Rachel is alone in bed except for Rusty, her aging cocker spaniel, lying next to the pillow on her husband's side of the bed. She is playing mahjongg on her laptop computer vainly trying to find a way to win with the tiles laid in the most diabolical pattern. The phone rings, wondering who it could possibly be at this time of night she picks it up.
"Hello," silence on the other end.
"Hello," hearing only the hollow sound of an open line.
"Hello is any one there," she hears a soft sigh or heavy breath then the click as the line goes dead.
Rachel thinks, "Now that was strange," and returns to her game eventually giving up and turning off the light and drifting off to sleep.
The next morning Rachel wakes up showers and dresses for work she doesn't even think of the call of the night before until she walks down stairs and sees the blinking green light on the caller ID box. She remembers the call from last night as she puts the dog out, and out of curiosity she punches the last call button the display reads "ANNONOMUS CALL."
"Oh well" she mutters to herself hearing the dog back at the door. She lets him in makes sure he has food and water then leaves for work.
Rachel gets home from work goes out with the dog standing on the deck watching the dog run around looking at the lawn wondering how she will get rid of the dandelions that seem to be taking over the yard. She goes back in the house and flops down in the recliner putting her tired feet up, the dog laying in her lap starved for attention. She wonders what she will have for dinner the unattractive contents of the fridge going through her mind. The phone rings.
"Hello."
"Hi honey, how was your day," the voice of her husband bringing a smile to her face.
"Same-O-Same-O," she says telling him about the mundane things that made up her day.
"It's no better here," he tells her. "Mom is doing better she is starting to worry about her next surgery so she must be getting better." "My brother didn't show up today so all I did was sit around watching TV and reading my book."
"I'm sorry your brother didn't show up again."
"It's OK were all used to it." "Just wish he would show some common courtesy and call saying he was not going to make it." "I miss you honey."
"And I miss you too." "What are you going to do for dinner?"
"I don't know yet, I may get a pizza, I just don't feel like cooking."
"I wish I was there to take care of you. I worry about you."
"I'm OK just tired it was a long day."
"I know and wish I was there to hold you and take care of you." He smiles think of how he would take care of her how she would feel in his arms her soft breasts pressed against his chest, "Stop that he thinks it won't help." "I better let you go now so you have time to get some dinner." "I love you. I will call you tomorrow."
"I love you too honey. Bye." She hangs up the phone feeling lonely again wishing he was home and not clear across the country.
Rachel warms a frozen dinner and eats it in front of the TV. The dog at her feet hoping she will drop something or just be generous. She watches TV for a while and catches herself yawning. Come on Rusty it's time to go outside he runs to the door barking to go out. Standing on the Deck she looks out over the hills rolling into the distance. The hills are black at night and sparkle with lights of other houses in the rural country side. "It is so pretty," she thinks almost counting the days until she will no longer have to endure the commute to work and she can enjoy this view whenever she wants. "Come on Rusty lets go up to bed."
Rachel undresses and steps into the shower her thoughts again on her husband she feels his hands on her breasts as she washes herself. "Oh god," she moans softly feeling herself becoming aroused at her touch. Quickly rinsing and getting out of the shower. She he lays out her clothes for tomorrow and slips into her soft cotton summer pajamas. Slipping her feet into her slippers she takes the dog outside one more time then returns to the bedroom arranges the pillows at the head of the bed so she can sit takes the laptop from the nightstand and climbs onto the bed. The mahjongg game defeats her several times before her eyes become heavy and she puts the game aside and snuggles under the covers.
She drifts off to sleep again her mind going to Harold how wonderful it would be to reach out and find him next to her, to cuddle up next to him and feel his arms around her his body responding to her presence. The phone jars her from her reverie.
"Hello... Hello," again only the hollow silence of the open line. "Hello is any one there?" She asks annoyance creeping into her voice. She's about to hang up when a soft deep voice answers.
"Who are you? Why are you calling me?"
Silence for a second. "I'm a friend, and you need company tonight."
The voice sounds somehow familiar but she can't place it. "What do you want?" her curiosity piqued.
"To help you sleep well tonight." "Would you like a sleeping pill Rachel?"
"Harold is this you?" Again silence. She thinks Harold is the only one that knows about "sleeping pill." How Harold plays with her telling her stories touching her until she explodes with pleasure releasing her pent up sexual tension so she can drift into a wonderful dreamless sleep.