Once upon a workday’s closing,
beneath a desk lamp dimly glowing,
I, in silence, sat composing notes to school group tours-
When….SUDDEN! LOUD! There came a ringing!
So startled was I by the trilling,
I jumped and set my chair a’swiveling, then toppled to the floor!
HA! Silly had I been for falling!- “ ‘ Tis just a visitor that’s calling!”
I stiffly chuckled rising from all fours...
“Rings now a guest with queries to explore!
Only this, and nothing more!”
Reader, I beg of you to understand
the seeming folly of the situation at hand-
You see, as ESP’s Group Sales Assistant,
my minutes, hours- DAYS are spent
In kindly discourse and conversations
regarding questions, ticket orders, and group reservations…
While the job makes me most content,
The bustling October can disorient
And on this particular night, I do recall-
I was tired, confused, and cold with the chilling fall-
Simply put, I was beat!
Ergo, I fell, offguard; the ringing jarred me out of my seat.
So, Reader, know this- I was alone,
That night in the penitentiary, with the ringing phone.
Scared, but, fail not, this Lass a guest.
I got off the floor dusting my dress,
Running!- Fearing I’d reach the phone too late,
I gripped the receiver, stammering, “Hi! Eastern State!”
…And, though I’d answered the call in time…
just hoarse, heavy breathing came across on the line…
“Hi! Eastern State!” I repeated,
and still with eerie silence I was greeted.
“Tis just a dropped connection.
Some cell providers have bad reception!”
And with this thought I dropped the line.
“They will call back, if they’re so inclined!!”
I returned to the task upon my desk…
I could not believe what was to happen next!!!
In a furious instant the phone rebounded-
But with screaming-not rings- it angrily resounded!
Ringing, on ALL lines, RINGING! with a chorus of a thousand SCREAMS!!!
…Was I imagining it? Is this what is seems?!…
…Some say that the prison is haunted…
Still, my job description demands task completion undaunted…
And so to myself I said:
“This screaming is just in your head!
Tis a good guest requesting a tour.
Only this, and nothing more!”
Trembling, I picked up. I said “Hello?”
The voice on the other side B-E-L-L-O-W-E-D,
“GIVE ME TICKETS! Terror Behind the Walls!
This is the thirteenth time I’ve called!!!”
Courageously, I cleared my throat. I swallowed;
The best customer service EVER was soon to follow:
“Tickets for Terror are sold by time and by date-
There are a limited quantity so its best not to wait!
The ticket price includes all six zones-
And, did you know you can buy ONLINE from your home?”
Then the caller became even more enraged
Shouting, “SEND MY TICKETS TO MY GRAVE!”
He then sobbed, snarled, cried, and let out a moan…
…Such concludes my tale of the “CALLER UNKNOWN!”
Rosalie Lidard
Specialist, Group Tours and Administration
