Do telephones distort the truth or give glimpses into reality. Too many times I have been called "Miss" on the phone. Have you?
by
BrandieS
Do telephones distort the truth or give glimpses into reality. Too many times I have been called "Miss" on the phone. Have you?
by
BrandieS
"Hello, Parker residence Joey speaking." I said into the phone.
"Um, uh, can I talk to your daddy?" was the reply.
"Can I ask who's calling?" I replied, grimacing at the phone.
"Uh, he may not remember me, I'm an old friend of his." The voice said guardedly. "Mark Watson."
"Just a moment." I put my hand over the receiver and called out "DAD! PHONE!"
He came into the room and took the phone from me and said into it "Hello?"
"Uh, John, Mark Watson here, I don't know if you remember me but.........."
"Ok, see you then." Dad said as he hung up the phone. Turning he said, "Old college friend of mine coming into town the weekend and wants to take me and MY daughter to diner." He smiled slyly.
I gulped and shook my head.
"Joey, you ready?" Dad shouted .
"Coming" was the reply as I bound down the stairs finishing with "Ready".
Dad looked at me and sighed, then "You're not leaving the house looking like that".
I glanced at what I was wearing and asked "Huh, what's wrong?"
I saw Dad flinch from my question. "I am not taking you out to a nice restaurant looking like a ..a..whatever it is."
"But Dad, this is what kids wear now."
"Fine, then you stay here. I'll tell Mark that you don't feel well. Oh, and keep the noise down while I'm gone." He started for the door.
"Uhm, dad?" I needed his advice.
"Yea?" He stopped by the door.
"Uh, what should I wear, I mean he is your friend, do I need to do something special?" I really was curious. Dad didn't talk about his fiends from before we came to town. Talk about a mystery man.
"Oh, something nice. You'll figure it out." Dad replied casually.
Still I was thinking, the guy told dad that he was gonna take Dad and his daughter out to Dinner. Crap! Still. "Dad, uh, like, does he really think you have a daughter, like for real?"
Dad just shook his head and sighed.
"And how many in your party?" the man was checking off something and it didn't look like he was paying attention.
"Four, two adults and two, uh, make that four adults."
"Very good, sir, if you'll just follow me". We threaded our way across a large room. Arriving at a table with four place settings, the man stood behind my chair and pulled it out, saying, "Miss, allow me."
I hesitated, then accepted his offer. Dad, Mr. Watson and his son sat after I was seated. Dad looked over at me and smiled.
I KNEW I didn't look like a girl. I wasn't wearing anything girly, was I ?! My friend Jean had ordered my clothes from an On-line store. My outfit consisted of a pair of Unisex Pinstripe Pants in a light brown color, a plain white T-shirt covered by a Zip-Front Sweater. I also wore a new pair of tan deck shoes with thin brown socks. What was going on here? I was confused.
A waiter took our drink orders and left us alone. Dad and Mr. Watson's son were talking, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. Mr. Watson was making comments and occasionally looking my way. Talk about paranoid.
Thankfully the waiter came back and we placed our orders. I ordered a Grilled Chicken Breast served over Rice Pilaf, House salad with Honey-Mustard dressing on the side. Nothing special, yet my order drew looks from the waiter and Mr. Watson and son. Everyone else ordered steaks with the works. 'What' I thought 'I don't like steak'. I just didn't say it out loud.
After dinner, Mr. Watson asked me a dilly. "Do you need to use the Ladies Room to freshen up?"
I was gonna make a comment, but was cut off by Dad saying that we had to leave. I offered thanks for the dinner and Dad eased me out the door. I couldn't wait to get home. I had to pee!
Running in the house, I went to the bathroom and did my business. I went to my room and pulled off my sweater, then headed back down stairs.
"Uh, Dad?" I began.
He looked over at me with the begining of a smile "What, Pumpkin?"
"Ah, nothing." I just sat on the couch and flipped on the TV.
Dad came over and sat beside me. "Pumpkin, you were very charming tonight. Thank you. I know I don't say that often enough."
I looked at him and grinned. He was right. We seemed to just tolerate each other lately. Tonight was different for both of us. Still, there was one question I had to ask. "Uh, Daddy, why did that man and his son think I was a girl?"
Dad looked at me, then looked away. I heard him sniffle and he quickly got up and walked out of the room. I sat there not knowing what was what. Had I asked a dumb question? I had to know.
I started to get off the couch as dad came back in the room. "Bed time, Pumpkin." was said.
I stood and headed for my room, but as I hugged him goodnight, he held out his hand to me and said "Here, wear this tonight."
I took the proffered item and went to my room. I went to the bathroom and peed, then after washing my hands, I brushed my teeth. I took my hair brush and went into my room. I took off my t-shirt and pants and got out a clean pair of undies. I rehung the pants and the Tee went into the dirty clothes along with the dirty undies and socks. My shoes were lined up in my closet. I reached for the item that Dad had handed me and allowed it to unfold. I turned it right side up and saw it was a sleep shirt. I thought 'What the heck' and put it on. Of course it did have a weird collar, but dad wanted me to sleep in it, so. I sat in front of my mirror and brushed my hair. Mom used to do mine and I would do hers. I had long hair cause hers looked so pretty and I wanted to look like her.
Thinking about her made me cry and I got in bed and hugged my pillow to me. I sobbed thinking about how much I missed mom. 'Why God, why did she have to die?' I wondered as I fell asleep.
The sleeper tossed and turned holding tightly to the disheveled pillow. REM state acheived, the brain began it's unconscious journey into Dreamland.
The little boy and his mommy were walking in the park, spying a swing, the boy asked "Mommy, can you push me?"
The lady smiled at the child. "Sure, honey. Let's go."
The child clung to the chain as the swing went higher and higher. "Faster Mommy! Faster!" the child pleaded. The woman laughed at the sound of her son's voice. He was having a good time and laughing. She pushed the swing harder.
It was one of those things that you only saw on TV, using a special time delay effect, the chain seperated from the cross bar and the child went spinning off the seat of the swing out of control. The trajectory caused the fraglie body to hit a nearby tree and thump to the ground. The body of the child lay in a tangled mess.
The woman ran to the body and tried to gather it to her. She was screaming the child's name. "Joey, Joey, Joey!" People in the park heard the shouts and gathered around. EMS was called and a crew tried to pull the anxious mother away from her child. An quick exam of the victim showed a lifeless body and the EMS crew gathered up mother and child for transport to the hospital.
The sleeper stirred in it's sleep and a tear ran down it's face. The silent body standing watch by the door heard the sleeper murmur "Joey, I love you."
Waking in the morning, I didn't know where I was. I looked around at the furnishings. "Damn, not again." I put both feet on the floor and went to the toilet. Sitting I realized that I at least had on the right night gown. After washing my hands, I ran a quick brush through my hair. "Honey, Honey, coffee ready?"
"Yea and we have an early guest."
I pulled a robe off the back of the bathroom door and pulled it around me. I hunted around for a pair of slippers and was soon heading downstairs. I smelled the coffee before I reached bottom.
A cup of the nectar was placed in front of me. "Morning, Pumpkin, this is for you." I took the cup and a kiss, too.
The cup distracted me and I took a sip savoring the release of flavor in my mouth. Looking up I said "Honey, I did it again, didn't I?" I could see a tear in his eye as he looked at me. Off to my side I heard someone clear their throat and looked in that direction. I smiled "Morning, Mark. House call this early?" I teased.
Mark Wilson smiled and replied "Only for special patients."
It all came flooding back to me. I dropped my cup and sat still as both men looked on. I raised a hand and then looked up. "I think I'm better now. I had the dream again last night." My husband smiled weakly and moved to hug me.
Mark watched as I was embraced, then said "I don't know if this is over or not. But you have been making progress. It was a terrible accident and you still have a long way to go, but I think you're on the road to recovery." He smiled.
I held firmy to my husbands hand and looked him in the face "Dearest, I want to be Josey today and for as long as I can."
He pulled me to him and as our lips met, I knew how much I loved that man.
Das est das ende!
Author's Note: I started this to lampoon how some people sound on the phone. As I read your comments, I saw a clear path for continuing with this. I did not want a long drawn out epic, but a piece that would explain the first part and draw the reader in. I hope that I have achieved that purpose. I will say again that I am a newby at writing and thank you for your comments.
In the words of Red Skeleton...May God Bless