The house phone rang and because I was hard at work editing my magazine, I picked it up on auto.
‘Hello?’ I spoke.
‘Good afternoon, Mrs Guilding,’ an man with a heavy Indian accent spoke.
I frowned into the phone. A cold caller for sure. I carried on typing away, too busy to stop.
The voice continued speaking without seeming to pause for breath, ‘my name is Kevin and I am calling you from the Peoples’ Life Survey. May I ask you some household questions? It’ll only take a few minutes of your time.’
‘Sorry, I’m not interested…’ I cut in.
‘Please, Mrs. I shall make it as quick as possible,’ Kevin voice’s rushed.
I sighed. I didn’t have time for this. I went to say goodbye and hang up the phone but Kevin bet me to speaking.
‘Don’t worry!’ he said.
Then the line went dead.
Puzzled, I took my phone from my ear before pressing it back again. The dial tone beeped like a steady heartbeat. I hit the end call button and placed the phone down. I could get on with my editing again.
A strange feeling crept over me. My mind began turning over those words and making them into some sinister.
I stopped working and got up. I had been sat for about four hours. Now, my body became awake. I had to use the bathroom and get a drink, maybe some food. Walking past the window, I peered out through the blinds. Everything looked normal out there. I walked out of the study, went to the bathroom then the kitchen.
Whilst I was making coffee and a sandwich, the phone rang again.
Ah! Kevin. We must have just got cut off. There’s nothing weird going on.
I picked up the kitchen phone, fully expecting to hear his voice again. Instead all I got was a beeping sound followed by white noise.
I checked the phone out, wondering if it was something wrong with my line. Placing the phone back, I picked it up again. The dial tone was just as steady as before. Shrugging, I finished making my late lunch and went into the conservatory to eat it.
The glass room was warm and comforting. The pale walls and wicker furniture give it a summer feel though looking outside the weather had decided to rain today. Settling into the sofa, I listened to the wind and rain outside, relaxing into the silence.
The phone rang. I had sandwich in my mouth. Swallowing, I got up and answered the phone.
‘Hello?’ I spoke.
The line was fuzzy was static.
A voice broke through, ‘Kevin…The Peoples’ Life Survey…I ask you question?’
‘I’m sorry. The line is really bad,’ I responded.
‘Make it quick, yes,’ Kevin shouted.
‘No. Bye.’
I hung up the phone.
When I had finished lunch, I sat for a few more minutes and watched the rain fall. Kevin was still on my mind. What was that all about? I glanced at the phone. Willing it to ring, so I could asked him.
The phone stayed silent for the rest of the day.
The Story Files 