Writing | Art By Logovend.com

The Call

Fiction & Fact:
Tom was away on a course. Laura was busy balancing her cheque book at the kitchen table. The answering machine was neither.

... Hello Laura, it's David Crown. Erm. I just thought I'd call you. I didn't know whether I might’ve frightened you off by saying that I'd been ill or maybe you'd forgotten my number or something but I wondered if you could call me. Bye ...

She'd given him the number when they had bumped into each other at Kentish Town tube station the previous day. At sixth form he'd been straight-A, strange and obsessed with her.

... Hello Laura, it's David again. Erm ... I'm not very good at saying this kind of thing and I never have been. But I know it's a long time, too late or later than it should have been any way. But I still think about you an awful lot and, and you still mean an awful lot to me. I really want to hear from you, please. Bye. If you've forgotten the number it's 0208 432 1239 ...

He'd lasted 5 months at Cambridge. Whilst all the other students were making friends, finding their feet, and living it 'large' because it was their first time away from home and parents, David was burning the candle at both ends. Swatting up, reading books that weren't on the reading list but were relevant to his first semester's modules.
   Rumours had it that he'd snapped, attacked someone with a baguette in Sainsbury's supermarket and had to return home.
   He had seemed stable when they talked the other day. Seemed like over the preceding years he'd found his right pitch.
   The answering machine disagreed.

... It's David yet a ... yet again Laura. You know that I've always thought quite a lot of you. Well the truth is that I love you. I've said it ... no, I haven't been drinking. But, erm ... I should have said it a long time ago, and ... well I've said it now. You know that I've always thought a lot of myself and it's taken quite a lot to admit that I'm actually in love with someone, but I've thought about you every single day. Oh, I've said it. Bye ...

Laura found this all very humorous. She waited for the next message. As did the answering machine.

... I know there's probably no reason why you should need me bearing mind that I'm very conceited, very vain. That I sometimes make everything sound as if I'm giving lectures and I can't help that. I can't help the fact that I was different and that life at Richmond College wasn't easy for me and that I couldn't really get close to you in the way that I wanted. And I know that there were problems and I thought of you. Bye ...

In the hotel bar, after 4 or 5 pints Tom was telling his colleagues in graphic detail why and what made Laura such a good fuck.
   It was pointless calling her now. He'd be home in the morning.

Perception & Fact:
I had split up with Lisa 2 months previously but I knew sex wasn't out of the question.
   “Listen to this answer phone message,” she said the moment I stepped in the door.

... Hello Lisa, it's Andrew Lions. Erm. I just thought I'd call you. I didn't know whether I might’ve frightened you off by saying that I'd been ill or maybe you'd forgotten my number or something but I wondered if you could call me. Bye ...

“When did you get that?” I asked.
   “Just before you arrived.” And as if on cue the answering machine clicked to life again.

.. Hello Lisa, it's Andrew again. Erm ... I'm not very good at saying this kind of thing and I never have been. But I know it's a long time, too late or later than it should have been ... anyway. But I still think about you an awful lot and, and you still mean an awful lot to me. I really want to hear from you, please. Bye. If you've forgotten the number it's 0113 2452394 ...

It didn't take long for the measured friendliness to turn to fumbling.

... It's Andrew yet a .. yet again Lisa. You know that I've always thought quite a lot of you. Well the truth is that I love you. I've said it ... no, I haven't been drinking. But, erm ... I should have said it a long time ago, and ... well I've said it now. You know that I've always thought a lot of myself and it's taken quite a lot to admit that I'm actually in love with someone, but I've thought about you every single day. Oh, I've said it. Bye ...

In the middle of sex the machine went again. I lay still, on top and inside her. We listened.

... I know there's probably no reason why you should need me bearing mind that I'm very conceited, very vain. That I sometimes make everything sound as if I'm giving lectures and I can't help that. I can't help the fact that I was different and that life at Houseland College wasn't easy for me and that I couldn't really get close to you in the way that I wanted. and I know that there were problems and I thought of you. Bye ...

“The guy seems serious. I hope he has more to say.” I said.
   “He can't have.”
   “I bet he does.” I laughed.
   He didn't.

Afterwards we smoked, both satisfied. The best sex we had was after we'd split up. It somehow felt more illicit. Maybe that's why we kept splitting up so often. For the sake of good fucking.

But the fact that I'd now acknowledged the sex had been good meant three things :
   1. We'd get back together.
   2. The sex wouldn't be as good.
   3. It would be easier for me to get the answering machine tape from her and turn the episode from fact into fiction.

Back to Writing