Dark is Here:

Sophia Maxell







I sneak out to the balcony hall and make the long walk past all the empty guest rooms. I pass my brother Zack's room, and I past Lee's room. Both of them must have gone to sleep hours ago. I sneak down the steps without making any noise and finish my run to the guest living room. I take the phone from off the end table and take it with me under the sofa, and then I stay still and listen for a minuet. I don't hear any footsteps. I take a big nervous breath and dial the operator. One ring later a woman answers the phone.



"Hello operator speaking, how may I help you?" She says.



"Uhh…" My voice gets small suddenly.



"How can I help you?" The voice asks more firmly.



It dampens my courage, but I clear my throat and force my words to come out.



"Uh, I'd like to make a collect call please." I say.



"Name of the person calling?"



"Sophia."



"And the name of the person you're trying to reach?"



"…Zandy James." I say.



"Ok, Area code first and then the number please."



…



"Ma'am?" The operator says. "Number please."



"…Um…I don't exactly know the number."



"Do you know the exact city or state?" She asks.



"Heaven, please."



"Excuse me?"



"Heaven." I repeat.



Now she's silent for a moment. It makes me feel like she's hung up on me.



"Umm," The operator says. "There's a Heavener in…Okalahoma."



"That's not the one." I say.



"Well then which is it ma'am?"



"Umm, you know Heaven, the one with God." I say.



The operator is about to say something but then she stops. And then she's about to start but stops again.



"I'm sorry but I can't do that." She says. I'm surprised that she's still patient.



"Why?" I ask. I really want to hear her response.



"Well because we don't have a phone line to Heaven." She says.



"Then can I speak to God?"



"Ma'am, how old are you?"



"…Why?" I ask.



"Because this isn't the way you can talk to God," The operator speaks in a low tone. "But if you answer some questions for me I'll help as best I can." I feel dumb. Like when someone asks me something and I'm completely not prepared. I guess I could hang up though, if I don't want to talk to her.



"I'm eleven." I go.



"Where do you live?"



"…Florida." I say.



"The best place to go to learn about God would be a church."



Church. I don't think I've ever been there but once. The time Mom died and all those people came to watch her go into the ground. But I don't want to talk to God; I really just wanted to talk to Zandy.



"…I don't know if God really wants to talk to me," I say "…I was just hoping he might let me talk to my friend again."



"Do you know anyone who would listen to you?"



"…Well, I only had one friend," I say. "But I think, maybe… Lee seems ok."



"Do you think he's open minded about God?"



"I thought I saw him talking to God one night." I say. "But I didn't see God and I couldn't hear what they were talking about."



"Well that should get you somewhere shouldn't it? The next time you see Lee, make sure and ask him about God."



"Ok," I go. "I'll ask him."