Quote of the Day: On Monday, I’ll be hosting the Whoops! Blogfest, a festival of gaffes, blunders and embarrassing moments from your work-in-progress, a favorite author, film or YouTube. – from Laurel’s Leaves.
So, I decided to particpate.
This clip is from chapter one of my current WIP. The setting is a farm in Minnesota, Dec. 1941. Kathryn and Rose are cousins, 17-18. They are having a conversation on the party line telephone.
“I’m back,” Kathryn shouted at the mouthpiece as she moved closer to pick up the receiver and hold it to her ear.
“Oh, good,” said Rose. “Mom is already looking at me like I’ve been tying up the phone line too long.”
“Who would need to make a call this late at night?” Kathryn asked.
“Well, we all know that the Swenson’s are asleep,” Rose said. Kathryn could hear the smirk in her voice and a breathy exhale. “But, before I hang up, could you tell me quick what you got for problem seven on the senior biology homework? Did you understand it in class?”
“I didn’t at first, but Ned helped me figure it out just as class was ending.”
“How nice that he’s started sitting by you now,” Rose said with a hint of teasing.
“Stop it, Rose. He’s just being nice. The handsome doctor’s son isn’t interested in a mousy-haired old farm girl like me.”
Rose chuckled. “You never know.”
Kathryn felt her cheeks get hot and touched her curlers again. She heard coughing in the background. “Does your Dad have that awful cough that’s been going around?”
“No,” said Rose. “He’s fine. He’s already gone to bed. Mom is giving me the time’s up sign. I thought that cough was from your dad.”
“No, Dad’s out delivering wood to Miss Bell, the new school teacher. Seems she was afraid that she’d run out before Monday, then the elementary kids would have to sit in a cold schoolhouse.” The girls were silent a moment, listening to the background sounds, a shuffling and the cough again, but more distant.
“Maybe,” said Rose a little slower and a little louder as if speaking to someone hard of hearing. “I wonder if people maybe don’t go to bed as early as they say they do.”
There was an intake of breath on the line, then a click.
“Someone was rubbering,” said Kathryn.
“Nosey neighbors,” said Rose. “I’ll bet it was Mrs. Swenson.”
Kathryn heard her Aunt Tallie in the background, “You can’t say anything on the telephone. You never know who’s listening. Time for bed, Rosie. Tell Kathryn she should hang up and go to bed, too.”
Journaling Prompt: Who do you think was listening in? Have you ever eaves-dropped? Do tell. Or, do you know someone was rubbering on your conversations?
Ah, party lines. We had one of those when I was a kid, for about two months, because the neighbors adored spying on us outsiders to the tiny farm community. Mom got sick of it pretty quick.
I hope the eavesdropper is someone Kathryn would be comfortable with–a shy, sweet farm boy praying she hasn’t given her heart to the doctor’s son. 🙂
Thanks for participating in the fest and making it fun!
I liked the image of Kathryn wearing curlers. That was cute. I’m not sure who was listening, but thanks to this scene, I’d like to find out. Good job!
Lovely dialogue! When the phone company extended service to where my grandparents had their farm, the company put in Party Lines. Each home had a different ring(s). My grandmother mastered the art of lifting the receiver and listening in. When caught, she was always in the process of ‘dusting the phone’! She also knew every bit of gossip along the bayou!
Thank you for the great feedback. Nothing better to create humor, conflict, or tension than a party line. I hesitated in participating and sharing this. Now, I’m so glad that I did. I’m already in a more humorous mood!!
I might borrow that line, “Just dusting off the phone.” That’s great!!
I love “rubbering.” Nice scene.
I think writers have an irresistible urge to “rubber” on conversations. That’s how we get such great dialogue!
Great scene and loved the dialogue. Sadly, I’m totally the type of person to try to eavesdrop haha.
Party Lines make for GREAT drama! Cell phones have definitely taken some of the phone out of things in the modern world 🙂
Nicely done!
I came into the world after party lines, but it’s such a neat concept for a novel-writer… endless stories there.
Thanks for sharing your excerpt! This felt very authentic, and fun to read. So tell me… who was listening in?
P.S. I eavesdrop shamelessly. Writers’ prerogative.
I’m too young to remember party lines, but I so remember 3-way calling. It was always done by two friends who called someone and one remained silent while the other asked questions pertaining to the silent one. Ugh.
This snip was wonderful. As others mentioned, the dialogue was great.
I’m wondering if that cute doctor’s son was eavesdropping…
What a fun scene! I love historical fiction for these types of glimpses into the past. Great job!
Oh my I grew up with party lines and they weren’t a party either. Instead, they were clicks to annoy, background noise for suspect, and stand in line all day for a chance. And that wasn’t fun for a teen who desperately needed to talk to her boyfriend.
God; I remember party lines. Does this date me, or what?
I just loved the line about people not going to bed as early as they say. I could feel my cheeks blushing.
Well done Mary.
I’ve been scrolling through some of your older posts, and will have to come back again.
………dhole
Thank you, Donna. I love it when I evoke a memory for people. In some areas Party lines stuck around for a long time. This is a fun scene.
I thoroughly enjoyed this scene. I would have loved to read on! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much, Nisa – and ALL of you. You fuel my energy to continue the major rewrite!!
Mary, cool dialogue. Oh, I would have loved to listen in on the party lines. By the time I was old enough, we had a private line. *stamps feet* I would love to read more. Pretty please.
EW and rubbering. Cool word. =)
ha! love the party line thing .. though I am a nut for historical stories. I liked the curlers detail and the fun twist of the cough. very nice.