Pamela Murrey, Writer
First Flight is a birdwatcher’s tale, but its background has an ominous theme – the phone scammer. I am old enough to remember rotary dial phones and have fond recollections of using them. You picked up the handheld receiver and placed it to your ear. A buzzing noise informed you that the line was free. If you lived in a rural area that was important because you were probably on a party line where multiple households shared the service. If you were in a city but your home had two phones, they were not necessarily on two phone lines. If you were going to make a call you had to wait your turn. Once you heard the buzz you could proceed to dial. Insert finger into the appropriately numbered hole and gently push it round. It made a whirring noise as it fell back into place. Repeat that dialing process six more times. Now you heard the dial out. Would someone answer? I was taught it was polite to let the phone ring10 times. That gave someone time to get to the phone without tripping on the way. Of course, you could also get an annoying "bonk.bonk.bonk." if the line was busy. It was all very exciting. There was no voicemail, and, early on, no message machines. Just the rotary phone, your connection with the world. Now, once your caller was on the phone you could chat away the day. But don’t be fooled that your conversation was always secure. Remember the party lines and extensions… Now, we have slimline automatic phones and cellphones with voicemail and much more. Quick and efficient, with no waiting or surplus sounds. There are also scammers trying to use this technology to sap the Joy, and a ton of money, out of people. Seniors, teenagers, and everyone in between are subject to the scams. Phones aren't nearly as fun as they used to be. Yet we still need that contact capability. We want to reach out to family and friends. There's business to be done, appointments to be made. Phones are an emergency tool if you need 911. These troublesome scammers seem to have us by the throat. Have you ever wondered what is behind this dubious enterprise? I have. Of course, I know the bottom line is about the bottom line. But the psychology of the telephone scammer fascinates me – they’re cold, calculating, and even vicious. To strangers! They invade our lives without a single care about us as people. I'm writing a story about it. Could an unsuspecting person become a scammer and a victim of a scam? My story assumes it is possible. It's called First Flight, and I am posting chapters on Amazon's Vella. Currently I have finished chapter 4. Check it out! It got some birdwatching, a bit of romance, a story built around psalm 55, and that tale includes the victim of a scam. Hope you enjoy it!
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August 2022
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