The Party Line

Do you remember some time ago before push buttons or cell phones when we were all on a party line with the Martins, the Smiths, the Jones'? , The calls came into all the homes we were assigned a certain ring. Ours was a short a long and a short, or a ding a dingle and ding. It was set up as an honor system, we must only answer our own, but if while talking we heard a click we and our caller weren't alone. We could ring each other on the line without alerting the central girl. When we needed to call the operator we gave the crank a big long whirl. A few of the neighbor ladies used the phone as their recreation. They'd call each other and talk so long it could be an aggravation. There were other times our party line really stood us in good stead. If we had trouble we rang long rings that would likely wake the dead. Every one would answer that ring for they knew it was a sign one of their neighbors was in need. What a blessing the party line. Inspired by Paula;s contest Ding a ling