The Last Call by Celine Chee
A dialog-heavy short story showing the friendship between a customer and a diner owner.
First published in Pandan Weekly in August 2025. Content warning: death.
From the author:
For writing a piece that primarily focused on dialogue, I just hope that the readers can hear it as a genuine conversation between two friends that may have come a little too late. And that sometimes, what is said and what isn’t both mean so much.
I deeply appreciate the fellow workshop mates during my session as well as the welcoming SEA Lit Circle community for their kindness; it has both heartened and inspired me. Thanks also to the writing-prompts tumblr that gave me the inspiration to write this piece in the first place.
Listen to the author read an excerpt of the piece:
“Goldie’s Pizza Place, how can I help you?” A voice all too familiar to Ben answered the line with his regular quip. Ben’s eyes watered, and he furiously blinked them away. Surely it hadn’t been that long. Why would just hearing a familiar voice cause such a reaction? Ben took a deep breath to steel himself before replying.
“Hey, Josh. It’s Ben.”
“Ben!” Josh said excitedly on the other line. Ben could almost imagine him throwing his arms up and greeting him like a close friend. “You called in! I was wondering when you’d swing by tonight. So you must be coming in soon? Awfully late today, even for you. But no worries! We can still whip your order up for you real quick. Heh, so I guess it’s the usual for you? A large Hawaiian, meatballs on the side, and a bottle of soda?”
Ben could almost smell the pizza baking in the oven and the familiar sounds of Goldie stirring up a fresh ladle of her homemade tomato sauce to drape over the steaming meatballs. The timer would beep to indicate that the pizza was done, and Josh would punch in the payment into their creaky cash register. Ben didn’t have to be there to remember the sounds and smells of his favourite pizza place, run by the sweetest pair of people that he knew. Ben shuffled on his feet. “Ah, not today, Josh.”
“Oh? Then why’d you call? Ah-hah, got a bigger order you need delivered tonight instead? Ooh, finally brought a girl home, huh? Need a quick snack to prepare for the night ahead?” Josh quipped.
“No, not that Josh, geez,” Ben laughed, bringing a hand up to his forehead. The knot in his throat felt like it loosened ever so slightly. He could see Josh’s grin in his mind’s eye, a toothy grin that further etched the laugh lines in his face.
“Haha! Eh, you know me. So what’s up?”
“Since you’re closing up, I thought maybe we could have a chat?”
“Like this, over the phone? You don’t wanna come in or something?”
“I can’t at the moment, so this will have to do. Is that okay?”
There was a slight pause, through which Ben imagined to be Josh looking around the diner. It was near closing time, and even the last of the stragglers would have already left. Goldie would be polishing up their kitchen until its metal gleamed. And Josh would be scribbling the accounts for the day in their thick notebook, where he also listed the addresses of regulars. Like Ben. “Uh… sure, not like I’m busy anyway, and we won’t be expecting any more customers, definitely. Just give me a sec, I’ll let Goldie know to handle the rest of the closing-up stuff first, then I’ll help her out with locking up.”
“Alright. Thanks, man.” As he waited, Ben let out a shaky breath from trying to keep his voice even. He ran a hand through his hair. He looked around at the field of grass around him, surrounding him and the pedestal upon which the phone rested. He realised he had been left alone for this final call.
The fumbling static that came through the receiver signalled Josh’s return. “Alright, I’m back. So what’s up?”
“How was business today?”
“Hah! You’re a real strange one today, Ben. It’s as usual, you know. Busy enough for me and Goldie to have our hands full. You’re lucky you always come in late! By that time, we’re already wrapping up.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s why I always get those extras that are left over, right?” Ben chuckled.
“Yeah, you know it, man! Always better to give them to you than to throw them out,” Josh replied. Ben could picture Josh giving him a wink.
“Anything strange happen today? Or any more rude customers?”
“Hmm?” A slight pause. Ben just knew Josh was likely scratching his chin. “Nothing out of the ordinary. There was your typical Karen that yelled at us for putting peas on her pizza when she didn’t like peas, but I’m like, ‘Madam, this is a Norwegian. It comes with peas.’ Did she not read the menu? And then she was hootin’ and hollerin’ about it until both her husband and her son actually dragged her out! Haha! And what I mean is that they actually lifted her by the arms and dragged her out kicking and screaming. We all got a good laugh from that one.”
Ben’s lips curved into a grin. “Sounds like a real ruckus.”
“Yeah! Man, it even got a chuckle out from Emily. You know how she usually only smiles at most things? That actually got something out of her! Okay, maybe it was also because I was roasting that Karen to high heaven and said something real cheesy. I think I said that she should go ‘rest in peas’ or something, heh!” As Josh’s rambling continued, Ben could imagine himself at the diner listening, resting his chin in one hand and holding a slice of pizza in the other, watching Josh flail his arms around, Goldie laughing from back in the kitchen, and Emily, rolling her eyes as she sat a seat away from him.
Talking to Josh always felt like this. There was something about him and that pizza place that put Ben at ease. Being there felt more like coming home than actually being in his apartment surrounded by his houseplants. It was the only place Ben could force himself to go to whenever he needed to leave his flat for something that wasn’t just getting bare essentials.
It wasn’t just the warmth of the ovens mixed with the stale, stuffy air in the cramped diner. It was Josh’s energy at the counter, Goldie’s warm laughter and equally warm food, and his other friends at their seats, their mere presence already soothing the pressure off his shoulders. Even as he stood next to the phone with his ear pressed tightly to the receiver, Ben could feel his muscles losing tension. And with every breath he took, if it even could be considered that any more, it felt lighter than the last.
Ben snickered as Josh was wrapping up the last of his tales from the day, his wandering thoughts coming back into focus. It truly was good to hear from a friend. “Pfft. Good one, Josh, even better than your usual. That would have made me laugh too. So Emily dropped by today?”
“Yeah. You both and a few others are our regulars after all, so of course, she stopped by. Got her usual as well and sat and chatted with us while we went about our work. Asked about you, you know.”
Ben blinked. The lump in his throat returned, and he swallowed hard to try and get rid of it. “She did?”
“Yeah. You both normally come in on the same days, just like Jake and Essie, and Uncle Tom, I think. That’s why Goldie and I call you all the Regulars, like with a capital R. And no one had seen you come in today. Even I wondered where you’d dipped without telling us. So I’m glad you called in, at least!”
“Ah yeah, I’m feeling a little under the weather tonight.” Ben scratched his neck, which prickled under the continued lies. “Thought maybe having a pizza wasn’t the best idea.”
“Aw man, really? Get well soon,” Josh comforted. “Our Hawaiians will always be piping hot and ready for when you come back!”
“Thanks, man. So… what did Emily ask?”
“Nothing much, just where you’d been and if you were coming in. You lot would always be sitting around at our counters, so without you, it really felt a bit more empty than usual. Heh, I bet it sounds a little weird to be saying this, but we miss you here, man!”
“Hah… that’s nice to hear.” Ben paused for a long while. His breaths got heavier upon hearing Josh’s words. Tears pricked at the edges of his eyes again. When he next spoke, the words came out strangled, and Ben cursed himself silently for it. “I… miss you guys too. You guys were my only friends.”
Josh paused. His hesitation made Ben wonder if he might have given something away. “Nah, I don’t believe that for a second. A nice, funny guy like you, surely you would have many friends all around, at work, or wherever!”
“... you guys know I do remote work.”
“Well, yeah, but outside of that, surely? Old school friends? Hell, even family friends or neighbours. You were always talking about your neighbours.”
“Yeah, just because I complain about them doesn’t mean we’re friends.” Ben rolled his eyes but couldn’t prevent the smile that was creeping onto his face. It was always hard to be down for long around Josh’s airy tone and energy.
“Ah, that’s what you think! What I think is that you guys have a pretty chummy relationship. Wasn’t there that time you told me that you had to help them dog-sit in an emergency, and after that, they gave you a huge cake?”
“That was one time.” Even though there was no way Josh would see it, Ben still couldn’t help but hold up one finger as he talked, even furrowing his brow. He chuckled afterwards. “The rest of the time they’re annoying me with their loud music.”
“Which they also turned down after you told them to. They also helped you pick out plants, didn’t they?”
“I… yeah, I guess, but they were just being helpful.” Ah, his plants. He had a whole bunch of them. Aside from Josh and the rest at the diner, the plants were the next closest thing he had. Ben wondered how they would fare without him. He briefly entertained the thought of asking Josh and Goldie to adopt them.
“Haha! You’re giving both them and yourself too little credit. I’d say that’s friendship to me, even if it isn’t one of those super bosom buddies kind.”
“People being friendly doesn’t mean that they’re friends.”
“Of course not, but they could very well be if you let them, don’t you think?”
“I… suppose so.”
“And then what about your family? I thought you said your parents had lots of family friends with their own kids around your age. And all those gatherings back in the day you were telling me about too.”
“Yeah, I never really kept in touch with any of those people, especially after my parents moved.”
“I see…” Josh’s voice dips slightly, but he was never really one to be down for too long. Quickly enough, Josh regained his cheery mood, replying, “Really lucky you have us then!”
“Yeah… I was really lucky to have gotten to know you guys so deeply.”
“Don’t sweat it, man!”
“You know, Josh…” Ben’s voice choked. His grip on the receiver tightened. He paused for a long while.
“Ben…? Are you still there?” Josh’s voice was laced with uncertainty.
“Yeah, Josh, I… I just don’t think this illness of mine will get better. I… I won’t be coming in again, or calling through.”
“What…?” Now, Josh’s voice quivered.
“Give my regards to the rest of them for me, and to Goldie as well, I hope she continues making delicious pizzas. Help me tell Emily I’m sorry I was never bold enough to ask her out. And help me thank Jake for telling me about orchids. They truly were beautiful when blooming, and I hope whatever he’s got going on with Essie works out. And… thank you, Josh, for always listening to me. For… for always cheering me up.”
“What… Ben, you—you’re scaring me, man, saying things like that!” Ben could hear Josh hit the counter firmly through the phone. “Not a funny joke, man. Come on, I’m sure it isn’t that bad, whatever you have. Hey, I’ve got your address from all those deliveries; tomorrow I can round up the gang and we’ll drop by and give you a visit.” Another pause. Ben could hear Josh’s voice shake. “You don’t… you don’t just say things like that, man, it’s not cool.”
“No!” Now it was Ben’s turn to put his hand down firmly on the pedestal. He took a deep breath before continuing. “No. Please don’t. Please. Just do this for me and nothing else.”
“No. I’m insisting. You can’t just say something like that and not expect us to care. Look, I’ve even got Goldie here with me—” There’s some fumbling on the other end of the line, and Ben knew it was likely Josh pulling Goldie close to him, so that they could both hear from the receiver. “I know she’s heard everything you said just now too, and she’s agreeing. We can head over, stat.”
“Hah…” Ben let out a dry laugh. “I guess you guys really are my only friends. Then before you guys come over… I just have to say that I’m sorry. But thank you… thank you so much. And… I loved you, all of you. Goldie’s kindness, Emily’s patience, Jake’s humour, Essie’s warmth, and your energy too, Josh.”
Josh’s voice trembled. Ben doesn’t think he’s ever heard this from Josh before. “Why— why’re you saying all of this? I’m sure you’ll heal just fine and come in again. I know you will, Ben!” Josh’s voice coming in through the receiver grew more and more panicked. Ben could almost imagine him at the counter, flailing his arms, with Goldie looking on worriedly next to him, her hands clasped.
“... my time is up,” Ben said, as Death materialised in front of him. A bony figure shrouded in a thick black cloak gave him a quick nod. “Thanks for all the pizzas and the good times, Josh and Goldie. I’ll be going now. Goodbye, my friends.”
Ben hung up, gently placing the phone back down. He placed both hands on the pedestal where the small phone, with little buttons and a coiled wire, was. He steadied himself. Then, he took a long, shaky breath. “Hah…” Now that the call had ended, the lump in his throat untangled, and as his breathing eased, his shoulders relaxed. Ben patted himself almost absentmindedly. He looked down at his hands, which still looked and felt as solid as they could be. He could still open and close his fingers. He blinked, trying to register the dark figure before him. It was still hard to come to terms with the fact that he was now a dead man.
“How was your call to the pizza place?” Death enquired, their tone soft and gentle.
Ben straightened up, exhaling heavily. He felt as though he was exhaling out every last bit of tension left in his body. “Good, actually. Thank you for giving me that one last call.”
“Was there really… no one else you would have called? A family member? A close friend? An ex-lover?” There was no judgement in their tone. Only curiosity.
“I wouldn’t have called anyone else.”
Death was quiet for a while, surveying Ben’s firm gaze, but then nodded. As the remnants of Ben’s last call hung in the air, with a bony hand, they guided him further into the mist.
Celine Chee is an avid daydreamer and serial overthinker, but sometimes these manifest themselves in the form of short stories. She’s always felt that storytelling is the core of who we are as humans.
Instagram: @celzarts
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