General Fiction posted October 29, 2023

Debi Pick Marquette

FanStory Recognized writer for July 2022.

I started writing poetry when I was 8 years old. In third grade I was inspired by Joyce Kilmer's poem called, "Trees."

Then when I married & started my family, I still loved to write, - more...

She is a top ranked author and is currently holding the #26 position.

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The Smart Intruder

by Debi Pick Marquette

My new Halloween landline phone rang at the exact same time as the bedroom door slammed shut. It startled me, but a breeze had come up, and I could tell we were in for a storm. I bought this new phone because I loved the all-grey, eerie-looking skull with the old-fashioned receiver handset. I thought it was fun because it doubled as a Halloween decoration. But now it was becoming a nuisance because it kept ringing without anyone on the other end. I had contacted the phone company, and they felt it might be a connection failure in their line since it had been a while since it had been used. They were sending someone out to check it in the morning.

I grabbed one of the rocks that the grandkids had painted for us. I used them to hold the doors open on those days when we were lucky enough to open windows. I loved the breeze coming through the house and especially loved sleeping with windows open during a thunderstorm. It was almost Halloween, the season between the central air and the furnace. Therefore, it was one of my favorite times of the year.

The phone had made me a little unnerved, but other than that, I had no reservations about staying alone for a few nights since Glen had been in the hospital after his surgery.

I had been staying with him since he went in, and I was exhausted. I came home for the night and looked forward to a good night's sleep before returning to the hospital in the morning.

I had lived alone for months when he was working out of state, with periodic flights back and forth to Colorado for a weekend here and there. So why was I so jumpy over the wind blowing a door closed and a faulty connection in a telephone line?

I unplugged my bigger iPad and took it to my bedroom to do some writing. I do not care for the onscreen keyboard, but it is a fair trade-off when I think about how I love sitting in my adjustable bed for a few hours, watching TV, and taking care of business.

As I started to get ready for bed, the phone rang again. I went into the kitchen to answer it before I finally got fed up and disconnected it. I knew Glen would be calling to say goodnight, but he could call my cell phone.

I could tell the storm was getting closer because the satellite dish for my TV was popping in and out of its reception. We had some warnings issued for us, but I wasn't worried as they usually didn't amount to anything.

I was happy my iPad was charged. I turned it on, sat up, and started working on some planned writing. Rain and storms always seemed to inspire me.

I started poking at the screen with my Apple Pencil and it wasn't long before I felt my eyes getting heavy. I don't know how much time had passed, but I dozed off.

Suddenly, I was startled by the phone ringing again. What in the world was going on? I was sure I had disconnected it. I noticed a light coming from the kitchen. Had I left the light on in there? No, I hadn't. Everything was shut off when I went to bed, except the nightlight in the bathroom.

Just as I was about to check it out, I heard talking coming from the kitchen. Now, I was terrified. Do I call 911? I wanted to get up and lock my bedroom door, but I didn't want to make any noise that would attract attention.

Maybe it was Glen. I bet they released him early, and he was talking to whoever brought him home. But how do I know for sure? I would call his cell phone, and if he were home, I would hear his phone and voice. As I dialed his number, I could only hear it ringing from my cellphone, so I instantly knew it was not him in the kitchen.

Whoever it was had to have thought they were alone in the house, so I knew I had to remain quiet. I texted my son, Jason, who lives next door. He would know what to do. Thankfully, he received my text right away and said there must be a logical explanation, and he would be right over.

It wasn't long before I heard a car pull into the driveway. Now, I wondered if this was a good idea. What if he got hurt, or worse, by surprising the intruders? He did exactly what I had asked him not to do. He knocked on the door. Dear God, please let him be okay. Now I hear him pounding on the door. What does he expect them to do, answer?

I don't think he believed me. I could tell by his questions when he texted me back that he was sure I had left the kitchen light on. I heard his key in the door and could hear him walking around. I wondered where the intruders had gone. Were they hiding somewhere? I prayed he wouldn't find anything, or anything find him.

Suddenly, someone is standing in my doorway with a flashlight. Dear God, please let it be Jason.

"Mom, Mom, are you okay?" I reached over and turned the lamp on, and when he approached me, I started crying. "Where are they?" "Mom, there is nobody here. I checked all the rooms, and I doubt your intruders would lock the doors on their way out." He gave me a big hug and asked me to come into the kitchen with him for a few minutes.

He looked things over a little closer. "Mom, when did you get this smart landline phone/radio/light?"

I told him I had gotten it only a few days ago for Halloween, and what do you mean light and radio? I thought it was just a cool phone. I hadn't looked at it that closely or looked at the box it came in yet.

He continued then to tell me that they now make new smart landline phones that have a built-in radio and light that automatically turns on in a power outage as a safety feature to help you get around and still have use of your phone and radio.

"So the radio must have been what I was hearing? But wait a minute, I disconnected that phone, and yet it still rang?" " Yes, that is another precaution, so if you lose power or your lines are inactive, you still have all three that work. The phone then works like a smartphone. They are all rechargeable and also run by Bluetooth function."

Mystery solved. He laughed, kissed me goodnight and told me to get some sleep. I wasn't sure if I would be able to fall back asleep, but I sure was going to try.

He had barely left our yard when the phone rang again. I thought to myself, I bet it is Jason checking to make sure I am okay here by myself for the night..... "Hello, Hello!" Suddenly, the skull lit up and I saw fire coming out of the eyes. This time, there was someone or something on the other end. "ROAAAARRRGGGHHH!!!" I slammed the receiver down but now it hissed and growled, as spooky music started to play. Chills ran up and down my spine, as the music got louder and louder. I didn't know what to do……………So I danced.

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