Obscene Phone Call

The caller identified himself as a lingerie salesman, and I believed him

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I was all of 20 years old, when I got my first obscene phone call. I didn’t realize it was an obscene phone call…I wasn’t even aware of such a thing. The caller identified himself as a lingerie salesman, and I believed him. Why shouldn’t I? He was, apparently doing a survey for his company, and I was willing to be helpful. “Do you prefer pantyhose or regular hose,” he asked. “Pantyhose.” “Do you prefer cotton or nylon underwear?” “…..”Cotton, I guess.”

“What size bra do you wear?” And I, being the ever-so-gullible, and helpful one, told him.

“I guess, by now, you have figured out that I’m not a lingerie salesman,” he said. I hadn’t. “I’m

doing a sex survey. How old were you when you first had sex, and were you the aggressor?”

Before I could answer, my husband, who had heard my response to the last question…and was marching down the hallway, shouted, “Who are you talking to?!?” “He’s doing a sex survey.” He grabbed the phone. “He’s a nut!” He slammed the receiver in the cradle and explained to me, exactly what was going on, on the other end of the conversation. I was shocked, and mortified! My husband worked nights, and after this call, I was afraid to be alone. I thought the phone-call man would figure out where I lived, and break in, and really hurt me.

Over the years, I received several such calls, and never fell for another one. I still receive a surprising number of obscene phone calls, but at my age, none of them have anything to do with sex!

Sharon Hudson 2025