Cathy's Creative Corner: Sorry, Wrong Number
“Hello, Jackie, this is Eugene. Just wanted you to know we’ll be headed your way in about an hour. Wanted to check with you to see how many drinks you want us to pick up and if you prefer cans or two-liters. Anything else you need? Like I said, it’ll be around an hour before we leave, so call me back and let me know. Thanks. Again, this is your uncle Eugene.” Dionne smiles at the answering machine. Sorry, wrong number, Eugene, she thinks to herself as she deletes the message. I don’t have an uncle Eugene and no Jackie lives here. She heads into the kitchen, sets down her bags of groceries and starts to put away her items. While stacking her 12-pack canned sodas in the corner, she remembers Eugene’s query - cans or two-liters. She concludes that it would make a difference depending on the setup. You’ll have coolers and ice if serving canned drinks, but only cups and lots of ice when serving from two-liter bottles. Should I call him back? she ponders. Dionne’s subconscious is wandering into the “kindness” area of her personality. Eugene shouldn’t be made to look unreliable because he called the wrong number. Just from the short message he left, she could tell he was a dependable, trustworthy person. Oh, what harm could it do? Thank goodness for caller ID.
“Hello.”
“Hello. May I speak to Eugene?”
“This is he.”
“Hi, Eugene. My name is Dionne. You left a message on my answering machine for Jackie. I think you’re expected at her house today. I just wanted to let you know she didn’t get the message. You might want to try again.”
“Are you one of her daughters?” he asked politely. “I don’t really need to talk to Jackie if you can tell me approximately how many people I need to bring drinks for.”
“No, sir, I’m not her daughter. I don’t know Jackie. Since you said you were going to wait on a return call from her, I’m calling to let you know you dialed the wrong number.”
“Oh! I’m so sorry! I misunderstood! But thank you for calling to let me know. I’ll try calling her again before we hit the road. It’s not often I go out. Guess I’m too excited and pushed the wrong button. Thank you, again, for calling. That was really a random act of kindness.” Dionne could tell by his voice, he was grateful she called. That thought warmed her heart.
While putting the rest of her groceries away, Dionne imagined all the gatherings going on today. It was the beginning of summer and not too hot to enjoy outside activities. With COVID having people on lockdown the last two summers, everyone wants to get together with family and friends. Seniors from the classes of 2020 and 2021 need to be celebrated. There are postponed baby showers and bridal showers that need to be given. Also, there are those who, unfortunately, passed during this time who family members would like to celebrate their homegoing.
Dionne hears the front door open and close. “Dionne, it’s me. Checking to see if you changed your mind about going to Ann’s cookout?” announced her cousin Candi as she entered the kitchen.
“No, girl. This trip to the grocery store about wore me out.”
“That’s ‘cos you don’t do nothin’! You need to get out more and quit being cooped up in this house. People gonna stop inviting you to things ‘cos you NEVER GO!” Dionne could only giggle and shrug her shoulders. “Ann said to tell you she’s got this uncle named Eugene coming from out of town she wants you to meet. She thinks y’all like two peas in a pod.”
“Eugene?” Dionne almost loses balance as she spins around. “Do you know Jackie?” she asks Candi.
“That’s Ann. Annie Jacquelyn. But don’t call her Annie! And only family from back home call her Jackie. How you know that?” Candi questions.
“No time to talk. Can you put away the rest of these things while I go find something to wear? Think I’ll go to Jackie’s, I mean Ann’s, cookout after all.”
