It had been over two weeks since I last saw E17. I hadn’t heard a word from her mother either. Finally I forced myself to call her again, knowing that it would be another uncomfortable conversation. And it was. All morning I was dreading my upcoming mission. I picked up the phone, put it down again, thought about what to say, waited for midday when teenagers slowly start to wake up.
She answered. I said hello and told her who was calling. Fairly polite I thought since people never do that here. The person answering is supposed to be completely confused for the first minute before finally asking who the hell he’s talking to. That is norm.
I went on to tell her that I would like to see her again if possible. How would she feel about that? Silence. Not a sound in response. I started to panic and said something else, I think, just to see if anyone was still there. but there was still no reply. Was the phone even working? I had charged it before calling to make sure that it wouldn’t cut off in mid conversation. “Hello?” I finally asked. Nothing. I said hello again and she answered “hello” in her deadpan telephone voice.
I then went into a nervous unplanned explanation of how my phone was probably acting up because I couldn’t hear what she said. But had she said anything really? More silence. I felt completely confused. I said hello again and there was no answer. Had she simply hung up? I waited and repeated the hello. Nothing. I pressed the red button and really felt relieved that it had ended.
But I knew I had to call back. Some fifteen minutes later I was in a call center in a booth trying the number again, having first been assured by the lady that my number would work from that cabin without adding any prefixes or anything. I dialed and a recording said something about how the subscriber could not be reached at this time. Had she yanked the chord out of the wall? Who knows.
I then wrote her a long email explaining how I know that a meeting would probably include awkward silences but that it would be better than not trying. I’m leaving in a week today, I wrote. I also added that I wouldn’t think any less of her if she didn’t feel up to meeting me. I also assured her that I wouldn’t keep calling if it really frightens her so. If she will agree to see me she will have to give some hint, such as replying to the email, sending an SMS or asking Susy or her mother to tell me so. Which she will never do.