 FT AND TURN TO 240 DEGS. THE CAPT INQUIRED WHY; AS WE HAD JUST LEVELED OFF AND THE CTLR REPLIED WE HAD A CONFLICT WITH TFC AND THAT SHE HAD JUST NOTICED WE HAD CLBED TO 10000 FT INSTEAD OF 9000 FT. BOTH THE CAPT AND I LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND CONFIRMED WE HAD BOTH HEARD 10000 FT AND TOLD HER WE HAD BEEN CLRED FROM 6000 FT TO 10000 FT. CTLR THEN CLRED US BACK TO 10000 FT AND THANKED US FOR OUR ASSISTANCE. THE CTLR SOUNDED RATHER CONFUSED TO US FROM THE BEGINNING AND A LITTLE UNSURE OF ALL HER TFC. NEW PERHAPS; BUT THE SIT WAS VERY CONFUSING. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS SEEMED SHAKY.