A Midnight Cold Call

I slipped back inside from the park grounds, drawn straight to the hallway console where the coiled black telephone cord dangled in the dark. Every classic suspense finale begins with a ringing line. Climbing onto the polished telephone dock, I hooked my toy blade under the handset, lifting the receiver just enough to unseat it with a sharp click. Absolute silence hung in the dim hall. In a slow, theatrical whisper, I leaned toward the mouthpiece and rasped out the iconic challenge to the dial tone. When the automated operator chimed in demanding a valid number, I paused for three glorious beats before slamming the receiver back into its cradle. Flawless rehearsal.