Telephone call for Gemaline Bradburry....

I was half-way out of my head when the phone rang for me. I didn't know who it was 'til I heard her voice come through, all crackly and sweet. She said it was over, that she was gone. I knew it was coming; I'd known for weeks. But hearing that she'd finally left, startled and shook me anyhow. I didn't know what to say just then. I think I was scared. I must have been quiet for a while because she kept saying my name, "Gemma? Gemma? Are you there? Gemma...?"
Everything was so confusing and suddenly...

"I'm so happy to be talking to you. No one ever really calls me. Well, no one ever calls me. Well except you, but I wish mom would call me sometimes, like you do. But I know she's busy, she tells me that all the time, well in my head, because I remember her telling me that, so I can hear it still, but not really because it's not on the phone. So I just wait, and then it's just strange because then you call and I can talk to someone, and I can hear mom in your voice, like she's crawling out of your mouth, but not really, but you know what I mean. I was thinking of this place the other day when I was having my meeting with Dr. Caslo, and she was saying something about green or fields or something, so I started thinking of this place that I could make or build or just live at that would be really nice and calm and there would be flowers and laughter in cupfuls, and I could live there, and you could come too Anne, if you wanted, because I'm really better now, and I just feel so good, sometimes, you know? But sometimes I feel hopeful again, like in spurts, but only sometimes and not often, not often like taking breaths kind of often, but often like just once in a while kind of often. You know. And then I think of all those things that mom said and I think about them, each one like it's its own little person that I have to give special attention and hugs to, and so I think of them this way and it's easier to kind of work them out. Like about how she said I'd never be the same after last summer, and I mean, who is ever the same after anything? Things happen all the time to people, all sorts of things, things like fights and screaming and colors and music from an old record. Those things happen to people, and other stuff, and so yeah, you change a little and it's a little bit funny kind of , but it doesn't have to be bad, you know? You can change and be like.......you can be better. Do you think I'm better, Anne? I mean don't you think that I sound so much better? I mean, I'm good and I'm doing fine, and I'm eating again, Annie, like I used to. Cornbread and butter and apples and candy and potroast and just food, and I'm doing good again. I promise. I promised you that, I told you I would, and I did. I'm doing it. So I just think that soon I can leave here, because I like to go for walks and they don't really let me do much of anything, and there's no place for me to walk to even if I could go for walks, and so sometimes I just cry instead, or drink apple juice, sometimes. ----------

I hate talking on the phone Annie, I hate it. It's not like being close to you or someones voice. Sometimes I think I'm having conversations on the phone, and then there's nobody there really, and I can't really remember what I'm doing half the time, but I think that if I just keep talking enough then it won't matter, because what really matters anyway, right? I mean, as far as telephones go..."