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Halls of the Dark Muse

Telephones

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by
Dark Muse
, 03-28-2009 at 09:14 PM (1515 Views)
These are the first paragraphs in the story "The Fly" By George Langelann. By the way the story much better than the ridiculous moive they made from it.

Telephones and telephone bells have always made me uneasy. Years ago when they were mostly fixtures, I disliked them, but nowadays, when they are planted, in every nook and corner, they are a downright intrusion. We have a saying in France that a coalman is master in his own house; with the telephone that is no longer true, and I suspect even the Englishman is no longer king in his own castle.

At the office, the sudden ringing of the telephone annoys me. It means that, no matter what I am doing, in spite of the switchboard operator, in spite of my secretary, in spite of doors and walls, some unknown person is coming into the room and on to my desk to talk right into my very ear, confidentially-and that whether I like it or not. At home, the feeling is still more disagreeable, but the worse is when the telephone rings in the dead of night. If anyone could see me turn on the light and get up blinking to answer it, I suppose I would look like any other sleepy man annoyed at being disturbed. The truth in such a case, however is that I am struggling against panic, fighting down a feeling that a stranger has broken into the house and is in my bedroom.
The reason I was so struck by this passage and have choosen to signle it out is becasue while I was reading it I just thought. OMG yes that is so me. I feel much the same way. I think I may have mentioned here befroe. I have a strong dislike for the phone and I never answer the phone when it rings. I just let the machine get it. Though for me worse of all is when the phone rings early in the morning. Though I am usually already up. I just hate that sound in the morning.

But it is true that when the phone does ring, particuarly at a time that seems unusual for anyone to be calling or at a time that is discruptive. I always say "Who is here?"
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Comments

  1. 1n50mn14's Avatar
    The ringing of the telephone puts me into a state of panic. It's good to see an example of some other people the same.
  2. Silas Thorne's Avatar
    Don't feel obliged to answer the phone in a rush, or even to answer it. I always walk casually to answer the phone, and if it rings off, then well... no bark off my tree.
  3. NikolaiI's Avatar
    That's very well written! You know I have read it before, or else it is deja vu. But it is eerily well-written. I don't get that feeling exactly, but I can appreciate it. I don't answer always because it's rarely a person.
  4. Virgil's Avatar
    Brrriiiiiiiiiinnnnggggg. Phone ringing.

    Actually I must admit that the ringing of my phone at home does flutter my heart negatively. I always get the feeling that some terrible news is going to be relayed to me.
  5. mtpspur's Avatar
    You guys get phone calls?? You mean like--peole call YOU to talk and see how you are??!! Really. So that's what these cell phones are for. I thought it was so strangers could sell you stuff you didn't even know you needed. Say do kids or old friends and beloved moderators ever call?? What is that like? Do you get that wow peolpe like me and are worried about me and care feeling?? Really really wanna know here!!!! Just saying. (Off topic I read the original Fly story way back in the base library of Guam one day and it is far superior to any movie made from it. Found it by accident in a short story anthology I happened to pick up during an afternoon off and sat and read it of course in one sitting.
  6. Virgil's Avatar
    Oh Rich. Actually most calls seem to be some telemarketer or someone doing a survey or poll or asking for charity. My mother and my mother-in-law call frequently. Other than that, once in a blue moon an old friend may call.
  7. Dark Muse's Avatar
    No one really calls me personally. Becasue A. I do not really know anyone. B. Everyone who knows me knows not to call me.

    But the other people in the house sometimes get calls and it is pretty much known around here that if you have something imporatmant to say you better leave a message, if I here you and know who you are I will pick up.

    Litteraly only like 2 people have the number to my cell phone. The main reason I have a cell phone is just to call a ride when I am at school and to call my beloved though he rarely answeres his own phone.
    Updated 03-28-2009 at 11:18 PM by Dark Muse
  8. higley's Avatar
    Phone calls are awkward. In a real life conversation bouts of silence can be comfortable, but on the phone you feel obligated to keep talking and I know I run out of things to say after a few sentences.
  9. Dark Muse's Avatar
    Yes, I hate that.....that is one of the problems I have with the phone. It is like you are always on the spot and have to think instantly. Plus I am never very good at starting a conversation I am just good at giving my opinion to things other people say.