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

Posted in Dialogue on Jan 10, 2025

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✍️ 80 stories

“1982, Road of dreams” by Anna Frederiksen-Washington

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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“Hey Phil, It's me” by Jerry L. Lambert II

Submitted to Contest #285

INT. HOME - MORNINGWithout warning, the AT&T 2 landline explodes to life with a cry, calling all around to seize its moment and free it from this uncontrollable function. It sits on the countertop gathering dust to fuel its relic gears. A nostalgic thing in a world of smartphones and supercomputers. A hand reaches for it, picking up the handset.“Hey___, it’s me,” FRANK(18) says into the receiver. There’s a goofy smile on his face as he tries to formulate how to give the news. He thinks he should do it nonchalantly, like telling some...

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“Voice Training” by Jerilyn Kolbin

Submitted to Contest #285

The Message It was a gray afternoon, that hour just after schools let out and just before dinner preparations began. Usually, this was her low energy time, but not today. Becca pulled the little piece of paper with the telephone number on it our of her pocket. “Sing with Van,” it said, with the number. She pulled the portable phone off the receiver, then sat and placed the number on the table before her as a child might place a bug she’s just captured and wants to examine. Taking a deep breath, she dialed, then sprang around and went out to ...

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“Of Wisdom and War” by Ashly Callaway

Submitted to Contest #285

Of Wisdom and Warby Ashly Callaway Minerva Park Neighborhood, 1988 “Hi, Sue Ellen. Barbara left a message on the machine last night -- something about another party where she wants to sell us things. Did she call you?” Jackie asked. “She did,” Sue Ellen said. “Isn’t it funny how she flits from one money-making enterprise to another? Avon, then Amway, now Tupperware!” “I know,” agreed Sue Ellen. “What season did she say you were at that last gathering?” “What do you mean, ‘season’?” asked Jackie. “Remember? We were in your living...

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“Un Drame à Trois” by Patrick Huber

Submitted to Contest #285

CONTAINS COURSE LANGUAGE“Peter, phone.” Dad yells from the kitchen. I am in the bathroom, mid-school-day-morning routine. I heard the phone ring just as the toothpaste hit the brush. Phone calls this early on a school day are often products of trouble. Sometimes the trouble is good, like “School’s closed, snow day!” but this was May. I pick up the receiver left hanging by the wall-base. Toothbrush in my mouth, I begin the conversation. Peter: HelloTommy: Hey, man, what are you up to?P: …brushing my teeth, what’s...

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“"It's For You" ” by Samantha Babbitt

Submitted to Contest #285

The rotary phone in our beige, wood-paneled kitchen rings, its tinny pitch cutting through the radio quietly playing the Hits of the ‘70s, ‘80s and Today in another room. My sister and I look at each other from across the dining room table and all the homework spread out between us and smile mischievously at one another. “I got it!” I say and spring up first, but she manages to get a hand on the hood of my sweatshirt and pulls me back, surging past me as she squeals, “No, I got it!” &...

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“Bless the Telephone ” by Madeleine Foster

Submitted to Contest #285

“What time is it there?”“Almost 5pm,” he says, voice of glinting ash. I can almost taste it down the phone. Bitter, deep-toned. Outside, brash New York hurtles, clanking towards midnight. “It’s late here,” I say, my forehead pressed against the hotel window, my hand crumpled between my shoulder and the receiver.“How is it?” He asks. “New York at night?”I hesitate. I am in Manhattan - skyless, clamorous. Below, people tear through the streets, each figure a peal of laughter, obscure and covetous. Sirens blare and lights throb and everyon...

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“The Line is Dead” by Angel Ball

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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“Descent ” by Lynn Cunningham

Submitted to Contest #285

The Descent “I think it’s a real bad idea, Karl.” “I don’t disagree…” “But?” “If I don’t do it, someone else will.” “Well, let them stain their hands.” The line is quiet for a moment, and I feel the miles between us, as I twiddle the cord, wrapping the coiled harvest-yellow plastic around my finger. I wish my brother was at home, instead of in DC, some two thousand miles away. “Karl?” I ask. I didn’t hear him hang up, but the silence had gone on long enough to check to see if he was still on the line. “Sorry, Bud. I’m still here. My...

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“Designer shoes, succinylcholine and soot” by N. V. The Second

Submitted to Contest #285

Ring. Ring.I waited exactly 38 seconds before he picked up.“Hello?” came the voice from the other side.“James, it's me.”“Alexis? Is that you?”“Yes. Did you find the suspect? Did you get the information?”James hesitated for a moment, “He was dead when I got there.”“What?” I asked, keeping myself composed, while maintaining the facade.“Yeah. His body was bruised. Seemed to have been beaten up with a bat.”I chewed my lip, "When did you get to the scene?”He said something, but the line began to break up. It didn't matter, I already knew the answ...

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“The Day I Weaponized A Landline (Accidentally)” by Jamie Swann

Submitted to Contest #285

Mom: “Hello?” 911 Operator: “911, what’s your emergency?” Mom: “27345 Misty Field Lane. I need an ambulance. Please help.” 911 Operator: “I’m sorry, ma’am. Can you repeat that?” Mom: “My daughter is having a seizure. 27345 Misty Field. Please, I need an ambulance now!” 911 Operator: “Ma’am, I need you to calm down. What exactly is happening?” Mom: “My daughter is..” 911 Operator: “Ma’am? Are you there?” Mom: “Hold on. I just dropped the phone on her head. Please hurry!” 911 Operator: “You dropped the phone? On her head? ...

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“Rumor Has It” by Jennifer Addison

Submitted to Contest #285

“Is anyone home?” The phone was ringing off the hook when Ashley slammed through the front door of her college apartment. She set down her grocery bags and purse on the kitchen counter, grabbing for the phone only to hear a dial tone as she pushed the “answer” button. “Ugh!” She immediately punched three buttons to return the call. She knew it must be Erika calling with a report. Sure enough, Erika answered on the second ring. “Hey I was just leaving you a message…” “I figured. Couldn’t wait–I knew it must be you so I just star s...

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“Rubaline H. Bender's Interview” by R.S. Meander

Submitted to Contest #285

In the swamp, there lived a youngish salamander woman. She lived alone in her stoney burrow with her candied flies, a bottle of algae wine that her mother bought her, and a pile of debt that she couldn’t pay because she was unemployed. One day, while rearranging her collection of empty pots—it was too expensive to own plants—Rubaline heard her phone ring from the kitchen. The acorn-shell bell knocked about as if filled with a hundred, angry click beetles. “Hello?” she said as she picked it up, twirling the landline's fibrous cord around her ...

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“Love (In A Thousand Words)” by Ava J

Submitted to Contest #285

The phone was ringing. The girl stood in her apron, hair tied up in a bun, staring tiredly at the pink contraption hanging on the wall. It wasn’t often the phone rang. She grabbed the curly cord hanging down like an afterthought and twirled it around her fingers listening to the shrill ring a couple more times. She sighed and reached for the handset. “Good evening, this is Sarah speaking.” Immediately, the husky, pleading voice she knew all too well came through the tiny speaker. “Miss Sarah, finally. I’d begun to think you’d left me to pine...

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“Goodnight, Operator” by Murray Emerland

Submitted to Contest #285

TRIGGER WARNING: This post may contain mentions of and/or allusions to sexual violence, mental health issues, substance abuse, physical violence, gore, or abuse, and/or suicide and self harm. Reader discretion is advised.———OneGood afternoon, this is Huberton. Yes, hello. I’m calling on behalf of Malstrom’s wife. Yes, it’s for him. Very good, thank you. TwoShe said what? I’ll tell you, I can’t believe that girl. Told her she’s good for nothing if she doesn’t learn to keep her mouth—yes? Are you there? Oh, hello. Put me on the line with...

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

Submissions are closed

✍️ 80 stories

“1982, Road of dreams” by Anna Frederiksen-Washington

“Hey Phil, It's me” by Jerry L. Lambert II

“Voice Training” by Jerilyn Kolbin

“Of Wisdom and War” by Ashly Callaway

“Un Drame à Trois” by Patrick Huber

“"It's For You" ” by Samantha Babbitt

“Bless the Telephone ” by Madeleine Foster

“The Line is Dead” by Angel Ball

“Descent ” by Lynn Cunningham

“Designer shoes, succinylcholine and soot” by N. V. The Second

“The Day I Weaponized A Landline (Accidentally)” by Jamie Swann

“Rumor Has It” by Jennifer Addison

“Rubaline H. Bender's Interview” by R.S. Meander

“Love (In A Thousand Words)” by Ava J

“Goodnight, Operator” by Murray Emerland

🌟 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 🏆

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