There was a drive-in facility across the street. I bought a pack of cigarettes at its café area. A couple of large trailer trucks were parked. Those who were eating food were mostly males. One guy was staring at me. I did not care, and soon entered a telephone booth in the restaurant.
I told her I would phone the company, but it was a lie. As the operator was on the line, I called another number. I might have been able to make a collect call without borrowing her money, but I did not have enough confidence to do so. I mean, I had a small doubt that the number would really allow me to get connected with the intended recipient of the call.
I applied the receiver on my ear and waited for a while. I looked back, and saw the counter table of the diner. The men were drinking quietly. Come to think of it, my thought became much clearer to the level that I could recognize my mental clarity quite well. As I guessed, I seemed to have been influenced by drugs.
Finally, the ringtone started. I think I can catch the one at this hour. When the sixth tone rang, there was a response.
“Yes ...” I heard a woman’s voice.
“Hello,” I uttered.
“Who’s this?” Without a doubt, it was her.
“This is the first time for me to call you.”
“What? Who? Are you ...”
“Yes, I am. You told me to call you just in case.”
“Oh ...”
Silence prevailed for a while.
“Hello?” I said.
“I get it. Do not say your name, please.”
“Okay.”
“What happened to you?”
“I am getting into trouble because I have no money. You know, I have left everything in the hospital.”
“Have you run away? Seriously? Where are you now?”
“Umm, the time is running out. May I make a collect call?”
“Sure, of course.”
“Then, I will call back in five minutes.”
“Hey, are you okay? Is there anything wrong with ...?”
The call was cut off forcefully. Time is up. If there is anything wrong, then it is this impatient telephone.
I got out of the telephone booth and sat on the seat at one end of the counter. Then, I opened the cigarette pack I had just bought. A waiter was approaching me. He was a middle-aged man wearing a pair of round glasses.
“Sir, may I help you?”
“Thank you, but I am just making a phone call again,” I replied.
I lit the cigarette, and inhaled the smoke deeply. I noticed that I was feeling nervous. Even before a dance in the sky, I would not be nervous by this much. I should speak over the phone after I calm down. I believe the woman who is now waiting for my call is having the same thought. What on earth will we talk about?
As I was imagining her status while looking at the telephone booth, someone touched my shoulder. I turned around.
Leaning obliquely against the counter, one man was standing. He was holding a glass that was half-full with beer, in his hand. He was the same guy who had been on the innermost seat. There were a few more men in the vicinity. He looked the youngest among them. He looked at me, and warped his lips. Probably, he was intending to smile.
“Sir, is anything wrong?” I asked.
“You are an unfamiliar face ...”
“You, too.”
A bit later, he chuckled slightly. Then, he looked back, and appeared to be looking at his companions. Again, he turned toward me.
“If you like, shall I buy you a beer?” He asked.
“No, thank you. I don’t drink.”
“If you try, you might discover how good it is.”
“I have to make a phone call.” Saying so, I stood up.
“Hey, wait.” The man tried to stop me in a low voice.
I halted and stared at him.
“Sorry, but I have to make a call first,” I said. “Then, I can talk after that.”
“Okay, fair enough.” The man suddenly put on a smile again.
I got in the telephone booth. Then, I gave an operator the number and asked to make it a collect call.
I waited for a while. I thought of looking back at the bar counter. But since I did not want to see the man’s face, I looked at the dark parking lot outside the restaurant. I could not see the motel well because of the deeper darkness. I wondered if she was still in bed.
Finally, the call was connected with her. This time the ringtone did not ring.
“Hello.” I heard her voice. “What took you so long?”
“You know, I was smoking.” In fact, I was still holding a cigarette. Since it was getting a bit too smoky in the booth, I dropped it and crushed it underfoot. We are prohibited from smoking in both cockpits and telephone booths.