Wrong Number

‘Ode to Joy’ sounding out and filling the space of her apartment. Raising her eyes to the heavens she dropped the mixing bowl and rushed to find the source of that infuriating noise. Why on earth had she chosen that as the call sign on her phone when there were so many others she could have used. Eventually she detected the instrument hidden under a pile of books which were now covered in flour. As you might guess the minute she answered the caller had given up. Caller withheld was the message on the screen.

Bread kneading continued, ‘Ode to Joy,’ she got to the dratted phone in time.

‘Hello’

Silence from the other end.

‘Mum, is that you?’

Her mother had had a nasty cold and was taking a long time to recover.

‘Mum!’

A slight wheeze was her answer.

Getting worried she disconnected the call and then phoned her mother. It rang for a while and then the answer phone connected.

‘Mum, phone me. Are you OK?’

Returning to the bread which was now at its proving stage she decided a cup of tea would settle the nerves.

‘Ode to Joy.’

The phone now within reach. She snatched it up.

Reluctant to say anything. Holding her breath, she listened.

A wheeze. ‘Kate!’

She held her breath and disconnected the call.

Tea and bread making did not ease her fears.

‘Ode to Joy.’

She ignored it. Reluctant to answer. It rang for an interminable time. And then the answer phone.

‘Kate! Are you there? Please answer.’

The voice sounding quite familiar. Andy, that’s who it was. Always playing tricks. She called him, answer phone and it sounded nothing like her mystery caller.

Bread safely baking and filling the kitchen with delicious smells, she was feeling a little calmer.

‘Ode to Joy.’

She picked it up and stared at it, waiting for a message to be left.

‘Kate, I know you’re there. Please talk to me.’

A long silence.

‘That bread smells delicious. Save some for me.’

She threw the phone across the room.

The timer indicated that the bread was ready.