The Amazing Story Challenge: Day 3
Date: March 5th,
2016
Numbers: 58, 33, 7
Prompt: “Disowned
by an angry uncle, a 15-year-old college students receives an important call”
Medium: Short Story
Phone Calls to Home
By: Hayley Michelle Trachtenberg
Tuesday March 1st, 2016
10:30 am Standard Eastern Time. 5m, 3s.
(732)-391-7642, A, calling (408)-755-9312, B.
A: Hey, can you
hear me?
B: That you, Sport?
A: Yes. Happy
Birthday!
B: It’s just
another year.
A: No its not: it’s
the big 5-0.
B: Another year
older. Don’t remind me. What are you calling for?
A: Just checking
in. Saying happy birthday. Mom told me to call.
B: Oh.
A: Ya…
B: Well, if that’s
all---
A: Actually, no. I
didn’t want to take advantage of the day but--//
B: But what.
A: I was wondering
if I could visit you and Aunt Martha. School’s been pretty rough; I was
wondering if I could take the weekend off.
B: I don’t know;
you and your mom live pretty far.
A: Well, I don’t
actually. I’m staying on campus.
B: At Darrow?
A: Ya. I go there
now. Early enrollment.
B: Oh. Your mom
didn’t mention that.
A: I just started a
few months ago. It’s alright... Well, think you can? I know you only live about
20 minutes from there.
B: Uh, ya. Sure.
I’ll see you then.
A: Great! Thank
you! And have a happy birthday Uncle Jack!
B: Ya. Sure. Bye.
End Call.
Monday March 7th, 2016
2:37 pm Standard Eastern Time. 7m, 22s.
(732)-391-7642, A, calling (408)-755-9312, B.
A: Hey Uncle Jack,
it’s me Sidney.
B: Hey sport,
what’s up?
A: Nothing. Just
calling to say that I had a great time this weekend.
B: All you did was
stay in the guest room.
A: I know, and I
feel bad. Maybe I we can hang out this weekend too?
B: I don’t know.
You’re Aunt Martha has work//
A: Ya, but I can
still hang out with you, right? I’ll be out of your hair. I won’t be too
bothersome. But I could really use the company. It’s lonely up here at the
university.
B: College ain’t
what you thought it’d be?
A: Yes, and no. I
just haven’t made as many friends as I thought I would.
B: Cuz you haven’t
matured yet.
A: No it’s not
that. Its just everyone here goes out all the time. I don’t have any money to
spend. It’s all going to tuition. Making friends isn’t hard, but affording to
keep up with them is. And fun with you is priceless!
B: Well, I’ll see…
A: Oh thank you,
thank you, thank you! I’ll see you on Friday, same time?
B: Okay, sport. I
gotta go.
A: Okay, thank you!
Goodbye!
B: Bye.
B: Bye.
End Call
Monday March 14th, 2016
12: 45pm Standard Eastern Time. 1m, 4s.
(732)-391-7642, A, calling (408)-755-9312, B.
A: Hey Uncle.
B: Sport, are we
making this weekly thing?
A: Why not?
B: I got other
things to do you know.
A: But Aunt Martha
likes me. She says it’s good to have a kid around the house.
B: I know, but//
A: Don’t you like
your one and only niece?
B: Alright,
alright: I’ll see you at noon.
End Call
Sunday April 23, 2016
4:00pm Standard Eastern Time. 3m, 16s.
(732)-391-7642, A, calling (408)-755-9312, B.
A: Hey, where are
you?
B: Change of plans,
Sport. I gotta run an errand with your Aunt.
A: Can’t you pick
me up and we can run it together?
B: We’re driving in
the opposite direction.
A: But we had
plans.
B: Well plans
change. Don’t you have studying to do?
A: Well, yes but//
B: Go to the
library.
A: I can’t afford a
library card.
B: You’re in
college, you should get a free one.
A: They think I’m
still in high school.
B: Well, you are
15.
A: Yes, but I am
enrolled. They just won’t realize it. I can’t get a card. I can’t study here. I
need to be at your place this weekend.
B: You don’t need
to//
A: Yes, I do.
B: Well I’m sorry,
I can’t pick you up this week.
A: Uncle, please, you
don’t understand. Can’t you pick me up after your errand on the way home?
B: This errand
might take awhile.
A: What’s the
errand?
B: Your aunt and I
are going to the doctors.
A: Oh! Is
everything alright?
B: Ya, the doctor
just wants to check some stuff.
A: Well can you
pick me up afterwards…?
B:…Fine, I will see
you then.
End Call
Wednesday April 27th, 2016
4:34am Standard Eastern Time. 37s.
(732)-391-7642, A, calling (408)-755-9312, B.
A: So what did the
doctors say?
B: Sport… is that
you?
A: Yes. What did
the doctors say?
B: It’s 4 in the
morning.
A: I know. What did
the doctors say?
B: Can’t this wait
until later?
A: No. Am I going
to have a little cousin or not?
B: Yes.
End Call
Friday May 6th, 2016
12: 24pm Standard Eastern Time. 3m, 16s.
(732)-391-7642, A, calling (408)-755-9312, B.
A: Hey, I’m outside.
B: Okay. We have some errands to run before we get home.
A: More doctors?
B: Where there are
babies, there are doctors.
A: When are you
going to start thinking of names?
B: Soon.
A: What about
Candice.
B: Sport, I said
soon. We’ll talk in the car. You have what you need?
A: Always do. I see
your car! Hold on.
End Call
Thursday May 19th, 2016
3: 12pm Standard Eastern Time. 5m, 31s.
(732)-391-7642, A, calling (408)-755-9312, B.
A: Hey Uncle. I’m
calling from Wallmart, need anything?
B: How’d you get
there?
A: There’s a public
bus.
B: Oh. Thank you,
but I’m good.
A: What about Aunt
Martha? Anything she need?
B: She’s not in the
car.
A: Oh. Where is
she? At work?
B: No, she’s home
for a few days. She doesn’t feel well.
A: Oh, got it.
Okay, well: think we can make it an early weekend?
B: Don’t you have
class.?
A: Uh… no?
B: Are you sure?
A: Yes.
B: And you aren’t
lying to me?
A: Yes. Can you
pick me up at Wallmart?
B: I’ll be there in
about 20 minutes. Bye Sport.
End Call
Tuesday May 24th, 2016
1:03pm Standard Eastern Time. 3m, 16s.
(732)-391-7642, A, calling (408)-755-9312, B.
A: Uncle Jack. It’s
me.
B: Hey kid, you
were just here. What are you calling me for?
A: Nothing. Just
left something there.
B: Is it important?
A: No, not really.
Just a sweater and a few books. But I don’t need them for class. I have them
online.
B: Alright.
Anything else you called for?
A: No, I just
wanted to see if you were okay with me leaving a few things at your place. ‘Cuz
I’m there so often, I mean.
B: Ya, sure.
A: You don’t mind?
B: I just said I
didn’t, didn’t I?
A: Just checking…‘Cuz
with the baby and all.
B: Well the baby
isn’t here yet.
A: Are you turning
the guest room into the baby’s room?
B: Yes.
A: Oh…Alight. Well
then, I’ll leave you to whatever you were doing.
B: How kind of you.
I’ll see you next weekend, alright?
A: Yup! See you
then!
End Call
Tuesday May 31th, 2016
8:55pm Standard Eastern Time. 12m, 7s.
(732)-391-7642, A, calling (408)-755-9312, B.
A: Hey Uncle Jack.
B: Sydney. Hello.
A: Hey, yea. Just
checking in…How’s Aunt Martha?
B: Fine. Just fine.
B: Fine. Just fine.
A: You don’t sound
fine.
B: It’s just been a
long night, kid. She hasn’t been feeling well.
A: That’s pretty
different from fine.
B: Look, is there
anything you want?
A: Nope. Just
checking in.
B: Okay well if
that’s all//
A: Actually, I was
wondering next week when I see you if it was alright if I brought some more
things.
B: What are you trying
to do, move in?
A: …Well I just
think it would be nice to have some things there.
B: What kind of
things, Syd.
A: You know,
make-up, clothes, books, other things. My things.
B: Your dorm room
ain’t big enough?
A: Well, I’m at
your place more often than I am at my own dorm.
B: Just make sure
you are actually still in college right?
A: Of course I am,
Uncle. I just don’t know how long I’ll be in the dorm, so I just don’t think
it’s wise to keep all my stuff there. It’s expensive to live on campus.
B: Well you have to
your first year, don’t you?
A: Yea, but my
second year I don’t have to.
B: Well, I’m sure
you and your mother can work out finances for what’s best for you.
A: Want me to tell
her you said hi?
B: Sure.
A: Okay. Mom’s real
excited about baby Candice.
B: It’s too soon to
think of baby names.
A: No it’s not.
I’ll see you this weekend, alright?
B: Alright.
A: With some stuff.
B: I said alright!
B: I said alright!
A: …sheesh,
alright.
End Call
Thursday June 2nd, 2016
11:27am Standard Eastern Time. 58s.
(732)-391-7642, A, calling (408)-755-9312, B.
B: *The person you
are trying to reach is unavailable at the moment. Please leave a message after
the tone: BEEP*
A: Hey Uncle Jack….
I heard about…. Yea, I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I know it’s got to be hard
for you right now. That’s certainly a thing to happen. My mom’s still weeping,
I can’t even imagine what you and Aunt Martha are feeling. Guess it was too
soon for names after all….I’m still seeing you tomorrow though, right?
End Call
Saturday June 4th, 2016
10:00am Standard Eastern Time. 2m, 3s.
(732)-391-7642, A, calling (408)-755-9312, B.
B: *The person you
are trying to reach is unavailable at the moment. Please leave a message after
the tone: BEEP*
A: Hey Uncle Jack,
I’m sorry about my last message, my mom pointed out to me that that might have
been a bit insensitive…. I didn’t see you yesterday. I wait on the green for
like, an hour. I know you and Aunt Martha might want to be alone, but it would
still be nice to hear from you…. If you need anything, let me know. Maybe I can
stay with you guys, for comfort reasons…. You know, this is the first weekend
in almost 3 months that I haven’t stayed at your house? Funny. I was calling it
home too. Just an idea, is all. I know you and Aunt Martha might want to be
home for the next few days. But if you need company, or anything, really at
all: just call me okay? Just call me.
End Call
Tuesday June 7th, 2016
10:00am Standard Eastern Time. 4m, 12s.
(732)-391-7642, A, calling (408)-755-9312, B.
B: *The person you
are trying to reach is unavailable at the moment. Please leave a message after
the tone: BEEP*
A: It’s Sydney…
again. My mom pointed out to me that my last message was also inappropriate. I
was just worried. I am worried. No one’s heard from you in a few days… are you
angry at me? I was just upset, and I know you are all upset: and when others
are sad I get sad: and it’s a big mess. I know what I said didn’t come out
right, but you know what I meant. It’s a tragedy, but you can’t let it ruin…
you can’t let it ruin you. You need to talk to us. My mom is worried sick. She
says if she doesn’t hear from you soon she is driving up. And I’m worried too…
very. I just want to see you again. You’re family. And family is supposed to
lean on each other in times like this: and you are shutting us all out…. I need
a book that I left in the guest room…. I need that book and I need to hear from
you. Call me. Please.
End Call
Tuesday June 7th, 2016
5:35pm Standard Eastern Time. 8m, 29s.
(408)-755-9312, B, calling (732)-391-7642, A.
A: *Hey, It’s Sydney!*
B: Sydney, I//
A: *If you’re calling I’m probably out, but I’ll get back to you as soon
as I can! Okay, bye!*....*Please leave a message after
the tone: BEEP*
B: Sydney… It’s me.
I um… I’m just returning your call. I’m sorry for the distance but it’s just…. You
are young. And you don’t understand at your age. And I can’t blame you for what
you don’t know. But this is harder than it looks…. I’m fine. Tell your mother
that…Aunt Martha is getting there. She misses you around the house. I said it
wasn’t a good idea to have you here. She sits in our room and just talks about
you…I don’t think it’s healthy for you to be here right now. You just… I never
had a kid of my own, but I always liked you. And when you were real young,
Martha was the same way. She’d take you to the park, or to the grocery store; those
little kid gymnastic classes that you were awful at. She just wanted to spend
time with you…I was never good with tiny ones, but she loved it. And I love
her, and so I was real close with you and your mom. And then you grew up, and
moved away. Martha got her job, and she forgot about kids and you and she moved
on… And then you started coming around our place on the weekends. And you don’t
even know what you did: she loves you, kid. Really. Purely loves you, and when
she found out she was… and at her age, she just told me that she was the
luckiest woman in the world. She was gonna have to two daughters… She liked that name. Candice. But now… and
now, I’m just worried that seeing you is gonna do more harm than good. ‘Cuz I
can’t look at you without seeing your mom; and you don’t understand what that’s
like! You’re a kid… A little kid. And my little kid woulda had eyes like your
moms: it runs in the family… just… I’ll drop your stuff off at your dorm. Tell
your mother everything is alright. Don’t come up…Sometimes Adults have to do
things alone. Bye, sport.
End Call
Tuesday June 7th, 2016
11:28pm Standard Eastern Time. 8m, 45s.
(732)-248-7842,C, calling (1)-911, D.
D: Arena County.
This is 911, what can I do for you today.
C: Hello, yes. I’m
calling in a missing person.
D: Okay, can I get
their name, the last place they were seen, and your relation to that person.
C: Her name is
Sydney. Sydney Ross… I’m her mother… We talk every day, and she hasn’t called
me today.
D: Mam’, do you
think it’s possible that her phone is just dead?
C: She’s 15, her
phone is not dead…I called her roommate, when she didn’t pick up. She said that
she didn’t come home last night. Which is odd because Sydney doesn’t go out.
She just doesn’t.
D: Okay, mam’, calm
down. When is the last time you heard from her…
C: Yesterday
morning. She was talking to me about my brother. Her Uncle Jack… they were very
close, and he’s recently hit a hard point and//
D: Okay mam’, if
you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to get his number. Maybe she ended up by him.
C: Oh no, he wouldn’t
want to see her right now… some things have happened at his home.
D: Mam’ it is my
duty of the law to explore every possibility of what could have happened. To
find your daughter, I am going to have to ask you to give me his number.
C: He wouldn’t do
anything…. He just wouldn’t… he’s just sad. Officer, my brother is just sad
right now, he wouldn’t//
D: Mam’//
C: It’s.. (408)….75..59312.
That’s his number, but please: he wouldn’t//
D: And he’s the
last person she talked to?
C: I’m sure of
that. They talked on the phone a lot, but her wouldn’t//
D: Alright, I’ll
have one of my officers pull their phone records: maybe we’ll find something as
to where she could be.
C: Oh thank you. I
am so worried.
D: Would like us to
send an officer to your location, mam’?
C: No, no that’s
alright. I’d just like to be with my family right now… after all, family is all
you got, right?
End Call
Wednesday June 8th, 2016
1:34am Standard Eastern Time. 4m, 12s.
(732)-391-7642, A, calling (408)-755-9312, B.
A: Uncle?
B: Sydney? *Martha, it’s Sydney!* Sydney, where
are you?!
A: I’m outside.
B: We were looking
all over for you! Your mother was worried, she called the police when you didn’t
call her//
A: I’m sorry, I was
trying to get to your place to talk in person, but I got lost and walked in the
wrong the direction//
B: You’re outside//
A: Yes, a bit down
the block//
B: Stay where you
are, I’m coming to get you. *Martha, I’m
going to get Syd. Call Courtney and tell her that she’s here.*
A: It’s cold out,
you don’t have to//
B: Sydney, I’m coming
to get you. Okay? Okay, which way are you: down hershey or parker street?
A: I’m on cherri avenue
I think. It’s dark out, the street signs are hard to read.
B: Did you walk
here? Across the highway?
A: Yea. After I got
your message I just need to talk to you…
B: Sydney, you
scared all of us.
A: I know,//
B: No you don’t.
You really gave us a fright. I don’t ever whant you to do that again//
A: But you wouldn’t
pick up! You wouldn’t talk to me!... You said you didn’t want to see me…
B: Honey… it’s not
that I don’t want to see you. I just can’t right now with everything//
A: I would think it
would be the opposite. I would want to be with my family right now. I would
keep my family close. That’s why we have them. For times like this.
B: I was so
worried. I thought I was gonna lose//
A: Well I’m alive. I’m
fine. I’m here, okay?//
B: Sydney? Sydney!
Can you hear me?
A: What?
B: Sydney!//
A: Uncle? I think I
hear you….
B: Sydney! Can you
hear me?
A: I see you! Can
you see me?! I’m waving my hands!
B: Sydney! Sydney!
I see you, I’m coming…. I am coming Sydney.
End Call
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