Call Services

By Peter Sidell | Wednesday, Nov 5, 2008

Call Services

She's waiting at home for the call.  She hasn`t asked for it, or arranged it, but she knows it`s coming, and it does.  She picks up.
`Hello.  Oh, hello, how are you, how`s your day been?  No, really?  So, are you going to have to...  ah, I see.  He`s a slave-driver, that man.  Do you know when you`ll be back?  I see.  Don`t worry, I`ll be ok.  I may go for a coffee with Keiko or something.  Yes, I know, that`s why I like her.  Really, I`ll be fine.  Oh, don`t be silly!  OK, don`t work too hard.  See you later.  Bye.`
 
*
 
He puts the phone down, waits a few beats, turns his head and checks that the office is as empty as it sounds.  Then he makes another call.
`Hello, how are you?  Yes, I`m a member.  Uhh, I`d like to meet with one of your Filipina girls tonight.  Yes, with extras.  At a hotel.  She will?  Great, thank you.  No, only a rest.  For, uh, three hours.  Yes, that`d be good, thanks.  Where?  No, I don`t know it.  Could you send the map to my cellphone?  OK, I see, thanks.  What`s her name?  Oh, pretty.  How will I know her?  Ah, I see, of course.  No, that`s all.  Great, thank you.  Good night.`
 
*
 
She puts the phone down, breathes out slowly, waits a few beats, then picks it up again, and dials.
`Keiko, hi!  How are you doing?  Not so bad, but... yeah, how did you guess?  That often?  Really!  Sorry, I didn`t realise... great, thanks.  How about San Marco?  The one near Shiseido.  No, on the other side.  What time is it now?  I guess, around seven forty.  You might? I see... but you still haven`t told me what you do now.  So mysterious!  OK, see you there.  Bye.`
 
*
 
She waves to him gently as he walks to the bar.  It`s the first time they`ve met each other, but they`ve both had this first encounter before, and they`re both well versed in the niceties.
`What can I get you to drink?`
`Cassis orange, please.`
`Good choice.  Sweet, and not too strong, just like me.`
`Hahaha.  You look nice and strong, though.`
`A beer and a cassis orange, please.`
`How was your work today?`
`Dreary, tiring.  I need a little glamour to lift my spirits before I go home.`
`Well, it sounds tough.  I hope I`m going to be glamorous enough for you.`
`Oh, you`ve brightened my evening already.  Here, keep the change.`
 
*
 
Keiko waves to her gently from the counter at San Marco.
`We should sit outside, it`s nice and warm, and we can check out the boys` asses.`
`Keiko!  You`re a married woman.`
`Exactly.  If I was single I wouldn`t be so starved for man.  I ordered already, you go ahead.`
`A cappuccino please, tall.`
`And she`d like a new husband with that, tall.  The one she has is never around.`
`Stop!  What`s he going to think?`
`Oh, come on, he`s just going to think we`re a couple of OLs out for a coffee and a bit of flirting...  just wait `til I`m outside.`
 
*
 
The lights are dim, the music low, the bed in disarray, the floor a litter of sheets and clothes.
`Do you mind if I go and take a shower?`
`Go ahead, but don`t be long.  I want you back here in twenty minutes!`
`Will you be ready for more then?`
`Oh, yes, I`ll be ready...  I`ll just make a call or two while you`re in there.`
`To your wife?`
`To my wife, and my girlfriend!`
`You`re a bad man, you know.`

`Thank you.`

As she slides away off the bed, he stretches to reach up to the panel at its head.  He presses a button, and the music stops, the room filled instead with the ebb and flow of traffic, the chatter of pedestrians, the distant regular song of the crossings.  He waits until he hears the bathroom door close, then picks up his cellphone, and dials.  

*

 They sit with their backs to the window, facing out onto the street. `Look at him, now!  I wish I could trade Takashi in for him.` `I bet Takashi wouldn`t be too pleased if you did.` `Too bad!` `Hey, what`s that guy doing?` `Which guy?` `That one, the one holding the-` `Ohh, he`s cute!  I`ll go ask him.` `No!  No, Keiko, don`t - oh, come back!` She watches her friend weave smoothly out through the tables, then takes a sip from her coffee, and another.  As she puts it down, her cellphone rings.  `Hello?`  

*

 `Hi, it`s me.  I`m still in Shinagawa.  Yes, but we`re going to an izakaya now.  I don`t know when-`  Hey, what`s that big thing you`re holding? `What was what?` Are you recording or something? `I`ve no idea...   uhmm... ah!  It`s coming from an advertising truck.` Please be quiet!  I can`t have any voices on this! `I don`t know what it`s for... some kind of shop, maybe.` Why not?  Why do you just want the street noise? `Yes, really!  It`s too loud.  I`ll call you back in a few minutes from the izakaya.` And he cuts off. You`re no fun, I hope your girlfriend`s out having fun!

He switches back to the music.  Then he finds his wallet, takes out a business card, and thumbs in a number.  

*

  `Hello?  Yes, of course.  Are you registered, sir?  OK, thank you... what can we do for you?  I see, certainly.  What`s the number?  OK, thank you, sir.  An izakaya?  I see... yes, we`ll arrange for someone to call her in a minute or two.  We`ll say there`s no cellphone reception.  Don`t worry, our operatives are used to this, they know how to handle all the questions.  Is it ok for us to tell her you're drunk or sick?  OK, thank you, sir.  When shall we say you`ll be home?` 

 *

 She watches Keiko come back and sit down next to her. `He didn`t tell me what he was doing, he just asked me to be quiet.  Loser.`

`My husband called just now.  Said he was going to an izakaya.  It was weird, he said there was an advert truck going past, but the voices were really clear, like they were there with him.`
'Strange.  But does that mean you can stay out and come to a bar?'
'Keiko... I'm going to the bathroom.  Back in a moment.'
She stands up and works her way between the tables back into the coffee-shop. After a moment or two, Keiko's cellphone rings.

'Hello?  Ah, now?...  I see.  Yes, I can remember.  From an izakaya?  OK, I can do that, I'll just need to find a place.  In about four or five minutes... ok.  What's the number?'

* * *



(c) copyright Peter Sidell 2008

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