“Do what you do and do it well.”
That’s what Pappy Pedro said. I couldn’t keep him on the
phone for more than a couple minutes at a time. I'd complain
for a minute or so before he cut me off. He'd re-share his one
piece of advice, say good-bye and hang-up the phone. He’d always been terse,
but I think his hearing was leaving him. I’m surprised he could even hear the
phone enough to answer it. After he'd gone, I’d listen to the dial tone for a moment before I
put the receiver back.
Funny thing was, these calls made me feel better. When I
first got to college I made them every couple weeks. Lately I’d called him once
a day. I hadn’t even wanted the old phone when I moved into my dorm, but Pappy
insisted. “Kids have phones now.” All the things he didn’t understand
embarrassed me, but explaining them would have been worse. So I just said "Thanks," and planned to throw it out when he left.
It looked like one of those phones with the part that spins
around. Or like the phone that was in that hotel room that me and my mom and my
brother stayed in for that one week. I kind of like how it looked, the white
plastic yellowed with use. I think I kept it because I could imagine I was in a
hotel, which felt comforting like home and reminded me that this was temporary,
so I should just enjoy it.
My roommate, Flynn dressed himself in clothes that begged
for people to look at him. He had more scarves and hats and sunglasses and
other things than I had regular clothes. Flynn was always telling jokes I
didn’t get or making fun of me or both. He thought the phone was cool, but I
couldn’t tell why exactly. Maybe because it was old, and old things were cool,
except people. “Does it work?”
I plugged it and the phone came to life. Is this was how it
was supposed to work? Flynn theorized something about the connection not being
turned off and it was free or something. “Try it,” he said. I dialed the only number I knew. Pappy Pedro
answered.
Hello.
Hello.
Who is this?
It’s me.
Me who?
Me, Pappy.
What do you want?
Nothing I guess.
Then why are you calling?
To see if the phone works.
Does it?
It does.
That’s good.
Yes.
I have to go.
Okay. Goodbye, Pappy.
Goodbye.
Flynn looked at me. “That’s awesome.” How do I know when he
is serious?
I thought of that first phone call when I looked at the
phone now. I had already called this morning. But so much had happened. I
really needed to hear his voice. Maybe just this once I could have two phone
calls in a day. I wouldn’t do it all the time. I don’t need that much help.
Just some encouragement, even if I know what it was going to be. I looked at
Flynn’s alarm clock. The red numbers told me it was after 5pm. He was probably
already drinking, but he wouldn’t be drunk. I felt suddenly mad at Pappy. If he
stayed on the phone longer I wouldn’t need to call twice, like some sort of
baby. It was his idea I should come here in the first place. I didn’t want to
be here with all these people who don’t say what they mean and look at you
funny and laugh.
