Day: December 9, 2025

Mary’s phone

Mary heard a very strange sound as she came down the polished stairs of her bijou home.It was a loud two part shriek. I wonder if that’s the new answering machine, she thought as she went to put the kettle on to make a pint of tea.She heard it again,but it was not continuous Well it’s not the carbon monoxide detector either,she told Emile who was eating a sardine.Then she remembered hearing it before. It’s the old phone handset with a flat battery,se murmured as she washed her hair in the kitchen sink with some Persil Silk and Wool detergent. Annie came to the door What’s that beep ?she cried.And why are you washing your hair here? See if you can spot the phone.I can’t find it,Mary told her.I wash my hair sometimes just to clear my brain Well,why not keep some shampoo here or that new wash and condition in one go I have found the phone.It was in the waste paper basket!But you can’t put it in the bin,can you? No I will have to pay £20 for a cab to the recycling centre,Mary said philosophically. I’d better not leave it “by accident” on a bench given the current climate of fear. Well if we remove the batteries it won’t shriek any more,Annie told her kindly. How is the new phone doing ? she rambled on unthinkingly OK.It has a special button so you can block someone after you have picked it up.There is some much fear now about WITHELD NUMBERS.At one time we only knew after we picked it up.If I use my phablet my sister hates it..Mary disclosed.She refused to have more than 2 numbers for me so it comes up as UNKNOWN What is a phablet? Annie enquired sardonically,her little soft eyes crinkling with laughter which showed off her turquoise eye shadow which is actually a pastel stick from her art box! It’s just a small tablet but you can make phone calls with it. I didn’t know you had one of those! Neither did Stan,Mary said with a touch of sadness.I only wish we could phone heaven from earth. Wow,said Annie.Maybe it would spoil heaven… How true, her friend responded.Let’s hope they have some attitude that they makes them have a different point of view from us. Now,I’ll dry my hair and you can tell me why you came. Oh,dear,said Annie.Let me drink some tea.I can’t remember except that your wisteria has climbed up the rowan tree. Was it shopping? Was it Dave?Let’s ring 999 and see what he has to say. We’re all gray here,no fuss We’ll all go play with puss,Emile,come back