Post for Friday Fictioneers – go to the other stories using this link:
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple
WHEN I AM ALONE, I AM AFRAID.
I can’t remember when I first noticed the little bird, a wheatear. When the telephone rang it appeared at the window and when I hung up the handset, I would drop some seeds or crumbs outside.
A bond developed between us and mutual expectation. The bird became my companion, and I was its source of titbits. We were creatures of habit, and the little bird became a great comfort to me in my moments of deep anxiety.
The bird will migrate soon, what will I do?
I wished the calls would stop, or at least whoever it was, would speak.
James McEwan 
If sombody called like that I would be terrified.
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Is your phone ringing! Thanks for reading.
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Great unexpected ending
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Excellent story with an unexpected ending!
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Oh, what a last line! Great story, James.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks Susan.
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Great last line James, turned the whole story on its head.
Sorry to read you didn’t enjoy my books as much as I hoped you would. It’s clear reading your reviews that we are on completely different wavelengths when it comes to reading novels in general and the themes of my stories specifically! Fortunately (for me) you seem to be in the minority, for the moment at least. Perhaps the third one will change your mind. Thanks for taking the time to read them anyway.
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I enjoyed the first book more than the second; but I found it difficult to focus at the moment and couldn’t latch on to any one of the characters. Although, I did find your assassin, Gabrielle more interesting than Danny Samson. I look forward to your final book in the trilogy – maybe as the outcome is reached – I could try again to grasp the depth in book two.
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Third time lucky – we’ll see!
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That ending hits from nowhere! Great use of all sides of the picture.
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Thank you.
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That was a chilling ending.
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Great last line.
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Thanks Doug
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Oooh. Niiiiice.
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I love this! The ending just kills me. Such good writing!
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Imagining this person as the last person on earth. I can see why the bird would comfort him. I can also see why he picks up the phone every time it rings. So much not said in this excellent story.
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Thank you.
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You’re welcome.
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Dear James,
Subtle and chilling. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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i guess it was big brother just checking on him. better ignore the calls and divert them to voicemail.
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I am just about thisclose to getting rid of my land line bacause of the number of times there is no one at the other end and when there is, 75% of the time it’s to sell me something.
That said, methinks this case is rather more nefarious.
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Ooooooooooo that is very creepy! A great mysterious tale!
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James, I just had to write and say how proud I am of you. This touching story is my absolute favorite of so many wonderful ones. It is unforgettable. Tearfully, June
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Hi June, I am overwhelmed and delighted to hear from you. I trust you and the family are well. Take great care of yourselves.
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Quite wistful – until that creepy last line!
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There is nothing so tormenting as silence. Thanks for reading.
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Everyone owns a mobile phone, so what is the use of a landline. I got rid of mine years ago. Well penned.
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A great ending. You conveyed his feelings so well.
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In my mind the character was “she”. But reading back I should perhaps change ‘I’ to ‘She’ to make this clear. Not sure. Thanks for your comment.
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You set up the twist nicely. I was interested to see in the comments that your main character was a woman.
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Yes in my mind it was – odd. But there was no specific indication in the story, in which case the character could be either, he or she. As for the bird I didn’t check. Thank you.
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The title confused me until the last line, when it made itself clear with a wallop.
Excellent
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thanks, I know what you mean. Reading the story is like walking down a dark tunnel towards the light and just as you think you are there – the light goes out.
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The eerie last line makes this into a special piece. You set it up brilliantly.
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Sorry I missed your comment earlier. Thank you.
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You’re welcome. I miss comments sometimes, don’t worry
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A mystery. I like.
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Brilliant, I didn’t expect the ending, really gave me a surprise
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Thanks for that. Now wash your hands –and your face. Wear a mask in the supermarket (it scares people away and maintains social distance) Keep safe.
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will do!
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How achingly sad, at every level. To be so lonely that you want whoever is stalking/calling you to actually speak? Oy.
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Love this piece James. All the more so because being alone and loneliness is so prevalent during these strange days of self-isolation – especially for those who live alone and depend on social interaction to keep them mentally healthy.
The ending twist was a great touch.
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Many thanks.
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