The Telephone: Princess, Part 3

 “It don’t mean nothing.”, was all he could tell himself. It was all over before he could even start.

The phone remained silent the next few days. It took him a while to get used to the quiet. He never had many friends, not since he had moved to this relatively new address. His old gang had broken up; more like, “grew up”.

Back then, one could actually think. There was always time to read a book, do the cooking, take a long walk or completely disappear for no apparent reason. Solitude was never short of supply. With the old black telephone being the only real link to the outside world and the only real intrusion, his life was back to what it was.

He was getting used to the quiet. He was actually getting enough sleep again. A copy of Frederick Forsyth’s, “Day of the Jackal” lay next to his pillow. It was a well-thumbed copy and one he’s almost memorized. He flicked through the chapter where the Englishman had just crossed into France and was setting up the next stage of his plan…

There was a time when households actually had just one television set, one bathroom, one kitchen and only one telephone—or landline, as we now know it! The black apparatus was hooked up to a wall connection downstairs. With the door to his room locked, headphones on with “Journey” on the portable cassette player known as a “walkman”, the ring was barely audible.

It was close to midnight. “Girl Can’t Help It” was playing when he heard a faint sound. It was almost dreamlike…

He takes off the headphones. Journey was halfway through “Separate Ways” when he opened his bedroom door.“What the?..”, he blurted out to himself. Another ring comes through. This time, he is certain it wasn’t just his imagination.

“Who would call this late?”, he thought. The family had relatives overseas. It was not uncommon for the phone to ring at that hour especially if the call originated from California. He hadn’t counted on hearing from her again.

“Hello…”, his voice was a little too forceful, somewhat irritated.

--“It’s me…”

He was silent.

“How’ve you been?”, she asked, her voice trembling.

He was debating whether to reply or drop the handset. Life had already been kind to him at this point. He was settled. He was at peace. And now, this girl thinks she can tiptoe her way back into his life?

“The same, I guess.”, was all he could muster, much as he wanted to lash out at her but he had no reason to.

--“I’m really sorry for how I was. I didn’t mean to hurt you in any way. I’m really not ready to go into another relationship.”

“You don’t need to explain anything.”

--“Well, I just felt like it.”

“Why so?”

--“I dunno. I felt compelled to call you.”

“Compelled…Why can’t you just say you miss me?”

It was her turn to be silent.

“I’m pretty much okay now. If you called just to apologize then fine, accepted! I’d like to get back to the book I’m reading now…”

--“Please…don’t hang up. Honestly, I missed you. Not a day went by without me wanting to call.”

“So why didn’t you?”

--“I don’t know…I can’t say…I…” Her voice almost fades into the background.

“You don’t know or can’t say what?”

--“Well…what would we be if we never spoke to each other again?”

“I don’t know. I can’t say I never enjoyed your company.”

--“I have this strange feeling that I never want to see the day when I never speak to you again. The thought just scares me!”

“But we can’t be together, remember? You were so adamant about that, I actually believe there is some truth in that. “

--“B-but…”, she was about to protest.

“I really enjoyed the conversations. I’ve never met anyone like you. It’s as if we complete each other despite the fact that we are diametric opposites. I’ve had some time to think over the last few days. I was okay before you called. I was getting used to the solitude. Maybe you’re just too good for me. I know you’re too good for me. You’re right about that.”

--“W-wait a minute…”

“No, you wait! Look, wake up! I just did! You’re the kind of girl who’ll end up marrying a doctor or a lawyer one day. You’re the one who looks too far ahead into the future. You’re the one who always asks; ‘what would you be 5-years from now?’ I don’t know. I could be dead tomorrow so I’m not really worried. That’s how I am. That’s how I live. Five minutes into the future isn’t my thing. I don’t plan. I don’t want to know how magic tricks work because that’s what life is all about—at least for me! I go with the flow. I let things happen because ultimately, I am NOT in control!”

 

 

There was nothing she could say. He was right. He may be a bum but he was a smart bum. Much as she would want to confess how she truly felt, there was always the awful truth.