hello

when the phone rang
i picked it up and said
hello.

is your mom in?
the voice on the other
end of the line
asked in chinese

no they've gone to malaysia,
i said, talking to the phone.

fiddling with the coiled
wire connection, i wondered
to whom that voice belonged.
a salesperson maybe.
or my mom's colleague. or one of
those distant relatives i meet
once a year.

is this royce?
it asked. yes, i replied
less at ease now
that she knew who i was
but i didn't she.

they'll be back tomorrow night.
i said.
oh okay. i'll call back
tomorrow then. thank you.

and i heard a click
on the other end of the line
and the regular monotone
that said good bye.