briinngggg

i have this yellow rotary phone. i love it. the other night ac came over for dinner and actually used it! it so requires patience and it was nice to see someone actually take the time to use it.
it takes a manual spin of the numbered dial to register each digit. and now there are 10 turns of the dial needed to make a connection . i like the gentle purr as the dial returns to the home location upon each release.

flashback:

the street lights will be on soon. this is the rule for my curfew. i must be home before the street lights come to life. i push harder on the pedals , reluctant to head back.
the summer nights air feels so good as i ride my bike through the town streets. everywhere there are sounds of families still at play. screen doors hold no sounds in. there are tv's blaring, laughter heard and the occasional shouting as the mom calls the kids away from the resting place in front of the television set. she beckons for the nightly wash up to occur.

the dads are there too. they are the ones telling the kids to get up and go change the channel.

as i approach my house; a phone rings. the moms, several, now standing at the edge of their driveways chatting about nothing and everything , know instinctively who's phone it is. one of the moms turns on her heels and races towards the door, the screen door moans and crashes with a quick open and close.

screeching into the driveway my heart pounding in my chest. i know i am close. leaning my bike against the side of the house i run towards the front door just as the street lights begin to flicker...