When the Dead Come Calling

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon when Margaret parked her car in front of the garage. Opening the hatchback, she extracted two armloads of groceries and
trotted up the walk to the back door. The phone began to ring as Margaret fumbled through the door, placed the groceries on the counter, and then reached
for the cordless.

She glanced at the caller ID, but the LED was blank. In fact, the receiver’s entire control panel was completely dead.

“Hello?” she asked after clicking the “on” button.

A shot of static roared through the receiver, followed by silence.

After a crackling pause, a faint voice said, “Hello Bess. I haven’t much time.” Another surge of static overwhelmed the call.

Margaret didn’t need equipment to identify the caller. Despite the strange quality in the voice, there was only one person in the world who called her by
that nickname. She held the receiver away from her ear until the static subsided.

“Granny! How are you?” responded Margaret cheerfully.

“I’m fine dear. I’m just calling to tell you that I really enjoyed our visit-“

Another surge of static overwhelmed the line.

“Granny . . . ? Are you still there?” implored Margaret, leaning forward, trying to hear through the noise and intercept the caller.

She was answered by the hollow sound of a dead line.

Margaret quickly punched her grandmother’s number into the keypad, but was unable to get an answer. After several attempts, she assumed line trouble and
carried on with her activities.

The next day, Margaret learned that her grandmother passed away from a heart attack not more than an hour before Margaret received that telephone call.

George and his wife had been estranged for years and after three decades of marriage, had finally decided to give it a break. That had been over a year
ago, and George was still adjusting to life alone in his rented farmhouse on the edge of town.

George was working in the barn when the phone on the wall began to ring. Immediately, George noticed that the ring tone sounded odd, having an abnormally
flat quality.

He picked up the receiver.

The voice was that of his wife Abigail who now resided two states away. Usually, her voice was strained and tense because they had fought bitterly for the
past ten years. Although there was a time when the two were inseparable, she certainly was no longer George’s biggest fan.

But tonight was different. Abby’s voice was warm and loving and George sensed she had an intense desire to communicate. It was as though this phone call
was the most important call in the world, as if this was a pivotal moment in his life. He listened contentedly as Abby recounted their years together.
She apologized with deep sincerity for the animosity that had risen between them. George’s heart melted as her kind words caressed his soul. He wiped a
hot tear from his cheek as the love he had for his wife came rushing back. For the first time he realized how much he had missed this woman and the love
they had shared so long ago.

Nearly half an hour passed as George listened to his wife and exchanged sentiments. They were finally making peace, but in the most unlikely place at the
most unlikely time. He wanted to see his Abby now, to hold her in his arms. He begged to see her, even if it meant he had to leave right that minute and
drive all night to get there.

But his passionate approach was met with rejection.

“No, don’t come,” Abby retorted. “Please George. Let’s just enjoy this moment while we can.”

After several more minutes of conversation, Abigail said abruptly, “I must go now, my love. . . goodbye.”

The call ended with a click and George stood there, dazed, for several long moments. Eventually he hung up the receiver. But as the light illuminated the
wall where the phone was hung, George noticed curiously the cord that connected the phone to the service was missing.

Two states away, the doctor pulled a crisp white sheet over Abigail’s face and called out her time of death.

____________

Receiving phone calls from the dead is a rather common type of paranormal phenomenon. However, it is a very difficult phenomenon to document–let alone,
prove. The phenomenon is random and unpredictable. Since no one knows when or if they will experience it, people are not prepared when it occurs, making
it difficult to substantiate.

However, it has been reported and experienced by many.

It can occur whether the target knows the caller is dead or not. Sometimes the ring can be abnormal, other times completely usual. There have been reports
of calls put through by vague, unknown and untraceable operators. The calls can be brief or even quite lengthy.

There are only two things that are certain about this phenomenon: the experience is unnerving and unforgettable.