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That Phone!

A place and a time to use correctly

By elisabeth duboisPublished 3 years ago 5 min read
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That Phone!
Photo by SCREEN POST on Unsplash

Charlie, late teens, sits on the sofa, playing a game, on his cell phone. his mother Susan, in a rush, enters the room.

" Charlie? -- Why aren't you ready?" She exclaims, as she walks over and grabs his phone. Charlie bitterly looks up as she firmly continues - "Go change your shirt, I'll wait for you in the car."

Charlie gets up and slowly heads towards the corridor. "Do I have to go?" -- "And hurry it up", she asserts.

Susan heads for the small old, sedan parked in the driveway, and starts it up. Charlie finally comes out the front door and heads for the car, opens the door and sits, closing it, then looks to Susan. "Did you bring my phone, mom?"

Susan begins to drive. "Is that all you ever think about? Can we maybe give it a miss for a few hours?"

"What do you expect me to do when we get there? They're all old folks -- How boring!"

Susan pulls over to the side of the road then rummages through her bag located between the seats. She pulls out a small black note book and opens the ribbon bookmarked page. "There, make yourself useful and find this address on your GPS for me."

Charlie smiles as he types in the address. Susan pulls back into the lane and drives on, as Charlie directs her.

"This is a special day for Grandad, so please don't spend all your time on that damn phone, when we get there. You're his only grandson and he loves you to bits". Charlie rolls his eyes . "Next left, mom, then third street on your right -- the hall will be just on the corner."

A large banner displaying "Happy 90th, Arthur," is visible, over the hall's entrance.

Susan and Charlie now out of the car, have entered the well decorated and crowded hall, mostly relatives, saying their hellos as they head towards Arthur -- who sits in a wheelchair, accompanied by two other males, of similar age, his brothers.

Arthur has noticed Charlie and outstretches his arms towards him. "Get over here and give your granddad a hug." Charlie is nudged by his mom. "Go on then." Charlie walks over, followed by Susan.

"My, you have grown. Did you drive mom here today? Charlie smiles, "No, not today granddad, I was the pilot". Arthur looks to Susan. "This young man looks a lot like his dad, doesn't he?"

"Yes, he does dad" She smiles as she bends to his level, to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Happy birthday dad".

Arthur grabs a small wrapped, "book like" package from the table, placed in front of him and hands it to Charlie. "What's this?" Charlie asks confused. Arthur responds with a smile, "May not be around for your next birthday. -- Like to be prepared."

"I will be eighteen next week, granddad, of course, you'll be around". replies Charlie.

"Make an old man happy and take it now, sweet boy. Open it on your birthday". Charlie hugs him, as we hear a voice in the background that begins to sing "happy birthday"; soon joined by all.

A week later...

Charlie sits on the sofa, playing his game, as his mom walks in the room, holding Granddad's birthday gift and one of her own. She sits next to him on the sofa and gives him a kiss. Charlie places his phone down as Susan firstly places Granddad's gift on his laps and hers on the sofa, between them. "Happy Birthday, Charlie". She kisses his cheek.

"Open Granddad's first. Dying to see what his has gotten you."

Charlie unwraps the package. It is a small black notebook with his name inscribed on the front, with a message -- "To my Darling Grandson Charlie, Happy 18th".

Charlie frowns as he looks to his mom. "What am I suppose to do with this?"

Charlie opens the cover. Arthur has written a few personal words on the inside. "Yes, this is a book! not a phone, nor a game. I gave your mom the same thing when she turned eighteen, and I am sure, she still has it. You will find uses for it...Trust me! All my love always, Granddad.

P.S. There is also a small expandable pocket at the back...very useful. Take a look!

Charlie ventures to the back of the book, and peeks inside the pocket, finding a small plain sealed envelope.

Susan silently watches on, as Charlie gently rips open the envelop. He pulls out a neatly folded letter, which he opens, dropping another piece of folded paper on the floor -- Susan picks it up.

He reads the letter ..." Dear Charlie. Your mom as done so well, looking after you on her own, since your dear father passed away, 10 years ago. There are many things she cannot give you but, I can help. Enclosed is a bank cheque for $20,000 . This money, is for your first car."

Susan hands him the cheque, she had picked off the floor and hands it to him.

Charlie overwhelmed, becomes teary as he hugs his mom, and utters through tears, "Oh, wow! my own car mom! my own car!"

They hug for a while then Susan breaks the silence, and smiles. "Well go on then, Call granddad. Make good use of that phone... for a change."

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About the Creator

elisabeth dubois

A very creative person with a passion for new adventures; expressing herself in 3 fields of creativity, art, photography and writing.

Her Scriptwriting is available at Script revolution

Her Art and Photography. at her Red Bubble page/shop

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