wrong number
you are in toronto to visit a friend
you are in a phone booth
you have dialed the wrong number
an old woman's voice answers
she doesn't speak english
she says something you do not understand
and then there is a young boy's voice on
he cannot be more than ten or eleven
he speaks english well
but with an accent
he is speaking to you in one language
and to his mother in another
he politely tells you
that you have dialed the wrong number
you have no more quarters
you ask if he would do you a favour
and call your friend
you explain that you are from out of town
and that you have no more change
you give him your friend's number
and then the number of the booth
you thank him very much
and then wait
Copyright © michael dennis / South Western Ontario Poetry 1983
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