6 months after their last conversation, Ron picks up the phone to call Moira.
R: Mom.
M: Hi, I was just thinking about you this morning.
R: Yeah?
M: How are you?
R: Good. You?
M: I’m okay.
R: How’s your hand?
M: Fine. How’re the kids? Where are they?
R: They’re good. They’re at Kate’s Mom’s.
M: Mm. (Then softly, a little more “mom”) So what’s up?
R: Nothing. Just wanted to call, and talk.
M: Ok.
pause
R: Remember the story you told me about Dad quitting his job and…
M: Yes…
R: …and how happy the two of you were.
M: That was a long time ago.
R: I know it was.
M: What’s your question?
R: Who said I have one?
M: Feels like you do.
R: So you’re a psychic now?
pause
M: How’s work?
pause
R: Work’s fine.
M: You got a raise this year?
R: No.
M: Things have been bad anyway, you know. People are lucky to have any job.
R: I guess.
M: You have to be patient and keep doing your best. You have 3 kids to think of before you make a rash decision.
pause
M: Did something happen with Kate? Why are the kids at her Mom’s?
R: They’re not allowed to visit their grandmother?
M: Ok. I thought maybe…
R: …everything’s fine.
M: You know how the two of you can get.
R: You know what, forget it. It was a mistake calling you.
Pause
M: Call again in 6 months?
R: Guess wh…
Click! Moira remembers, the ping of the bell inside her green rotary phone would have lingered for a few seconds. She misses that phone.
Buddy, the dog, lays his head on Ron’s lap while he fights back tears. He’d made sure he had a day to himself to re-think about what he was about to do to change his life and start piecing together his dreams. He thought Moira would understand.
Ron looks at Buddy’s face, who always makes him smile. Then sits up at the computer desk and clicks the red cross on an open document. Small window pops up and asks him, “Save Resignation Letter?”
He doesn’t.
