金尼斯·迈克尔·比奇 /JenningsMichaelBirch
Lifewithoutafriendisdeathwithoutawitness.
——Spanishproverb
BeforeIevenfinisheddialing, IsomehowknewI', twice-thensomeonepickeditup.
“Yougotthewrongnumber!” , Idialedagain.
“Isaidyougotthewrongnumber!” .
HowcouldhepossiblyknowIhadawrongnumber? Atthattime, .
“Hey, c'mon,” themansaid.“Isthisyouagain?”
“Yeah, it'sme,” Ianswered.“IwaswonderinghowyouknewIhadthewrongnumberbeforeIevensaidanything?”
“Youfigureitout!” Thephonedslammeddown.
Isatthereawhile, .
“Didyoufigureitoutyet?” heasked.
“TheonlythingIcanthinkofis...nobodyevercallsyou.”
“Yougotit!” , Idialedthemanback.
“Whatdoyouwantnow?” heasked.
“IthoughtI'dcall...justtosayhello.”
“Hello? Why?”
“Well, ifnobodyevercallsyou, IthoughtmaybeIshould.”
“?”
.
“MynameisAdolfMeth.I'm88yearsold, andIhaven'thadthismanywrongnumbersinonedayin20years!” Webothlaughed.
, : he', heseemedinteresting, .
“Whywouldyouwannadothat?” heasked, surprised.
“Well, , likepenpals.”
Hehesitated.“Iwouldn'tmind...havingafriendagain.” Hisvoicesoundedalittletentative.
, herelatedhismemoriesofWorldWarIandII, -almosteveryday.
, becauseI, too, , , , whichIattendedatnight.
'dhadwithasupervisor, Itoldmynewfriend, “IthinkI'vehaditwithhim.”
“What'stherush?” Adolfcautioned.“, , thenyoucantalktohim.”
Therewasalongsilence.“Youknow,” hesaidsoftly, “IamtalkingtoyoujustthewayI''retooyoungtoknowhowthatfeels.”
No, Iwasn't.I''tsayanything, afraidIwouldn'tbeabletoholdbackthehurtI'dfeltforsolong.
Oneevening, , Idesigneda “2×5” , Iknew.
We'dbeentalkingonthephoneforfourmonthsnow, .
