More from Hung Up this week: A little London event innit … a chat about the US Traitors season 4 cast in the Substack app … and What’s the story you tell about yourself?

At church one Sunday in my youth, the pastor shared an anecdote that I think about all the time. You know what day the telephone company says the phone lines are the busiest, all over the country? he asked the congregation of about 500-plus black folks. Mother’s Day. And you know what day the telephone company says the phone lines are quietest? We all waited in uncertainty. I wondered first how he got this information, if it was data from all telephone companies or just one telephone company. I personally thought about Easter — no one’s calling anyone on Easter. Father’s Day, the pastor said. No one’s calling anyone on Father’s Day, he finished solemnly. The crowd let out a big Mhmm! as if on cue. That made sense to me as I know a lot more deadbeat dads than I do deadbeat moms.
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