The Telephone Operator

This story was written several years ago and placed 3rd in a writing competition for Chicken Soup for the Soul. Not sure if it ever made publication in their book, as I didn't follow up on it. This happened to me several years ago when I used to live in Dallas. To give you a background on the story, I was going through some difficult times and my (now ex) husband was in the hospital for back surgery. A prime example of how more blessed it is to give, than to receive --- as the giver, truly does feel BETTER than the RECEIVER!



THE TELEPHONE OPERATOR

"This is the-"

"Please help me!" interrupted the man on the other line.

I froze in my seat.

"Please talk to me! I don't know what to do!" cried the man.

"What is your emergency sir?" I asked professionally, while grabbing a report sheet to document the call.

"I just want to die!" sobbed the man.

"I'm sorry sir?" I asked in bewilderment. I checked my computer. 2:20 a.m.

Wracking sobs poured over the telephone line. Quickly I scanned my computer for his location. Nashville, Tennessee.

"I'm sorry sir, were you trying to make a phone call?" I asked stupidly.

Ignoring me, the man continued to cry over the phone.

I didn't know what to do. 95 percent of my calls were from pay-phone customers. The other 5 percent were from kids playing around. This didn't sound like a prank.

"Sir, what is the problem?" I asked as gently as I could.

"I just don't want to live anymore. My wife has left me, I can't see my kids, and to make matters worse, I lost my job!"

I slumped lower in my seat. The last thing that I needed was to attract attention from my supervisor – according to regulations I was required to terminate the call. I felt compelled to listen to this man.

"I’m so hungry!" He coughed into the phone. "It’s cold outside."

I scanned through my computer. He was at a 7-11 convenience store -- using their outdoor payphone.
"Do you have a place to stay nearby sir?"

"No, I’ve been sleeping in the park, but tonight I have to find somewhere else to sleep! The cops have been running us out of the city!”

"I’m so sorry.” I replied. “Do you have any shelters for the homeless nearby?"

"They’re full, I already checked into it!” He cried some more. "It's no use! I messed things up!”

I wracked my brain to give him a reason to live. I decided to change the subject.
"When was the last time that you ate, sir?"

"Not since yesterday," he breathed into the phone.

I could almost picture the steam coming from his breath, and the snow on the ground.
"Do you have family, sir?"

"My parents are dead. My wife and kids are all that I have." He wept some more.

I didn't know what to do.

I decided to try a different tactic. "Sir, you just can't give up, you have your kids to think about." I guiltily looked around to see if my supervisor was watching. I fidgeted with my headphone and lowered my voice. "Sir, what happened to your job?"

"I couldn't handle the pressure anymore. My wife ran off with our savings and took the kids. Now I’m left with nothing!"

"I’m really sorry to hear that. Do you know where your wife took the kids?"

“I don't know.”

I paused at a loss for words.

I stared into my computer screen, wishing for answers. I didn't know what to tell this man. One thing that I knew for sure, I was in this too deep to tell him to hang up and call a counselor. All concerns over my job went out the window. I didn't like working the graveyard shift anyway.

"Thank you for listening to me, I don't feel so alone anymore."

My eyes watered. "That’s no problem. Just don't do anything silly and talk about ending your life anymore, okay?”
I could almost picture him shuffling his feet as he looked toward the ground.

"I'm sorry; I just don't know what else to do. It gets cold out here at night and my stomach’s always growling."

"I can imagine that!" Who was I trying to kid? I had a warm bed to go home to and a house full of food.

"You know, maybe I can find a job tomorrow or something." He sounded hopeful.

"Yeah, I think that's a great idea. Don't they have those labor jobs that pay daily there?"

"That's a good idea." He brightened. "I just hope I can make it through the day on an empty stomach!"

Suddenly I realized that what this man needed was more than just words. Once we got off the phone, he was going to be back in the same situation --- cold, hungry and depressed.

I thought about the $40 dollars that was in my pocket.

"Sir, I want you to go find a Western Union tomorrow. I’m sending you some money to buy you some food."

There was silence on the other end.

"Sir?"

"I'm sorry; you took me by surprise. I don't know what to say!" He started to weep again.

"Don't worry about it. I’ll be sending it first thing in the morning, as soon as I get off work. Now what is your name?"

He gave me his name all the while saying over and over, "I can't believe you’re doing this for me! How can I repay you back?"

"Don't worry, you can return the favor by helping someone else."

"I prayed for God to help me and he sent me YOU! I’m so glad!"

All of a sudden I felt like crying.

"Where are you at?" He suddenly asked.

"I’m here in Dallas, Texas."

"Texas? Wow! I had no idea!” He paused. “I thought you were in Tennessee!"

"Nope, I do operator services for payphones all over the United States.”

"Did, did you say OPERATOR?" He gasped with surprise.

"Why yes, didn't you know?"

For the first time I heard him laugh. I couldn't help myself and laughed too.

"I thought I had called a SUICIDE HOTLINE!" He marveled.

"Well, you got a telephone operator!!!" We both laughed together again.

I gave him the final instructions to retrieve the money and we bid our goodbyes.

"WAIT!!!" he yelled into the phone. "DON’T HANG UP JUST YET! I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING!"

I waited.

"I LOVE YOU!"

I paused and blushed at this stranger. "I… I love you too.” I paused. “God bless you!"

I waited till the line went dead. I couldn't take another call just yet.

After my shift ended, I walked to my car and started it. The phone experience seemed surreal and I gazed tiredly at the road ahead of me. I started to think about the bills that needed to be paid.

The glaring sunlight brought me back to earth. My utility bill was past due. I really couldn’t afford to send that money. I mean, this person was a STRANGER! I will never meet him, I don’t k now him, and it’s not my problem. Yawning, I turned from the direction of the Western Union, and instead, I headed for my home.

I crawled into bed.

I pictured the man standing in the snow.

Waiting…

His head hung low.

I handed the Western Union clerk the money.

What that man did for me, money could not buy.