A Phone Call

She answered on the third ring.

“Hello, this is–”

“Sheila?”

She pressed the button on the side of the plastic receiver to lower the volume.

“Yeah, it’s me, Ma.”

“Did you get my messages?”

“Yes.”

“You could have called back.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Well.”

“Is something wrong?”

“No. Daddy says to say hello.”

“Listen, can we talk later?”

“It’s been months.”

“I called last week.”

“That wasn’t a real talk, that was medical talk.”

“So?”

“Well.”

“I’ve gotta go.”

“So will you visit soon?”

“I don’t know.”

“We miss you.”

“I know.”

“Daddy’s been doing well. They’ve got him on a new medication, I can’t remember what it is. He’s been out in the garden, it’s been so nice.”

“You know he likes being outside, he’s told you that a million times.”

“You’re upset.”

“No, I’m not!”

“This is why you need to come visit. Then you’d see it was the right thing to do–

“What was the right thing to do?”

“Moving him.”

“You moved him? You promised you wouldn’t move him!”

“Oh, please.”

“I told you I wanted to be there!”

“He hasn’t moved yet!” Her mother insisited.

“What?”

“I meant he will be happier, when we move him!”

“So you haven’t moved him yet? He’s still home? Put him on, I want to talk to him.”

“He’s out on a walk.”

“You told me he can’t even get into the kitchen anymore!”

“Well, he’s walking in the garden!”

“You’re acting strange.”

“No I’m not!”

“Yes you are!”

“I’m just a little tired.”

“Why?”

“He doesn’t sleep well. You’d know that if you visited.”

“I can’t just leave.” Sheila said.

“Well, I’ll let your father know. I’m sure he’ll be disappointed.”

“Don’t guilt me!”

“I’m not trying to guilt you, Shelby, I’m just–”

“What did you call me?”

“What?”

“You called me Shelby.”

“Well, I told you, I’m tired.”

“Are you sure nothing is going on?”

“Yes!”

“Just tell me if there is.”

“I’m tired! You’d see how hard things are if you visited.”

“Don’t!”

“He just wants to see you while he’s able to enjoy you. Before the cancer gets worse.”

“Cancer?”

“What?”

“Daddy has cancer?”

“What are you–”

“I knew it! I knew you were hiding something!”

“–talking about?”

“You’ve been so strange, I knew something was wrong!”

“Stop! He doesn’t have cancer!”

“What?”

“Daddy’s fine! He doesn’t have cancer!”

“You just said he had cancer!”

“No I didn’t! I told you, everything is fine!”

“Hang on a second.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Someone’s in the driveway.”

“Who?”

“Did someone take your car?”

“What?”

“Your car is in the driveway.”

“Well, that can’t be right. The car is right outside.”

“It’s your car, it has that dent on the front.”

“That’s not possible.”

“They’re getting out.”

“Who? Who’s getting out?”

“You are.”

“What?”

“It’s you. You’re outside.”

“Well, that’s not possible.”

“It’s you. You’re right there. It’s you.”

There was a queer doubling as identical voices issued simultaneously from the phone and from the porch.

The door opened.

Both mothers called the wrong name.