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 Sister's Conflict.” by Vickie Holt

Submitted to Contest #285

“Valerie you will never believe what Mabel did to me yesterday!”“Hold on let me put the phone down for a minute and grab a glass of water. Something tells me we are going to be on the phone for a while.”“Okay, but hurry up, I’m so steamed! Curse these darn phone cords, they really need to make them longer.”“I’m back Sister, go ahead and tell me what Mabel did this time.”“She came into the middle of the room, in front of God and everyone, and screeched at me.”“Why did she do that sister?”“At first I had no idea, it wasn’t until later I found ...

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“The Call of the Past” by Pooja Kapadia

Submitted to Contest #285

It was a balmy March evening in Udaipur. The sun had set behind the Aravalli Hills, leaving a faint amber glow in the sky. In the corner of the drawing room of the Rathore haveli, an old rotary phone sat on a side table. Once the lifeline of the household, the phone was now a relic, rarely used since the rise of mobile phones. Madhavi Rathore sat by the window, a cup of chai growing cold in her hands.Her day at the hospital had been long, and the weight of unsaid words and unresolved memories hung heavy in her chest. As a doctor in the local...

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“Wire Tap” by Nina Chyll

Submitted to Contest #285

not letters, so often pre-opened we could put nothing in the open not even literature, also closed in on itself, in officials’ drawers or in little cardboard coffins of redacted versions Stanislaw Baranczak, What will be the testimony, translated from Polish by me* ‘Glad I’ve reached you home. You alright?’ She never calls here. Rigid and reserved and she’s never liked him one bit. And that perfunctory gladness, though she knows full well he can’t leave the flat. Suppose it’s only fair to pretend on the phone. Someone could be list...

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“SOILS DEPARTMENT” by Nancy Resnick

Submitted to Contest #285

Edna twirls the twisted phone cord, tries to subdue the stubborn coils—this is even worse than untangling her own graying braid. She promises herself she won’t let her nerves stop her this time. How on earth can this cord be so tangled up when it’s barely ever used? The greasy, dusty surface of the heavy phone is off-putting. It isn’t easy to touch it, let alone pick it up. But this reluctance can be overcome by the application of will. She needs to make the call. No more excuses. Dirt encroaches, despite her vigilance. She always vacu...

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“The Pay Phone on Fifth” by Michael Palmieri

Submitted to Contest #285

It was late at night, and he walked down the sidewalk, trying to clear his mind after the day he’d had. The silence of the empty streets pressed in on him, amplifying the loneliness he felt. He wished he had someone to talk to, but his friends were all busy, and he lived alone. As if the universe had heard his thoughts, a pay phone on the corner started ringing. The sound was so unexpected that he stopped in his tracks. He looked around, but the street was deserted—no one waiting for a call. He was about to ignore it and keep walking, but t...

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“Love on the Line” by Brandy Sims

Submitted to Contest #285

“Witter residence.”“Hi, Mrs. Witter, is Jenny there?”“Oh, hi, Sarah. Let me go get her.”“Sarah?!”“Hi Jenny! What are you doing today?”“Sarah, I have to tell you something! Jake asked me out! My parents are dropping me off at the skating rink to meet him tonight. I can’t believe they are letting me go! They told me before I couldn’t date until I was 16.”“Jenny, oh my gosh! That is amazing. What are you gonna wear?!”“I think that baby blue dress with the daisies on it that I wore to your 13th birthday with baby blue eye shadow and lots of body...

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“A new house” by Don Beausoleil

Submitted to Contest #285

Each long summer since Cindy’s children left has been full of aspirations beyond sporadic cleaning streaks. Each long summer was the summer Cindy would start crafting, would take up a job to augment her teacher salary, would take that trip to see her daughter in New Mexico. Each long summer was ultimately full of Candy Crush, self-hatred for being on the Candy Crush leaderboard, and calls from her mother. Her mom always had a sixth sense when it came to phone calls. When she raised her three kids, her mother would wait until the exact moment...

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“Happy Accidents” by Jae Po

Submitted to Contest #285

The phone rang. Melinda glanced at the caller ID as she entered the kitchen. Robert Banks, it read. Hmmm, I don’t know any Robert Banks. Wonder who this is? She thought to herself. Melinda found herself again relishing the new gadget she’d just bought for the house the week before. How did they ever manage before such an invention? Actually being able to know who’s calling before you pick up. Man. What a time to be alive. “Hello?” She greeted as warmly as she could but admittedly felt exasperated. 30 minutes. That’s how much time she had lef...

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“Phone Call” by Ellen Talboom

Submitted to Contest #285

"Hi Jody, how's the family? I heard your mom picked up a bug." "We are doing well Margret. Yes, she does not know where. How are you and your family?" "Doing well, thank you. Who do I connect you with today?" "Bonnie James please." "Sure. You are in that spelling bee, right?" "Yes." "Well, good luck." "Whoops, line is busy. Give it ten minutes or so and try back." "Ok, bye." Ten minutes later. "Hi Margret, Bonnie please." "Ten minutes already? Ok. Good, the line is clear." "Thank you." "Hello?" "Hello...

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“Rachel's Date” by Natalie Dokter

Submitted to Contest #285

Cynthia tapped her fingers listening to the endless ringing. Debbie should have been home from her hair appointment half an hour ago, where was she? “Hello?” “Debbie, what’s Bobbie doing tonight?”“Well, hello to you, too.” “No time for that, this is serious. What’s Bobbie doing tonight?”Cynthia rattled her nails on the phone, twisting the cord around and around her finger.“I. Don’t. Know.” Debbie said at last. “Well, ask him, will you?”“He’s at basketball practice, you know that.”“Blast it.”“Is something wrong? You’re sta...

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“Desperate measures” by David Nutt

Submitted to Contest #285

Desperate measures Hi, Joe it’s Richard. Can I call you on your secured line? I want to discuss something with you. Sure, just give me ten minutes. Richard, go ahead. The line is fully secured. Thanks, Joe. I want to discuss a problem I have at my law firm. You sound very stressed out. I am to the extent that I am preparing myself to take a dramatic decision. Let me give you a quick overview of...

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“Black Forest ” by Shae Ali

Submitted to Contest #285

I quickly dumped my groceries onto the kitchen bench, as I walk-run towards the phone, stubbing my toe on the stool on my way to it. “Ouch!! Coming!” I yelled out to no one in particular, as I reached out to grab the telephone perched on the wall. It felt like it had been ringing incessantly, as though it knew I had just walked through the front door, demanding to be picked up right away. Since I hadn’t invested in a caller ID, I had to make sure I took this call. I made a quick mental note to buy one soon, picked up the smooth black receive...

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“The Landline Conversation” by Protais Niyomukiza

Submitted to Contest #285

Anna & Protais: The Landline ConversationThe phone rang twice before Anna answered. Her voice was soft but carried a hint of weariness. Protais, on the other end of the line, took a deep breath before speaking. He knew this conversation was critical, and he didn’t want to mess it up.Protais: "Anna, thank you for picking up. I’ve been trying to call you since I reached work this morning, but you couldn’t pick up."Anna: "I know, Protais. I’ve been busy with the children. What is it now?"Protais: "It’s about us, Anna. I… I don’t think we sh...

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“and maybe these are our only moments together, but at least I got to spend them with you” by Natalie Grey

Submitted to Contest #285

"Is Abigail nearby?”“No, she’s gone for work.”“Already?”“Yeah, she left here earlier than usual because she forgot her uniform at Toby’s.”“Did she admit that’s where she was at last night?’“No. She tried to deny it. But, I know. And...I think…she knows. Too. About—”“Last night?”“Yeah…Yeah.”“What did you say?”“I didn’t have to say anything. We’re twins. Our eyes see each other's hesitations mirroring back.“Poetic.”“Shut up.”“Mhm, but you’re the one giggling.”“Stop, I do not giggle. And you’re the one who said you liked how I sounded anyway.”“...

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“Tall Talkin' Telly the Candlestick Phone” by Gail OQuinn

Submitted to Contest #285

This story contains sexual innuendo Tall Talkin’ Telly the Candlestick Phone By Gail. J. Beauregard Well, hello darlin’. What brings you to the South? Come to visit us sweet southern belles, no doubt. Lovely of you to call on me. You know, you think those sleek model cell phones you all carry around may make you happy…but they’ll never hold a candle to me, the candlestick telephone. I’m slim and shapely too. I’ve got quite the desk appeal. Why, I’m as chic as they come—a real crowd pleaser alright. Did you know I h...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 80 stories

“A Sister's Conflict.” by Vickie Holt

“The Call of the Past” by Pooja Kapadia

“Wire Tap” by Nina Chyll

“SOILS DEPARTMENT” by Nancy Resnick

“The Pay Phone on Fifth” by Michael Palmieri

“Love on the Line” by Brandy Sims

“A new house” by Don Beausoleil

“Happy Accidents” by Jae Po

“Phone Call” by Ellen Talboom

“Rachel's Date” by Natalie Dokter

“Desperate measures” by David Nutt

“Black Forest ” by Shae Ali

“The Landline Conversation” by Protais Niyomukiza

“and maybe these are our only moments together, but at least I got to spend them with you” by Natalie Grey

“Tall Talkin' Telly the Candlestick Phone” by Gail OQuinn

🌟 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: