Page 23 of No More Secrets

Standing outside Maria’s Deli in a strip mall near the city center, Shiloh stares at the only pay phone she’s seen in town, wondering how to make one of those collect calls her mom once talked about. Long before Shiloh had a cell phone and Harmony had a steady job, her mom hadn’t paid the phone bill. The landline was dead, and her mom needed to make a call to schedule a job interview, but she couldn’t find a pay phone. There weren’t any around anymore. She ended up borrowing the neighbor’s phone, a gruff guy named Graham who had more hair on his back than his head and face and collect called into her interview. She didn’t get the job.

Last night freaked Shiloh out. She’s desperate to get to Hollywood and needs to convince Finn to come get her now. She can’t spend another night here. Finn would have made money from last night’s gig. Maybe he’ll spare her enough to convince his bandmate to drive him and pay for the gas.

She picks up the receiver and wipes both ends on her sweatshirt before pressing the phone to her ear. The steady hum of the dial tone tickles the tiny hairs inside her ear. If there were ever instructions on the phone on how to make a collect call, they’ve long since faded. Taking a chance, she presses the zero. That number always gave her a live person when she’d call her school.

An automated attendant answers and lists her options. Shiloh selectsMake a Collect Calland dictates Finn’s number. She prays he wakes up and answers. It’s not even eight in the morning.

A shrill tone rings in her ear, and an automated voice informs her collect calls cannot be made to cell-phone numbers.

Shiloh slams down the phone, flustered and embittered. Now what?

The library opens in another hour, and she debates sending Finn an email to set up a Zoom call for later. But she can’t go back today after spending all day there yesterday. The librarian will grow suspicious. She already is.

A guy around her age unlocks the deli’s entrance and pushes the door open. Curly auburn hair covers a thick neck under his ball cap. He’s round in the middle, and his gray khaki pants sag in the rear. His Nike sneakers are brand-spanking-new white. He props open the door with a door stopper and drops a case of Pepsi beside the entrance. He brings out several more, stacking them beside the door. The outline of a phone bulges in his front pocket.

She gives him a slight wave.

“Hi.” His smile comes slowly, as if he’s surprised she noticed him. He is plain looking with drab attire. “We’re open now if you want to come in,” he offers.

“I was hoping I could borrow your phone.”

His smile shrinks as he takes in the sight of her, the greasy hair, dusty clothes. Each day it becomes more obvious she’s living on the streets, which only adds to her shame and bitterness. His gaze shifts around as if he’s assessing where she’d take off to if he lent her the phone. How fast could she run? Would he catch her?

Shiloh doubts it. She’d be across the parking lot and around the block before he could blink. But that’s beside the point. She isn’t interested in stealing anything that could track her.

“I’m not going to steal it. Here, hold this.” She slides off her backpack and offers it as collateral.

“You can’t use that?” He gestures at the pay phone behind her.

“You can’t collect call a cell phone.”

“Oh.” He slips out his phone. “How many minutes?”

“Five?”

“I guess that’s okay. My mom monitors my usage.” His face pinkens. He takes her pack and gives her his phone.

“Thanks.”

She hastily moves a few steps away and calls Finn. He answers after the fourth ring.

“The eff. It’s early, man.”

His sleepy voice is a gush of relief. “Don’t hang up. It’s me.”

“Shy Girl. You’re my sexy mystery woman. Whose number you calling from now?”

“Don’t know. Some guy’s.”

“What guy?” He’s suddenly alert.

“I don’t know. Some guy I just met.”

“He good looking? He better not make a move on my gal. I’ll fuck him up.”

“Finn, stop. I’m just using his phone.” She doesn’t want him to get fired up. He’ll go on a rant, acting all protective, until he has to end the call because something else more important than her is pulling him off the phone. She hates that he gets jealous so quickly, yet at the same time makes her feel wanted.

“How was last night?” she presses, feeling around for how much money he made.

---