Program

Fearfully happy,  Nancy was glad the shaking stopped. That was a long one, she thought. Not severe, no jolts. But long, like the earth's extended grumbling. Nancy looked around her living room. Everything seemed okay, upright, and she saw a wisp of cat tail beneath the couch, good. All accounted for, Nancy exhaled for the first time in two minutes. Kansas-born, these scary quakes were getting old, she thought. Not something she knew.

Maybe two years on the left coast was long enough away from home. Nancy thought about her parents' large, ranch-style house, with the huge fields for yards. Plenty of room. She looked all the way down to the sidewalk. Eighteen floors up is a whole different life, a whole different view. Nancy is then startled by the phone's ring. But she remembered, it's probably her mom. She always calls when there's an earthquake, even in other countries, just to make sure Nancy's safe, maybe saw a cable story. But it wasn't her mom calling at all.

The heavy Filipino voice crackled with connection statc, "We're calling you back about your interest in our earthquake insurance program." The voice sounded almost electronic, a machine talking, but Nancy was puzzled by the coincidental call. "Where are you calling from, please?" She almost expected her caller to hang up. "Philippines. Manilla.", the disjointed voice confirmed. But Nancy was still confused. "I've never requested- I have no interest in your insurance. Thank you." Abruptly hanging up, she didn't bother hiding her indignant irritation.

An hour later Nancy left her condo for a quick trip to CVS. The elevator doors slowly closed. Starting the descent, the elevator suddenly snapped to a jarring halt. To her horror, Nancy felt her tower building sway and vibrate, it was another long grinder quake, just like the last one, but this one stronger. Nancy grabbed her phone out of her purse, but it was totally dark, like the elevator car. None of the panel buttons worked, as the low sway continued, it was thirty seconds now. Nancy was frozen with fear, like it was a dreadful daydream, except it wasn't.

Suddenly, the phone in her hand lit up ringing, she almost dropped it. Thank God, she thought, but then noticed- only doubling her fear- that very same overseas number. Nancy hesitantly touched the speaker phone button.

The same voice. "We're calling you back about your interest in our earthquake insurance program."