The telephone rings in the home of Darwin Sleight. As a child he ran to answer it. As a young man he would jump and stumble, knocking his surroundings askew. But as an adult, Darwin would ignore the sound. Now it's
Ring Ring Ring
But no Hello.
His family and friends never called, but his phone was alive both night and day. And though his number often changed, still the
Ring Ring Ring
Would find him.
At work, the women found him charming'a quiet innocence. 'The phone's for you,'� they'd say. 'Hey, Darwin!'�
(once a girl thought between forkfuls of lettuce
darling darwin darlin darwin what a nice thing to call a husband)
But Darwin hid inside his work. He shook his head and tried to ignore them. Confusion became frowns, and frowns became jests. Snickers bore meanness until Darwin hid
Behind closed doors
Where he wept his life dry.
He fought the madness. It was years since he heard it'the caller. He would face it; ask it why it harmed him. Why did you ruin me? Mock me? What is it you want from me?
Blood.

One time, a time ago, a Sleight'Robert Sleight of Cornwall'came to a keep up north to battle the devil. Games of cards and dice were laid, and though souls were anted, Sleight made the devil growl. Through the long night he played perfect hands, rolled hard bones, and laughed from the gut. Sleight died with a grin on his face. He'd taken Great Britain in the night of its life.

It was Darwin's blood the devil smelled, and every day it called him. When Darwin didn't answer, it would dance before his windows, watch while he was sleeping, light fires in the yard, and whisper nonsense in his ears. 'Dear Darwin, Darlin Darwin, I'll lick your balls when you're asleep!'�
And so it did.
'I've munged yer mummy down inside her casket, all whithered up and broken, yummy'�'�
And so it did.
Until Darwin died on his feet'blank stare, languid limbs'a zombie without the desire to raise its arms. They shoved him down in the basement office; they were glad to be rid of the speechless freak. It was best for Darwin: no pesky coworkers, no one to watch over him, and best of all'�he got his own phone.
Ring Ring Ring
But no one's home.

To exit a life that was never once fair, now that no one else cared, seemed a practical thought. He yelled a coward's shout: 'You've made my life so thin that I don't exist at all! So take it, you bastard! Wherever you are!'� As the phone applauded with its clanging metal laughter, Darwin put the rope around his neck.
Ring Ring Ring
A smile he found
Ring Ring Ring
And a snapping sound

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