Making Friends

“Crisis helpline. How can I help you?”
“Hi.”
“Hi there! What can I help you with you today?”
“I found this number on a … well, it was an ad. In the subway. It said if you were feeling confused or … if you were scared … you could call. And you could talk to someone.”
“I’m that someone, sir. Is there something you want to talk about?”
“Well, I’m not sure. I mean, you’re just a stranger. Not even that. You’re just a voice.”
“And I’m here to listen. To anything you want to say.”
“Okay. Well, how does this work? How do I start?”
“You talk, I listen. Pretty simple.”
“Well … can you at least tell me your name first?”
“Sure I can. My name is Rachel.”
“Okay … so … do you want to know mine?”
“Only if you want to tell me.”
“No. Well, maybe. Okay. It’s … Mike---no---Jack. Yeah. Jack.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Jack.”
“You sound very young, Rachel. I mean, like a teenager. I don’t know that I should be talking to a teenager.”
“I sound younger than I am. Everyone says that.”
“Yeah? Do you have a lot of friends?”
“Let’s focus on you, okay?”
“I’ll bet you have loads of Facebook friends.”
“What made you want to call us today, Jack?”
“Us? Are there other people there with you?”
“Jack, what do you want to talk about?”
“I just think it might be important that you’re not alone.”
“We need to focus on you, Jack.”
“Okay, you’re getting upset. I can tell by the way you keep repeating my name.”
“I’m not upset. It’s just that we have to keep this line open for people who genuinely need help.”
“You don’t think I need help?”
“So far it doesn’t sound like it.”
“Well, you’re right. I don’t.”
“Okay, well then maybe we should---“
“But I think she might. I think I may have hurt her. And I think she might need help.”
“Is she there with you?”
“Yes.”
“Can she come to the phone?”
“Not any more.”
“What happened to her, Jack?”
“She … slipped.”
“She slipped? You mean she fell?”
“Pretty much the same thing, isn’t it?”
“Jack, does someone there need an ambulance?”
“Oh no. Nothing like that.”
“But you said this person might be hurt.”
“Yeah … I may have been wrong about that. I don’t think hurt is the right word.”
“Well, what would the right word be?”
“Are you sure there isn’t someone older there?”
“You said that you might have hurt her. But then you said she fell.”
“I’m not sure you’re listening. I said she slipped.”
“Okay. She slipped. Did you make her slip?”
“What kind of person would make another person slip? That would be a terrible thing to do. What kind of person do you think I am?”
“I think you’re a person … concerned for your friend’s wellbeing.”
“Who said she was a friend?”
“She isn’t?”
“Not any more.”
“Did you two … have a fight?”
“No. She ran away. She slipped on her way out. I kept telling her not to run.”
“Why was she running, Jack?”
“Dead.”
“What?”
“I think dead’s the right word … Yeah. Hey. Are you still there?”
“I’m still… I’m here.”
“I told her over and over again, but she kept trying to get away.  I told her about the floors here, how slick they are. They’re marble, you know.”
“You know, I think maybe … maybe I should let you speak to my supervisor.”
“I’d really rather speak to you, Rachel. I’m feeling a kind of repartee here.”
“But I’m not … This sounds like it could be a matter for …”
“Someone older?”
“Um … maybe. Yeah, maybe.”
“Don’t be silly, Rachel. You’re doing great. I mean, you’re making lots of mistakes, but for someone your age, that’s got to be expected.”
“I’m twenty-six.””
“No way. That’s crazy. Do you realize you’re a year older than I am?”
“Re…really?”
“We must be from the same area. I mean, this is a community helpline.  I’ll bet we went to the same high school. Twenty-six, that makes you class of eighty-six, right? What school did you go to, Rache?”
“S-Sorry, I---I can’t---“
“I’m just trying to be friendly with you. I’ll bet we have a lot in common. Who knows, we’re from the same area, we might even run into each other. And that would be good for me, because I don’t have a lot of friends. In fact, tonight I’m one short.”
“Sir---“
“Mike. Call me Mike.”
“I---I’m going to have to let you talk to someone else now---“
“Rachel… are you running away from me?”
“No! No, of course not.”
“I really don’t like it when friends run away from me.”
“Sir---Mike---I’m not running away, but---“
“Sir Mike. That’s cute. I like that….”
“No, he’s right here---can you---please?”
“Rachel, who are you talking to?”
“Just---my supervisor---he can---“
“He can’t take your place, Rache. But I’m glad to know you’re not alone.  That you have someone to talk to if you need to.”
“I don’t, I---“
“Are you sure? You sound a little … confused. Maybe scared.”
“No, I’m---fine.”
“You don’t sound it, sweets. But you know what? I feel much better.  I have to admit, I had my doubts about this helpline thing, but you were right. Me talking, you listening, simple stuff, but it did the trick. I feel fantastic. Ready to start fresh.”
“Jack---I mean, Mike---can you just----?”
“Oh don’t you worry, Rache. I’ll be in touch.”