The call you keep meaning to make

There's a name in his phone that he scrolls past most days. His father's. The last call was months ago, and it ended the way their calls usually do: "Let's talk properly soon."

Since then he has meant to call almost every weekend. But there's always a small reason to wait. His father doesn't use apps, so it has to be a real phone call, and his phone plan charges extra for calls abroad. He wants to have something worth saying first. On Saturday he decides to wait until he has more news. On Sunday evening it feels too late. By Monday the week has started, and the call slides another week away.

Nothing is wrong between them. That's the strange part. It isn't a difficult call. It's just one he keeps saving for a better moment.

Why we wait

We tell ourselves we'll call when there's news: a new job, a plan, something worth the time. We worry we'll run out of things to say, or that it's been so long the first minute will be awkward.

But the people waiting for our call almost never want news. They want to hear that we're all right. They want our voice in their room for a few minutes. The awkward first minute lasts about ten seconds, and then it's just the two of you again.

You don't need a reason

If you need a way in, use the truest one: "I was thinking of you." Or ask something small. What did they eat today? How's the garden? Small questions open long conversations.

And if it's been a long time, say so. "I'm sorry it's been ages" is easier to say than to keep carrying.

Make it today, not this weekend

The small reasons are easier to remove than they look:

1. Open the dialler and type their number. You'll see the price per minute straight away, before you sign up.
2. Create your free account and add credit from £5. Nothing to install, no contract.
3. Press call. They answer on their own phone, mobile or landline. They don't need an app, a smartphone or internet.

If they don't pick up, it costs nothing. If they do, you pay for the minutes you talk, in 6-second steps.