I remember running my fingers over a stack of faded postcards, feeling the ragged edges brush against my skin, and listening to the warbled Whaaa, Whaaa, Whaaaaaaaa of a sax.
I had a similar experience happen to me in 2000. I was working a late shift at Cargill corporation in Minneapolis, MN, and my phone rang sometime after midnight but the caller ID wouldn’t say where it was coming from. I heard a man at the other end speaking very faintly, and there was so much static. I told him I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but the voice sounded very familiar. No sooner did I hang up the phone, than my mom called and said that my grandfather had passed away a few hours ago and that she was at the hospital.
“The smell of aged paper and varnish, mingling with the scent of cedar, the inside of an old hope chest”— I have been wanting to write about this exact thing. I love what you did with it.
I love the ambiguity of whether it’s the phone or the table which is haunted - or maybe it’s the combination of those objects? Because my first thought was the phone, but it’s the table the guy stressed “no returns” for. Adds to the creepy factor.
Yes, and the mention of the table being “made for” holding the phone. You managed to paint both as Significant very efficiently while leaving it suitably vague. Fun!
Great story! Love the emotion at the end. What I wouldn't give for one more convo with mine. Side note, I just wanted The Call (Korean film) - not a rotary phone or a ghost but there is definitely a phone involved, and it is a wild, scary, and gory ride.
I had a similar experience happen to me in 2000. I was working a late shift at Cargill corporation in Minneapolis, MN, and my phone rang sometime after midnight but the caller ID wouldn’t say where it was coming from. I heard a man at the other end speaking very faintly, and there was so much static. I told him I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but the voice sounded very familiar. No sooner did I hang up the phone, than my mom called and said that my grandfather had passed away a few hours ago and that she was at the hospital.
He was calling to say goodbye. I love that story, Daniel.
“The smell of aged paper and varnish, mingling with the scent of cedar, the inside of an old hope chest”— I have been wanting to write about this exact thing. I love what you did with it.
Thank you so much, EJ! I feel like this is an antique store you could explore.
I love the ambiguity of whether it’s the phone or the table which is haunted - or maybe it’s the combination of those objects? Because my first thought was the phone, but it’s the table the guy stressed “no returns” for. Adds to the creepy factor.
I hadn't considered the table the problem, but now that you mention it, especially since she sat in the chair and "it was a perfect fit."
Yes, and the mention of the table being “made for” holding the phone. You managed to paint both as Significant very efficiently while leaving it suitably vague. Fun!
Great story! Love the emotion at the end. What I wouldn't give for one more convo with mine. Side note, I just wanted The Call (Korean film) - not a rotary phone or a ghost but there is definitely a phone involved, and it is a wild, scary, and gory ride.
Loved this one !!’