I Digress #11 - The Ringing Pay Phone

I went to the airport with a friend to pick up one of her friends. The flight was delayed so we had an hour and a half to sit and wait at the gate. We sat and "people watched" and made up entire life stories of strangers who were passing by in the airport. I wish I could remember the stories, they were GOOD! haha We sat across from a loooong row of pay phones and because we were bored, we would try to ease drop on peoples calls. Since we only heard one side of the conversations, we would pretend to be the other person and whisper to each other what we imagined they were saying. We would giggle when the conversations seemed to match up.

At one point, no one was at any of the phone booths and soon one of the lone phones started ringing. We were saying, "That's so random, who would call a pay phone in a busy airport?" I stared at the ringing phone with growing curiosity. People walked by it and stared too, probably wondering the same thing. I joked around like I should go answer it. My friend, Marilee, said "Fine.. go answer it." I caught wind of the challenge in her voice, so I hopped up walked towards the ringing phone. I figured that since it had been ringing for so long it would probably hang up before I got to it. I kinda hoped it would because I didn't know what I would do if I answered it.

It didn't stop ringing.....

I looked back at my friend and she smiled with daring eyes which gave me a boost of self confidence. I picked up the phone and said with a smile, "Southwest Airlines, How may I help you today?" I was laughing on the inside until the voice on the other end of the phone said something that made my heart STOP!!!!


A girls voice said, "I need to speak with Stacy Householder, please." The color drained out of my face... the adrenaline started pumping and I squealed, "WHAT!!!???? WHO IS THIS!!!???" I turned to my friend who sat there looking confused and concerned! The voice said, "Stacy??" Again, I screamed into the phone.. "WHO IS THIS!!??" She said, "Oh my GOSH Stacy, calm down, it's your cousin, Lisa."

Befuddled even MORE I screamed, "LISA!??! WHAT!?? HOW DID....... I DON'T GET IT... How did you find me??!? Do you know that you're calling a super busy AIRPORT and I just HAPPENED to answer the ringing pay phone on a DARE??!??" Now it was HER turn to sound confused... She had no idea! She said, "Are you serious!? That is sooo weird!!"

Again I turned back to my friend sitting there, my eyes incredulous. I said, "IT'S FOR ME!!!!" She rolled her eyes, convinced I was kidding. She was SURE that the phone had stopped ringing just short of me picking it up and that I was making this all up... because, let's be honest here... These sort of surreal moments just don't happen!! I tried to convince her with my facial expressions, but it didn't work.

I turned back to my airport phone call.. "Lisa, how on EARTH did you find me here!? I'm freaking out!!" She laughed and said that she had called my house looking for me and my dad gave her that number. HUH!?! Then it hit me! OHHHHH!!!! Yes, it all made sense now! Once I got to the airport, I called my dad to to get a phone number. (pre-cell phone days) I didn't tell him where I was. When Lisa called for me, he pulled that number off the caller ID and gave it to her saying, "I don't know where she is, but she just called from this number." Weiiiiiiird!!!!! ANYONE could've answered, or NO ONE could've answered, and it just so happened that I answered it on a DARE and it was for ME!! *insert twilight music here*

Soooo, If ever you're in a busy crowded place and some random phone starts ringing, ANSWER IT!! It just may be for YOU!!!!!!! :)