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

Posted in Dialogue on Jan 10, 2025

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✍️ 78 stories

On the contrysides of Europe

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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The Long Distance Call

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

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

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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SOILS DEPARTMENT

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 Line is Dead

Submitted to Contest #285

Foreword: please be aware this story contains body horror and minor elements of suicide to further the plot, if you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide please call 911 or alert a trusted health professional.12:24 AM  “Hello, this is Charlottesville Noble Cross Church speaking how can I help you?”  “Good evening, I am interested in finding [Redacted], could you possibly assist me in retrieving it?”  “Well miss, you can always contact our lost and found department. If you would like to ...

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The Landline Conversation

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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A new house

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

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

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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Tall Talkin' Telly the Candlestick Phone

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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Rachel's Date

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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Black Forest

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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and maybe these are our only moments together, but at least I got to spend them with you

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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1982, Road of dreams

Submitted to Contest #285

The phone box smelled of cigarettes, dirt, and metal. Besides, it was terribly hot in there. I tried to keep the door open with one foot as I inserted the coins in the coin slot, but the traffic was loud, and I had to close it. I stared at the green phone trying to imagine the scene at the other end where my dad would be sitting in his black leather chair with a cup of coffee and the pipe resting in the ashtray. I heard the signals go through and eventually the coins dropped into the coin box as his voice answered.- Hello.- Hi, it is just me...

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