THE SYSTEM

Christmas was fast approaching and I still didn’t have a date for the job’s Christmas party. It had been two years since my last boyfriend. I was feeling desperate but not desperate enough to reach out to him. My bestie Java had a steady boyfriend. They had been going out just shy of a year. Java seemed to really like him. Java worked at the same job as did I. We worked at a call center for the local telephone & cable company. We lived in North Carolina. I was fairly new to the south from New York City. Java was actually born in New York but had been down here since the age of five. So she didn’t have too many memories of her New York life. I on the other hand was still considered city slick because I had only been south for a short while. Plus I’d often visited my family in New York at least two times a year. Java and I were both twenty one years old and considered ourselves to be grown. We both worked and made fairly decent money. Java had a car and I didn’t because I didn’t want the responsibility or the expense of owning a car. It was cool because she would take me wherever I need to go. We also worked the same days and hours at the call center. Initially I had a later shift but I switched so that I could ride with Java. The weather was getting brisk but nothing like what I was used to in New York. On our way home one day Java suggested that I should try meeting a guy on the phone hotline. I laughed so hard because I thought it to be absurd. I told her that was for desperate people. Java didn’t find my response funny. When we pulled over Java informed me that’s where she met her guy Timothy. I gasped. “ you met him online” I asked? Java smiled and said “yes”. Java pulled out her phone and began dialing a number. I just sat there because I thought she was calling Timothy to confirm her story. Not that I needed her to because I believed her. After all she was my best friend. Instead however she called what appeared to be some sort of dating hotline. I scrounged up my face and was shaking my head no to Java. Java just out her pointer finger to her lips motioning me to shhh or be quiet. I sat there motionless and just listened. Java knew most of my information as did I hers. Java turned the volume up on her phone. The person on the automated pre recorded line took over. It was a males voice. I shrieked with embarrassment in the car seat. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing : “ Hello and welcome to the adult dating hotline. Here you can meet a friend, lover or maybe even find your forever partner. You must be 21 to partake. If you are 21 please press the number one” Java didn’t hesitate she was smiling widely and pressed one. The next prompt said “ ladies if your a man looking for a man press one. Fellas if your looking for a woman press two”. Java quickly responded again pressing the number one. It was clear that she knew her way around this dateline system. I just sat there and watched in awe. After that last prompt the automated voice said “ ok ladies, here is where you get to activate your sexy voice and show some of your personality”. Leave a quick 15 second voice note to introduce yourself to the caller. Remember be sexy and intriguing. Make the caller want to choose you.” Finally the voice gave some more instructions on how to maneuver on the system. Telling us how to move to the next caller. How to block a caller. How to respond to a caller and ultimately how to go live with a caller by selecting corresponding numbers. The automated voice also cautioned to not give any personal information such as phone numbers or address or anything that could identify us. That sounded creepy but I continued to listen as Java moved through the prompts. Finally the automated voice said “ Get Rrrready to leave your sexy message at the sound of the beep” I giggled because the voice sounded like the announcer for professional championship boxing before a fight. What happened next blew me away. Java turned in the car light and right after the beep it was like she was another person. “ Hi. They call me Nova. I’m 5’4 140 lbs and anything else you’d like to know you should ask.” She pressed another button and the automated voice said “would you like to hear your voice note on play back or move to the first caller. Java opted to hear message play back. Suddenly her messages played back. Her voice sounding like a woman from a porn website. I couldn’t believe it. She asked do you like I said yes. Java then pressed a button and we were on the system. The automated voice came back on saying “Nova you have 4 messages”. I smiled with delight anxious to see who wanted to talk to me or should I say Java. Once again Java clicked quickly and then a male’s voice “ Hey shorty you sound sexy. I would love to connect with you. Where you from? My name is Money Mike and I’m from New York by way of Brooklyn” hit me up” . The automated voiced chimed in again saying: press one to send a message back. Press two to request to go live or press three to block. The automated voice also said if you need to pause the system press the pound button and to take off pause press any button to get back in Que.” Wow is all I could think Java clicked 1 and responded to Money Mike from New York by way of Brooklyn. This time she said “ let’s volley messages back & forth to get to know each other”. She pressed one and sent the message back to him. By this time there were six messages lined up. All the guys were from different places waiting to talk to my made up personality created by Java. Java put the system on hold and laughed while asking me what thought. She went on to say this isn’t for desperate people. It’s just a newer way of meeting people. She then insisted that I respond to the next caller. I was trying to tell her no that I wasn’t ready but Java un paused the system and got on with the next caller. In that short time we had ten massages all waiting for me, or us. The next caller was Money Mike again. He asked If I was a frequent caller and if I had ever met up from someone on the system. Java smiled again shaking her head yes motioning for me to respond. Oddly I was so nervous like he was in the car with us. I began talking taking my Que from Java but she hadn’t even clicked the button yet. Nova she shouted “ relax you from New York you got this just be you.” Her word calmed me down like a sedative. I grabbed her phone clicked one and in a voice I didn’t even know I had, responded. I belted out this sexy velvet feminine sound. Annunciating every syllable like I had studied under a voice coach “ No Mike, This is actually my first time using the system” But I’m definitely open for whatever if I meet the right person.” I was nervous and quickly hit a button not even sure which one. Just as the automated voice was about to respond Java disconnected the call. I was so disappointed. “Java” I yelled. Java smiled this devilish grin. She laughed and said “what you shouting for, that’s not for you. It’s for desperate people remember”. Lol we both laughed but I was sort of irked because I wanted to hear the rest of the messages and hear what else Money Mike had on his mind. Java put the car back in drive and drove me to my house. I couldn’t believe how much time had passed while we were on the dating hotline or system as it was referred to. Java was playing coy with me. By this I mean she had to know I wanted the dating line information but instead of offering it she made me ask for it. So we said our good nights. Even discussed pick up time for the next day. Java even went as far as to ask me if I picked out an outfit for the Christmas party. I dryly answered every question and then I blurted out “ Java quit playing give me the dating hotline number” Java smiled and said “are you sure, I wouldn’t want you to be labeled desperate” I quipped “ alright already. I was wrong now give me the fricken number” Java yelled out the number. I laughed because she knew it by heart. It was a relatively easy number that began with 1- 800. I quickly typed the number in my phone and titled the number “ The System”. I quickly ran to my door. Eager to play with my new toy. I walked into to my house that I shared with my mother and sibling. Unlike Java who had her own place, I was still saving my funds. Besides my mom made it clear that I could stay as long as I needed. I helped out around the house. In addition to paying the utilities. My dad, who no longer lived with us was still paying them. But when I took on the full time position at the call center I decided I’d take over the utilities in attempts to show my independence and willingness to kick in. My mother was still at work when I arrived and my siblings was in New York City with my Dad until after the holidays. I showered, grabbed a light bite and settled on the couch. I was stoked to get back on the system in hopes of meeting someone in time for the holiday party at the job. Shockingly it took me no time to get on and by past all the other prompts that I had experienced with Java. It was time to leave my sexy voice note. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to leave a sexy message to the back drop of some music or just a message by itself. So I decided to try both. I turned on my iPod connected to my speaker. I wanted to play something by Beyonce. I almost settled for her song titled “Virgo” but quickly opted for “Computer Love” by Roger. Though this was a chatline it still seemed fitting. I had the music turned down really low so that the sound of my voice took lead. I left my quick but sexy message with just enough time left to hear the song softly playing. I prompted the system to play the message back so I could hear it. “ This is Cherry lips here. Im young and single and down to mingle. If you’re liking what you’re hearing, press one for more” “ computer love” could be heard trailing in the background. Perfect I thought and just like that, I was on. A guy named Tony Rome hit the button instantly for chat. I listened but he didn’t peek my interest. A new message was waiting. A guy by the name of Troy with a sexy voice said “Damn ma your voice make me wanna come through the phone.” I smiled. We went back and forth sending messages as I chatted with him and a few others. This was proving to be fun and time consuming. I didn’t mind. My shift was at one o’clock in the afternoon. I’d be well rested and ready by then. Besides it was only just after nine pm. I learned that Troy was thirty, with two kids and recently separated. While I liked guys to be older than me. I didn’t want them that old and i definitely didn’t want to be anyone’s step mom. I enjoyed his personality over the phone but I wasn’t interested past that. I could hear my mom pull in the driveway. I checked my watch and just that quick it was eleven o’clock. I paused the system in just enough time to greet and make small talk with my mom. I then hurried to my room to take a few more calls. Once back on the system, to my pleasant surprise Money Mike had sent me a message. I don’t know if he knew it was me from earlier but I for sure knew it was him. I sent him a message back, but I didn’t let him know that it was me from earlier. Money Mike was on point he said you sound like the young lady that disappeared on me earlier. I smiled like we were long lost lovers. I admitted to being her. We talked sending messages back and forth for an hour. I wasn’t even checking for other messages because Money Mike voice was so sexy, he was attentive and alluring. After sharing messages he finally asked me for my number but I wasn’t ready for that. Money Mike then asked if we could go live and see how things went from there. I agreed. The live was so interesting. Money Mike had to send me a request for live. I then had to agree. Once I agreed the automated voice popped on telling us both not to share private information. After we both consented to talking to the other. The automated voice said : “ Get rrrready to go live” the voice even did a count down. 5, 4, 3, 2, your live. I instantly became shy. Money Mike took over the call. “ Hey Sweet Sexy” the voice in the other end said. I can’t believe how immature I was sounding. Especially since I had so much to say in the messages. But now we were live and to me it was almost like he was here in my house. “ sweet sexy don’t tell me you’re shy. Not after all that big girl stuff you was talking.” Money Mike then said “ hey listen I don’t bite atleast not over the phone” we both laughed and the ice was broken. It felt like I was taking to someone I knew for years. We talked and talked sharing stories about past relationships. My relocation, his job and aspirations to be a producer. Money Mike Parents was from North Carolina but had relocated to the big apple after his Mom graduated college. He was the eldest of three. Two Sisters. His parents were legally separated but still lived under the same roof. That was hilarious to me. I told him about my family and how I was the eldest of my siblings too. Money Mike was twenty five and his birthday was the exact same day as mine. I couldn’t believe it. Imagine that. I never dated a male Virgo before. Thank goodness he didn’t have any children but said with the right woman he definitely wanted to have a few. Money Mike real name was Michael Morrison. He of course wanted to know my real name and I told him. November Autumn Bixby. I told him that all of my close friends called me “Nova”. Money Mike got excited he said “ yea, that’s the name you said earlier” Money Mike told me he loved my name. As excited and comfortable as I was chatting with him, I knew if I didn’t end the call, I’d be no good for work. Unintentionally I yawned. Money Mike said “oh wow I done talked your ears off” . I laughed and assured him that I enjoyed the dialogue but that the time had got away. It was three ten in the morning. Money Mike said well, when this live ends we will have to hopefully catch each other on the system some other time, unless I felt comfortable exchanging numbers. Quickly remembering what the automated voice said about exchanging information. Money Mike must’ve sensed my hesitation. Money Mike said “ok Sweet sexy, take my number. If you feel up to it call me if not I’ll catch you another time in the system” he followed up by saying “either way it was a pleasure sharing verbal thoughts with you”. His response made me smile. I loved the words “verbal thoughts”. I agreed and took his number. I was on my phone and didn’t want to waste time trying to add him to my contacts. So I grabbed a pen and pad that was on my dresser. He was definitely a New Yorker with that six four six area code. We said our good nights and disconnected. I pressed zero which was the prompt to disconnect. I couldn’t believe I had thirty six messages. I was too tired to listen to them all and after listening to two of the messages, I tried to put the system on hold until I would get up later but accidentally hung up and lost the call. All I could think about was wait until I tell Java.