The Phone Call

It is a quiet evening. Ben sits in his seat by the window. Then the phone rings. He picks it up.

"Ben, is that you?" a voice says. Ben knows the voice. It is Tom, his old friend from school. They have not spoken for many years.

"Tom!" Ben says. He is very happy. "It has been so long!" "Too long," Tom says. They both laugh.

They talk for a long time. Tom tells Ben about his family. His son is now a doctor. His daughter has a baby, a little girl. Ben laughs. "A baby! Time is so quick."

Ben tells Tom about his own children too. His son works in a shop in the city. His daughter is a teacher. "We are old now, Tom," he says. "But we are happy."

"And how is your life?" Tom asks. Ben and his wife moved to a new house last year. They live near a park now. Ben likes to sit outside in the evening and read a good book.

"Do you remember our old school?" Tom asks. "We were always together." Ben smiles. He remembers it well. They were young then. They would walk home every day and play in the park. They would eat lunch under a big tree.

"Do you remember our teacher?" Tom says. "That kind man who always told long stories?" Ben laughs. "I never forget his stories! They were good days."

"Do you still live by the sea?" Ben asks. "I do," Tom says. "The sea is still here. You must come and visit. We can walk by the water, like before."

Ben is pleased. "I would love that," he says. They make a plan. Next month, Ben will travel to see Tom. They will walk by the sea and talk about the old days.

"I am so happy you called," Ben says. "Me too," Tom says. Then they say good night.

Ben puts the phone down. He sits by the window and smiles. It was a good evening. Some friends you never forget.