Write a story in the form of a landline phone conversation.

Posted in Dialogue on Jan 10, 2025

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✍️ 80 stories

“A Basket of Kittens and Three Million Dollars” by Georgiana V. Shana

Submitted to Contest #285

Just do it already!Ah! What the— Emma? You’re home early. How long have you been on the line?Long enough to hear you pick up the phone, sigh mournfully, debate if you should call Becca, and then hang up thirty-two times.… It wasn’t that many times.You’re right. It was more like ninety-two.It wasn’t— Are you in the basement?How did you know?Because that’s the location of the only other phone in this house.Oh, right. If you already knew where I was, why did you ask?It wasn’t an inquiry so much as an expression of my shock and bafflement.Why ar...

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“Melancholy, a Phone Conversation ” by Chloe Spor

Submitted to Contest #285

ring ring“Hello?” “Oh- Sarah! I wasn't sure if you were going to answer.” “Oh, Anne! I’m sorry. I know I’ve been busy, I guess I-““I know, honey. I know. I can't blame you for missing our calls.”“I haven't forgotten, you know.”“I know, Sarah. It’s okay.”sigh “Well, how are you?” “Come on, Sarah. I’m not the one with the story to tell. James told me when I called last month. I’m so sorry.”“Oh, yeah. Well, um, I… I don't know where to begin, partially ’cause the kids are still around. I'd hate for them to hear… but I do want to ...

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“Too Late Smart” by Amy Buesing

Submitted to Contest #285

My chin rested on the windowsill, eyes fixed on the entrance of the cul-de-sac, waiting anxiously for Michele’s mom’s royal blue Saturn to round the bend. The late afternoon sun, fractured by shadows, tried its best to finish off the last of the thinning snow. Michael Hutchence, sultry on the stereo, was reminding me that something about my pudgy-yet-rapidly-developing eighth-grade body makes him sweat.Finally, she arrived! As Michele slammed the car door and headed up my lawn, I sprinted to the front door. Breathless (any bit of physical ex...

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“Phone Away From Home” by Stefan Lasker

Submitted to Contest #285

Ring Ring - 3:46pmEllen: Can someone get the phone?Ring RingEllen: Can someone please answer the phone!?Ring RingEllen: Can someone answer the stupid phone!? Oh god, never mind. Hello, who is this?Bradley: Hello, Mrs. Bates. I am trying to get a hold of…Karen: Mom, is that Bradley?Ellen: Yes, hold on Bradley.Bradley: Thank you.Ellen: Karen, it’s for you.Karen: If that's Bradley, tell him I never want to speak to him again.Ellen: Bradley, it looks like Karen doesn’t ever want to speak to you again.Bradley: Mrs. Bates, can you try again?Ellen:...

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“The Algorithm of Faith” by Mahmoud Yassin

Submitted to Contest #285

[The phone line buzzes, faint static crackling as it connects. A digital-sounding voice answers, calm yet slightly disconcerting.] AI Operator: Salaam. You’ve reached HalalTech Solutions. This is AI-1149, your automated personal assistant. How may I assist you in enhancing your spiritual journey today? Caller: [Pauses.] Um… Salaam. I wasn’t expecting… a robot. Is there a human I can speak to? I think… Um… That this matter requires a human to “feel” what I have to say and not just understand it… Does that make sense? AI Operator: At HalalTech...

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“Hello” by Debra Demars

Submitted to Contest #285

The phone rang for the third time, when Gloria raised herself up off the couch and shuffled over to it. An old landline, but it still worked well. Her cell did not work as well at home. She occasionally lost signal, and like so many other people, she hated when that happened. "Hallo," she said, tiredly. "Gloria," said her younger sister," Leslie. "Finally you answer the phone! I've been trying to reach you for days." What's going on?" "I've been too tired. Working too hard....

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“Support” by Victoria Shellady

Submitted to Contest #285

RACHEL(picking up landline, mid-ring)For the love of Christ, how many messages are you going to leave? It’s going to take me a solid hour to delete all of these. AMYPlease, Rachel. Support groups are a great way to— RACHELNo. AMYWell— RACHELNo, thank you. AMYI paid for you to be a part of this. You’re going. It starts at 7pm. On the corner of Banks and Hodge. Don’t be late. RACHELYou know you can find this kind of thing for free, right? AMYThis group is very good. I’ve heard it’s well worth the money. RACHELAmy. I’m dying. Nothing is worth t...

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“On the contrysides of Europe” by Mary Lara

Submitted to Contest #285

I should have been going to that party.You could have gone there but it wouldn't have changed so much things in your life. Or maybe it would have, but now you have different curcumstainces, you chose a different timeline.Well, but i would have preferred the other timeline. How does it look like?It's interesting you thought I chose that timeline. I won't tell you if I did but let's see how that would have panned out just for your imagination and entertainment.Okay... So you're kind of a fortune teller or what?Don't accuse me of being an...

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“Temporary Secretary” by John Cardamone

Submitted to Contest #285

Good afternoon, Stubbings and Merch. How may I help you? Hi, could I speak with Randy? I’m sorry. Randy who? Randy... uh, Macardo. I think you have the wrong number; there is no Randy Macardo here. Is there another Randy there? Um, let’s see... doo doo doo da dum. No, I don’t see any Randy here. Oh. Yeah, sorry about that. Why don’t you try calling again? Maybe you misdialed. Okay, I’ll do that. Thanks. You’re welcome. Have a nice day. ......... Good afternoon, Stubbings and Merch. How may I help you? Randy, please. Oh, it’s you. Sorry, we j...

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“The Long Distance Call” by Todd Beller

Submitted to Contest #285

Lisa stretched the beige phone cord as far as it would go from its base in the kitchen, the coiled plastic extending like a compressed spring as she walked into the living room. The cord snaked around the corner, catching slightly on the doorframe. She could hear her mother sighing in the kitchen, probably wanting to make dinner but unable to move too far from the phone's mounting point on the wall. "Hello?" The voice on the other end was scratchy, distant. "Mrs. Henderson? It's Lisa Mitchell." "Oh, Lisa! Darling, I can barely hear you. Are ...

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“THE GIFT” by Frances Goulart

Submitted to Contest #285

THE GIFT Hello, Doctor Solomon? Your secretary said you would be okay talking with me on the phone today because you had time between seeing patients. I know it’s kind of weird to do therapy on the phone but I needed to talk to someone. Well, not someone, but you.You’re not at work?No, I’m calling from home. I left the office because you know how they feel about making personal phone calls. I guess it adds up. Anyway, I wouldn’t have any privacy there.Go ahead, Gail. We can talk until my secretary buzzes me. How are you fee...

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“Suzie's Movie Night” by Lizzie Queen

Submitted to Contest #285

Suzie had a plan. Her parents were away on a weekend retreat with their friends and her brother Patrick had taken the opportunity to sneak out with his friends. This left Suzie home alone and she was going to make the most of it. The first step was popcorn. She hummed to herself as she listened to the cheerful popping sounds that soon began emanating from her microwave. When the pops slowed down, she took out the bag and was about to pour it into a bowl when the shrill ring of the landline phone resounded through the house.Suzie walked over ...

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“The ancient future ” by Klaudia Dudek

Submitted to Contest #285

- Hello, did I reach the help hotline? - Yes, I am listening. - Please help me. I don't know what happened. I don't even know how to explain it. I have a feeling when I say this, you will conclude that I am crazy.- If I don't find out what it's about, I don't know if I'll be able to determine it.- Well. It goes like this. I woke up in some house and I have no idea how it happened. Yesterday, everything was normal, and today I wake up in a new place, in a new environment, I looked around through the window and I don't recognize the ...

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“Hello?” by Anne Armstrong

Submitted to Contest #285

Thunder broke the silence of the night. Ava’s eyes flashed open as lightning struck. The phone clamored in its cradle. She slammed a hand to her racing heart and the other to the receiver. Lifting the speaker to her ear she croaked, “Hello?” Her cat Sweetpea meowed at the door, wondering why she was awake. “Ava, it’s me Jackie,” her sister said in a strained voice. She sat up, pushing her bangs back from her eyes. Flipping on the bedside lamp, she asked, “What is it, Jackie?” She glanced at the clock by the rotary phone. It was three i...

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“A Payphone in Honolulu ” by Tom Jones

Submitted to Contest #285

JANUARY 13th 2018, HAWAII“They’re just better, I’ve always said this. Of course people are coming crawling back now that the network service is down. Too many outgoing calls. With a pay phone there’s a really satisfying clunk when you put the coin in and you can hear it rattling around inside. Nice dial tone too. Sometimes on a night walk I’ll stop by and pick up the receiver just to listen to it. They’ve been left to rot though, it’s a real shame. Some of the receivers have been pulled off and it's just a frayed bit of cord which I find sor...

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Write a story in the form of a landline phone conversation.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 80 stories

“A Basket of Kittens and Three Million Dollars” by Georgiana V. Shana

“Melancholy, a Phone Conversation ” by Chloe Spor

“Too Late Smart” by Amy Buesing

“Phone Away From Home” by Stefan Lasker

“The Algorithm of Faith” by Mahmoud Yassin

“Hello” by Debra Demars

“Support” by Victoria Shellady

“On the contrysides of Europe” by Mary Lara

“Temporary Secretary” by John Cardamone

“The Long Distance Call” by Todd Beller

“THE GIFT” by Frances Goulart

“Suzie's Movie Night” by Lizzie Queen

“The ancient future ” by Klaudia Dudek

“Hello?” by Anne Armstrong

“A Payphone in Honolulu ” by Tom Jones

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story from the POV of a now-defunct piece of technology.

Write a story in which someone time-travels 25 years or more into the past.

Write a story about people preparing for Y2K.

Write a story with a character or the narrator saying “I remember…”

Contest #285

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

430

Contest entries

147

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: