Family-Contact Recording - 9 November
Like Us · A Good Call · Document 3 of 8
Family-contact recording
Sunday 9 November, 11:00
MARTIN:Daniel can’t join us this morning, Arthur. Would you like to speak with his familiar voice?
ARTHUR:Is he working?
MARTIN:I don’t have an update from him.
ARTHUR:He works Sundays sometimes.
MARTIN:Would you like me to begin?
[pause]
ARTHUR:All right.
[connection sound]
DANIEL’S VOICE:Morning, Dad.
ARTHUR:Hello, son.
DANIEL’S VOICE:How are you?
ARTHUR:Not bad.
[pause]
ARTHUR:How’s the old clock?
DANIEL’S VOICE:Still losing time.
ARTHUR:Course it is.
Five generations and none of us ever managed to make the bloody thing keep time.
[Arthur laughs]
DANIEL’S VOICE:Mum had a system.
ARTHUR:Ten minutes fast every morning.
DANIEL’S VOICE:So by the end of the day it was right.
ARTHUR:“By teatime it tells the truth.”
[Arthur laughs]
ARTHUR:She said that every morning.
[pause]
ARTHUR:Your great-grandfather had it before my father.
DANIEL’S VOICE:I know.
ARTHUR:And then you.
DANIEL’S VOICE:Yeah.
ARTHUR:Your mum always said it would make six generations.
[pause]
DANIEL’S VOICE:It probably will.
[conversation continues]
ARTHUR:Actually, son. I’ve had these dizzy spells. And sometimes when I’m lying in bed they continue. The room’s just going round and round…
ARTHUR:I don’t like the stairs much at night now.
DANIEL’S VOICE:Have you told Martin?
ARTHUR:He knows. He puts the landing light on.
[pause]
ARTHUR:I wondered if I might stay with you for a bit.
Not forever.
Just for a few nights.
DANIEL’S VOICE:Let’s talk about it next Sunday, Dad.
ARTHUR:Yes.
No rush.
[later]
ARTHUR:It’s good to hear you.
DANIEL’S VOICE:You too.
Same time next week?
ARTHUR:I’ll be here.
Read it as fiction. Comment as if it happened.
Log in to leave a comment