Writing 4 - Glad You Called

 Prompt: I'm Glad You Called - The person whom you have been trying to talk to for ages finally answers the phone. Who is this person? How does the phone conversation progress? 

I'll try once more. I've tried so many times, and it always goes to voice mail. I push the button again. 

"Hello?" a voice comes through the phone. 

"Hello? Hello? is this Vicky?" I ask anxiously. 

"Yes, who is this?" she asks. 

"Maddie, it's Maddie! I've been trying to call you for a long time! How are you?" I ask.

"Maddie? I don't know any Maddie," she responds. 

"Vicky? Vicky Brown?" I ask. Maybe this number had been given to someone else? 

"Yes," she responds. 

"It's Maddie. Maddie Jacobs. We went camping a lot together," I said. "Many years ago." 

"I don't know any Maddie," she said. 

"I remember you had dogs. Many dogs. And you'd take them camping with us." I tried to prod her memory. She sounded the same. Maybe a little more raspy? "I remember one was called Dorothy." 

"She died a long time ago," Vicky said. "I wish I could remember you. You sound like a nice person." 

I was stunned. How could she not remember me? I know it was a long time, but I still clearly remembered her. "Vicky, I called to see how you are doing. And wondered if you wanted to get together for dinner this week? Maybe you and your daughter, Janet, and myself can get together?" 

"Do you know Janet?" Vicky asked. 

"Yes," I answered. This was a strange conversation. I wonder what happened to Vicky? 

"I don't know. I'll have to ask Janet. Maybe you could call me back?" she said. 

"Tell you what, Vicky. I'll call Janet and see if we can plan something. I'd really like to see you again. It's been so long," I said. This really puzzled me. 

"Ok, that sounds like a good idea. Have a good day," she said and the line disconnected. 

I sat in puzzlement, holding the phone and looking at it. That was not how I expected the call to go. 

Opening up the Contacts list, I typed in Janet's name and touched the Connect key. The phone began ringing. Within two rings, a voice came on. 

"Hello? Maddie?" she said. 

"Yes! This is me!" I said. "How are you?" 

"I'm doing fine, and you?"

"Good. Say, I just called your mom and it was a strange conversation. Is she doing ok?" 

"Well, no. Not really." 

"I'm so sorry! I wanted to get together with her. I've been trying to call on and off for the last few months, and I just got her voicemail. Today she answered."

"Yeah, she has been having a lot of trouble. With her memory and stuff. It's been really hard on us kids." 

"Is she still in her same house?" 

"No, we've had to move her to a care facility. It seems that she has a form of dementia." 

"Wow." I paused. This woman had been so feisty, so strong in her diminutive frame, and this is how she is now? And, she wasn't much more than 65 years old! 

"Hey, Janet, would you and Vicky be interested in meeting me for dinner this week? I've been thinking of your mom a lot for some reason and wanted to see her again. Maybe she'll remember me when she sees me? And with you along, she'll be more at ease. Besides, it would be nice to see you again, too." 

"Yeah, I think we can arrange that."

We identified a few possible days, and said our goodbyes. It will be nice to see them again. 

I sat on the chair in silence. It's becoming more and more difficult to see things change around me. Not only with what I see in the mirror but the changes in my friends, too. I know this is part of life. I know nothing stays the same. But still. I remember the challenges other friends went through when their parents were aging, I remember the difficulties I went through with mine. But this was different. This is a friend. The first of my friends to reach the point where things change. Never to return. Soon it will be me. Will I be ready when it comes?