Did Anyone Telephone?

Mrs Jones was waiting for an important telephone call, but she had no bread in the house, so she left the baby at home and said to his five-year-old brother, ‘I am going to the shops, Jimmy, and I will be back in a few minutes.’

While she was out, the telephone rang, and Jimmy answered. “Hullo,’ said a man, ‘is your mother there?’

‘No,’ answered Jimmy.

‘Well, when she comes back, say to her. “Mr Baker telephoned”.’

‘What?’

‘Mr Baker. Write it down. B-A-K-E-R.’

‘How do you make a B?’

‘How do I make ….? Listen, little boy, is there anybody else with you? Any brothers or sisters?’

‘My brother Billy is here.’

‘Good, I want to talk to him, please.’

‘All right.’

Jimmy took the telephone to the baby’s bed and gave it to Billy. When their mother came back, she asked, ‘Did anyone telephone?’

‘Yes,’ said Jimmy, ‘a man. But he only wanted to talk to Billy.’

(L.A. Hill, Elementary Stories for Reproduction, Oxford University Press)