the call that reminds you
For Sleepy Drafts' Eavesdropping Sleepy Mission Unofficial Challenge!
call after call
complaint after complaint
deliveries delayed
packages destroyed
audio civil unrest
nothing prepares you for
the call that reminds you
customers, happy or not
are people
the call that reminds you
customers find it as hard
to call as easy as you do
to hang-up
but a
simple request
simple returns process
comes
like a
hit to the juggular
I remember colour
leaving my face
the shivers came
as her story she shared
the power of loss
the loss
of
infantile innocence
it still haunts me
her voice on the other end
hopeless and delicate
restrained but distressed
though still
kind and grateful
sorry - all I could say
while her world fell apart
nothing else mattered
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: This is for the Eavesdropping Sleepy Mission Unofficial Challenge by the amazing sleepy drafts, Em, etc. More information here:
I am still not sure it really qualifies, as it is based around a conversation I had with someone at work, when I worked at a call centre. But it's been years since I had that job and it still plays on my mind, and then I created this piece based around it...so here we go. I accept if it doesn't really fit with the challenge as I am still pleased with it.
Basically, a woman phoned the call centre I worked at for a department store and asked for a return of a baby car chair, because she had lost her baby. It was incredibly sad...she was very kind and all I could say was sorry.
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Scottish-Italian poet/writer from Glasgow.
Overflowing in English language torture and word abuse.
"Every man has a sane spot somewhere" R.L Stevenson
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection is now available!
https://paulspoeticprints.etsy.com
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Keep reading
More stories from Paul Stewart and writers in Poets and other communities.
On Winning and Losing
Recently, the pleasant surprise of placement on the Vocal Bonus Leaderboard sent me down a rabbit hole. Now, rabbit holes are a pretty common place for me to spend time, but I don't always feel the call to write about them. To be honest, the thought of sharing some of them mortifies me.
By Dana Crandell2 days ago in Writers
Comments (25)
Quite a touching story... You did great at putting it all together so gracefully - well done❤️
This was delivered with poise, a clever unwinding of reality. Excellent!
I love your delicate approach with this Paul. Very well done.
Congrats on Top Story!🥳🥳🥳
This poem is incredible, Paul. So heartbreaking, I love the message here. 💓Incredible job! 💓
I like how this poem speaks volumes about empathy and kindness in customer service. Truly touching!
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Wow, this is heart stopping and breath taking all in one!! Great work Paul!!
Congrats on the TS. Such a sad story.
Excellent effort! Keep up the superb work—congrats!s
Such an intimate feeling here, so desolate and truly melancholy.
Congratulations on Top Story!!! 👏🏻💗💓
Congrats on top story. It is a good reminder that people are people and you never know what they are going through.
Congratulations on the Top Story recognition!
Very sad… a pity someone else didn’t ring you & spare her.
So was she able to return it? This is why we shouldn't count our chickens before they're hatched. Oh wait, did she lose her baby before or after birth?
This poem is deeply human. You write with such astonishing grace, Paul. Your empathy and ear for another's feeling and dignity is a lesson to us all.
The emotion and helplessness in this all swirled together with lovely dream-like qualities. The small conversations, the returns, the tedious tasks that are required after a loss like this are the ones people often don't consider. Thank you for sharing this.
Hopefully she had another to dull the ache of loss. So sad.
This is a heartbreaking and powerful entry to the challenge.💗 Thank you so much for writing and sharing this, Paul. ❤️
Those moments that put everything into perspective, changing your perspective on everything. Call centers where you are empowered actually to help people can be such a positive place to work. Where you are not so empowered, it's more like a death sentence to your soul.
Oh my goodness, Paul, I am near tears with this one.
so sad...and yes, it's kind of like eavesdropping into her life :(
The reputation really hammers this home! (You know I love repeating lines for emphasis) amazing stuff!
A hard story to tell and well done, whether it fits the challenge or not. Not sure I've seen this challenge yet, so I'll have to go look. (Too much going on at the Crandell house. lol)