The Call

The Call

Ring! Ring!

John picks up his phone. “Hello?”

"I have a message for you," came a strong male voice.

“Who is this?”

“I have a message for you.”

“OK, what’s the message, and who is this?”

“You need not know who this is, the message is…”

John broke in. “If I can’t know who’s talking, why would I want to hear what you’re saying?”

“Ah… it’s a message to you?”

“From who?”

“I am not at liberty to say. The message is…”

John broke in, “I don’t want to hear a message from an anonymous stranger. Goodbye…”

“Wait!” the voice came quickly, and a bit annoyed, “Just let me say what I’m supposed to say. This’ll just take a second.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s a short message!”

“I mean why are you doing this?”

“Because I’m the messenger! Can you just let me give you the message for crying out loud!”

“Did you get paid to call me with this message?”

“Of course!”

“OK, I’ll let you tell me, but… I’ll give you ten bucks if you also tell me who the message is from…”

“But it’s supposed to be a secret. I won’t get paid if I tell you!”

“OK, how about this… you tell me then hang up, then call me back and tell me who sent the message, and I’ll give you ten bucks.”

“Ah…’

“Twenty!”

“Deal!”

“OK. Message: ‘Happy Birthday!’”

“You’re kidding…”

“No…”

“But it isn’t my birthday…”

“It isn’t? Is this Kevin?”

“No, my name is John.”

“Crap! I must have dialed wrong! 2258?”

“No, I’m 2257, you just hit the wrong key.”

“So, no twenty bucks…?”

“Sorry.”

“It’s OK, I get it. Just trying to make a living.”

“You make a living at this?”

“Twenty buck an anonymous call!”

“Where do you work???”

“Sorry…” click.