The Haunted Traveler December 2017 Edition

154
BROTHERLY LOVE
Diane Arrelle
Nancy slumped in the bentwood rocker slowly going back and forth when the oldfashion,
black landline phone rang. She sat up and tightly grasped the arms of the
chair. With each sound of the chimes her knuckles grew whiter. Each ring made her
rock faster, each ring brought her closer to tears. She was rocking wildly and mumbling
“Stop, stop, stopstopstopstop, when the caller finally gave up.
The telephone cut off in mid ring and she jerked to a halt jumping to her feet. She
stood for a moment peering into the dark shadows of the closed up house.
Then like a rag doll, she dropped back into the chair, hands lying limply on her lap.
Cold air worked its way into her living room through the warped wooden window
frames and she wrapped the patchwork quilt tighter around her thin, nightgown clad
shoulders. She would have felt safer with the lights on but was just too drained to get
up.
She leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes. Within seconds she was asleep.
She jerked erect like a startled animal as the phone started to ring. Awareness returned
slowly and she started sobbing, “Stop! Please stop!”
Eventually the tinny ringing ceased. She got up and paced from the living room
to the kitchen and back. The ringing began again. Quickly she grabbed the receiver.
“Hello?” she said anxiously.
“Nancy?”
She let out her breath and sank-to the floor. “Yes Joan?”
“’Are you all right?”