The phone booth on the corner did something
not done in years. 

It rang.

Townsfolk shut windows.
Police redirected traffic.
People stopped in their tracks. 

A dog howled. 

When did this last happen? 
Last century?
Might it be a cry for help?

Eight rings…nine rings…

Maybe things that never happen 
happen for a reason.

An elderly woman answered.

TV news cameras strained
to hear what she said. 

She smiled and left.