Happenings in Paradise – The Telephone Call

Norma cautiously lifted the telephone and dialed the operator, carefully deciphering Mrs. Jason’s writing . She wasn’t used to the telephone, and was afraid she would make a mistake and waste money calling a wrong number. She asked the operator to make the call ‘person to person’, so that she wouldn’t be paying for the time she was waiting. On the few occasions when Norma made a long distance call,  she tried to reach her party quickly, then have that person phone her back. No one minded this. They all knew she had very little money. And the operator always agreed to call her back once she hung up, to give her the cost of the initial call. 

Norma could hardly wait to talk to her

She waited in the hall, shivering a little with excitement, anxious to hear the voice she hadn’t heard in months.

When she heard the breathless, “Hello, Norma?” she felt a thrill of happiness in the pit of her stomach.

“Hi Doreen,” she said softly, “How are you? Life treating you okay?”

“More than okay, Norma. That’s why I’m calling you. I have really, really good news, and I didn’t want to tell you in a letter.” Doreen paused, savoring the moment. “I met a guy, a real dreamboat, and I’m in love.”

Norma was dumbfounded. The happiness she felt a minute ago turned suddenly sour. What was Doreen thinking? She was only seventeen! And what about their summer plans, and University?

“So you love him,” she said, finally, “That doesn’t mean anything has changed though, does it? You’re still coming home at Christmas, and this summer?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Doreen said, “It’s up to David. He says he wants to do what I want, but I know David, and he probably has already made some plans. And another thing, Norma. Please listen up for this…”

Norma became alert as her friend’s voice lowered to the old conspiratorial tone they used when they had some delicious gossip to share.

“What?” she asked, bracing herself.

It wasn’t welcome news

“I think he wants to be with me and my parents during Christmas, at the farm. Mum invited us. I think he wants to ask me something important.”

“Like what?” Norma knew she sounded idiotic— she wished Doreen would just hurry up and tell her everything.

But Doreen paused, for effect. Norma could picture her licking her lips over this, just like she used to do when they gossiped. Only this time, she thought, it wasn’t gossip. It was real life.

“I think he wants to give me a ring.” Doreen practically squealed, “I think he’s going to ask me to marry him.”

Norma couldn’t help herself, “Oh, Gawd! But Doreen, you’re only seventeen! Are you really sure he’s the guy?”

Suddenly the line was still, but Norma knew Doreen was there. She could hear her breathing.

“Norma,” she finally said, her voice cold.”Can’t you be a little happy for me? Can’t you hear how happy I am?”

“Of course I’m happy for you,” she said. “I just want you to be sure. Getting married is a huge step. I just want you to be very, very sure.”

Doreen makes her choice

“Well, Norma, I can’t live like you, planning everything every step of the way. Excuse me, but I fell in love, and I like it.  This is my big chance. Someone like David might not come around again.”

Yeah, Norma wanted to say, there are hundreds of guys like David out there, but you are seventeen only once. You can do anything you want right now, be anything you want. And you are throwing it all away.

But she didn’t say any such thing. Instead, she asked all of the usual things, like what was he like, what did he do, how did he treat her.

She had one last question. “Are you going to graduate in June, Doreen?” she asked.

“Of course, and I want you to come to Peace River to see me graduate. And I’ll come to your graduation next year. Just like we always planned.”

“Sure, I’ll be there.” she said, “And Doreen?”

“What?” Doreen answered.

“Don’t forget about me,” she said, her voice suddenly thick with emotion. “Just because you are with a guy.”

A few seconds after she hung up, the phone rang. It was the operator, saying she owed two dollars and ten cents.

Norma let out a yelp, and slapped her forehead. Mrs. Jason came around the corner, wondering what was wrong.

“I just did myself out of two dollars and ten cents.” Norma said “Now I’ve lost a friend, and two dollars too!”

To be continued on October 30, 2016