Transatlantic calls

Now what to do.

Where are those papers Jim showed me, they should be right here on the dining table. 

I had been looking through all the books and clutter that Jim liked to keep close for many minutes. Now it was stacking ever higher as I looked at each piece once again to find a single sheet with chicken scrawl hand writing on it. Arr the Piano book we used this morning- eureka I found it!

I bolted into the kitchen to check the calendar making sure of the date again and ran a finger along all the dates, times and places listed on the double-sided sheet of paper. All cities in the United States, I will pull out an atlas in the morning and see where they all are.

So on the 8th February I should ring at 9pm to this hotel and ask for James Ramone ok- 9pm here or there? 

I turned the sheet over no notes or other information. So confusing, but I ploughed on I was too tired to bother asking the operator first for the international time zone.

"Hello international operator please" I tapped the piece of paper with the pen, my shorthand book was just beside me, it will do for any notes and things to ask or need to say, like relaying the hospitals communications and the like.

Why is it taking so long.

At least five minutes passed before I finally heard a loud click and the operator spoke.

"Country, State and telephone number please" She was Scottish, great now I had to contend with her broad accent.

I spoke slowly and clearly, I could hear the heavily accented operator pushing buttons and talking to someone on the other end, though I couldn't make out the muffled words. 

Next minute there was silence, I took the phone from my ear and shook it, what that would do I don't know, I lifted it back to my ear.

"Hello..." I spoke to the silence perhaps someone would pick up, all of a sudden there was a bang and click then an American voice filled my ears, I shuffled up in my chair and smiled at my accomplishment of actually reaching an American operator on the other side of the world!

"Plaza hotel. What room please" she was all business but that was ok, this was international calling and expensive.

"Umm Room number 534 please, Mr James Ramone" I was again on hold but it did sound like buzzing, maybe ringing, perhaps America call sounds were different.

A/N : Telephone conversations I will try and keep it understandable!

If Ramone is speaking to his offsiders in the background they will be in italics, then Ramones responses in normal script.

Right? Clear as Mud~ Not! hehe!

Ramone: "'Ello Geo speaking with my voice" Geo sneezed.

Me: "Bless you! Excuse me I am looking for Mister James Ramone is he in?"

Geo: "I have stuffed up ears luv, speak up! You from the 'ool?"

I repeated myself and added yes, for the answer to the Liverpool question. He had a cold, he wasn't saying anything right the poor man... and I waited.

And waited.

Me: "Excuse me, about Mister Ramone?"

Geo: "Oh sorry I fell asleep luv, no one here by that name anyway!  Someone's given you a bum number luv"

Me: "Look Mister Jim James has been taken ill, he has all these numbers listed, some in Miami in a few days, this number and and your room number being one. Can you ask someone who is there to call back please it's important, Mister James is quite ill"

I gave this Geo fellow the house telephone number and waited and waited.

I waited so long I fell asleep head pressed against the cold window pane, the fire was dying and I was beginning to freeze.

I woke with a start and jumped up grabbing a coat, stoking the fire to try and get some heat into the house and looking at the time- 4am in the morning. Do I call back, do I wait?

The phone rang, I stared at it for three rings as I was in a half sleepy trance, before finally grabbing the receiver and placing it on my ear.

Ramone: Da

Me: No

Ramone: Angie?

Me: Arrrr (wake up dummy , he's answered) Mr Ramone, it's Abigail here, Mister Jim's housekeeper.

Ramone: Sorry luv Geo fell asleep, I just received the rather garbled message.

Me: Mister Ramone, your dad Jims been taken to hospital

Ramone: Why! What's wrong with him. What's happened!? (Ramone speaks to Geo maybe- Me dads in hospital!....'you can't go home'- I know I can't, what do I do?!)

Me: The ambulance officer thinks he may have suffered a stroke.

Nothing Zilch

Nada.

Nothing.

Me: Mister Ramone? It's not for sure, I will visit in the morning and see him, find out for you sir.

I could hear a muffled conversation on the other end of the line.

Ramone: Sorry I was speaking to my offsider (offsider in the background:  blah- partner you clod.  Shut it, not while I'm on the phone...Sorry luv. Umm Angie and Ruth?

Me: Spain

Ramone: Arr yes Spain (someone says in the background :Ole'!)

Me: Look you're obviously busy I'll ring off and get back to you in what, twelve hours with news, alright? Tell Geo, that boy with the horrid cold, honey and a scotch for the throat.

Ramone: Abigail right? Tell him I love him heaps, I'll talk to you later, thanks and all that. Cheerio luv (Bye, Ole, Ta-rah, sayonara- is yelled out in the background ) shut it you prick's..... sorry Miss Abigail, talk soon, bye.

Click.

That was the most insane phone call I have ever been involved with.

I've not heard anything like it.

There must have been two or three other idiots there with him, how on earth can they sell anything acting like that? I shut my mind to the insanity of the phone call and slept on the couch by, the now, roaring fire.