Calls from the other end

I'm used to a completely different angle of this conversation.

The part where one of my favorite people says, "Sorry I've been basically incommunicado for the past few weeks. You see, I met somebody..."

That's the part where I'm always on the other end of the phone line, trying to shove my voice into the sound of a smile. When I'm attempting to make cookie cutter shapes of all of the right thoughts, like being happy for someone else and being ready to share a loved one's attention with a newcomer.

I'm used to that viewpoint. I have great friends; it never takes long before someone new comes along and sees what I can see. Here's what's strange: sitting on the other side of the phone line.

Absent from his social circle for three weeks, Kevin makes excuses, and from this angle I can see what I usually can't. Like that as far as the hands of an apologizing absentee may go, one can be for cradling the phone but the other will be for cupping the newly shaven knee of the girl he's gone hermit for.

I feel for the girl on the other end of the phone, down one friend, up one missing person case.

It's strange to be the accomplice to your own kidnapping.

Comments

[toby]

This is why I like reading blogs. Collecting snippets of intimate information about people in romantic far away places. Amanda has hairy knees! Fabulous!

"Kidnap" stories are some of the best; especially with a healthy dose of Stockholm Syndrome. Lucky loved-up girlie :)

[tiff]

"newly shaven knee" makes me giggle.

We all deserve to be on the other side of the line, once in awhile.

[Miss Britt]

And then the light bulb goes on, and for the first time you kind of get it, don't you?

[Greg]

Mmmmm...kidnapping.

[Kenzie]

Aw. :)
That's always exciting!