He was a heavy breather. You could hear him puffing and blowing into the mike up there like some large and sweaty animal. I don't like that, never have. My father is like that on the telephone. A lot of heavy breathing in your ear, so you can almost smell the scotch and Pall Malls on his breath. It always seems unsanitary and somehow homosexual.
The quote describes a character whose audible heavy breathing is likened to that of a large, sweaty animal, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere. The narrator expresses disdain for this trait, linking it to their own father's similar breathing style during phone calls, which brings back unpleasant memories. The imagery suggests an association between heavy breathing and something unsavory or even undesirable.
This discomfort with heavy breathing is compounded by the narrator's perception of intimacy and personal space. The mention of scotch and Pall Malls adds a layer of sensory detail that reinforces the idea of uncleanliness and discomfort, framing such sounds as unsettling. This sentiment is tinged with a judgmental view, hinting at societal biases regarding masculinity and connotations attached to certain behaviors.