"407"

"Please...tell me why you are that way...no...really?"

"You know good and well you were thinking it too."

"Thinking it and saying it are two entirely different things....hey...I'll call you back, I see my girl. She just got off the train."

"Okay Lashamquetta!"

"Stop calling me that or I'm going to start a rumor that your left boob is larger than your right."

"Whateva heffa! I ain't scared of you! Bye!"

"Bye!"

She pulle dup to the Kiss and Ride and popped the back of her truck so her friend could put her luggage in the back. It was raining so she decided not to get out. Seconds later, her friend was in the passenger seat and they were on their way grooving to music.

"Who is this?"

"I cannot believe you asked that. It's Frankie Beverly and Maze."

"I love this song and hear it all the time. I never know who sings what."

"Instrastin."

They hadn't seen each other in over a year and caught up on the ride home. They'd been friends now for about 5 years and it always amazed them how much they had in common seeing as though they met on the internet initially. Funny how bloggers end up finding people just like them online.

When they pulled up to Jessie's home, her husband walked out the front door and retrieved the bags from the truck. Jessie showed Karen to her room and left her alone to freshen up. The phone rang...area code 407.

"Hello?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

She hung up the phone.

"Who was it?" Ron asked with one eyebrow raised.

"They didn't say anything."

"Area code 407?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

"That's the 5th time today they've called."

"Hmmmm."

"It's an Orlando area code." he reached past her and got a handful of almonds. "Who do we know in Orlando?"

"Nobody since Dawn moved from there. She's in Atlanta now."

Karen walked downstairs looking refreshed and comfortable in velour lounge wear. Jessie handed her a glass of wine.

"Girl...that flight was HORRENDOUS! I need this drink hell. What's for dinner? I know you got something fabulous over there. I already smell it."

The phone rang again. Ron looked at Jessie and picked it up.

Area code 407.

"Hello?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

Silence.

"I'm going to need you to stop calling this number if you're not going to say anything. Thank you." He hung up the phone.

"Da hell?" Karen looked puzzled.

"Girl...we've been getting calls where no one is saying anything. It's very annoying."

"Who the hell does that? Don't they know caller ID exists?"

Jessie looked at Ron. "Have you tried calling the number back?"

"No. Lemme see." he pressed talk on the phone engaging the call and listened. Karen took a sip of her wine. Jessie watched him intently.

He hung up. "It just rang." He looked at his wife steadily. She looked at him unwaveringly. He touched her cheek and let his hand slide to the back of her neck and trail away.

They shared an animated dinner and finished off a bottle of wine. Jessie went upstairs to change into lounge wear and went into the guest bedroom to turn down the covers on the bed. The buzzing sound startled her and her eyes searched for the origin of the sound...Karen's phone was on vibrate...the number calling?

Area code 407.

- See more at: http://creoleindc.typepad.com/rantings_of_a_creole_prin/author_monica_mingo/#sthash.zd5tOTz0.dpuf