Calling On a Sunday

162

A phone call between old friends.

 

Originally published in SHareCon 2010 zine.

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No matter how much he ignored it, the phone just kept ringing. Whoever was on the other end was not giving up easily, that much was evident.

“What?!” David yelled, after quickly snatching up the phone beside his chair.

“Do you always answer your phone like that?” The rich laugh filled his ears, his heart.

“Paulie? What in the world? It’s Sunday,” he said, sinking back into the soft cushions.

“Yeah, I know. And you’re home at this hour.”

“Made an early night of it,” David lied.

“Can’t go all-night like you used to?” Paul teased.

“Something like that. So…what’s going on?”

“Mm, nothing. Just wanted to hear your voice.”

“That’s unusual. Getting soft in your old age,” David laughed.

“You love this old sap, though.”

“Not denying that.”

“You coming to California for Thanksgiving?” There was hope in Paul’s voice; at least David thought so.

“Maybe. Why?”

“Don’t be coy. You probably booked your ticket five months ago, didn’t you?”

David laughed deeply at that. “Maybe.”

“Think you can get some time away from the family?”

“Do I even have to make excuses anymore?”

“Guess not,” Paul sighed.

David was instantly alert at the sound. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I just…miss you.”

“I miss you, too. But, it’s not long now.”

“Davey, do you even know what you’ve done to me?”

“Lately?” David teased.

“No, I mean metaphorically,” Paul continued on, undeterred.

“Are you drunk?”

“That’s supposed to be my line.”

“One and the same.”

“No, I’m not drunk,” Paul admitted. “Lonely, but not drunk.”

“So you’ve decided to ponder life’s deep thoughts in the meantime?”

“Good a time as any.”

“You come up with any answers?”

“Some. More questions than answers.”

“Care to share them?”

Paul was silent for a few moments, only the harsh sound of his breathing reaching David’s ears. Then, Paul admitted, “I can’t quit you.”

“Were you planning on it?!”

“No, I mean…” Paul trailed off, as if trying to gather his thoughts. “I can’t, I won’t. Everybody else, I have to be strong and in control, but with you…”

“You can be yourself. We can both be ourselves,” David agreed.

“I need that in my life.”

“Well, you’ve got me…always.”

“Took us a long time to figure that out again. All that time, all those years…”

“Shh, don’t think about that,” David soothed. “We got it back, that’s all that matters.”

“Davey?”

“Yeah?”

“I know I don’t say it enough, but I do love you,” Paul said. “You know that, right?”

“I know it. I always knew it.”

“I guess I should go. It’s late over there and you’re probably tired…” Paul’s voice trailed off again.

“Paulie?”

“Yeah?”

“Hang up the phone.”

“I’ll call you on Thursday, alright?”

“Yeah…Thursday.”