"Wake up. Are you awake? I'm sorry to call so late."

"Hello? What’s going on? What time is it? Oh, it's you. Wait, what time is it? What’s the matter?"

"I'm shaking. I had a dream, you were in it. "

"Your dream."

"Well, don't you want to know what happened?"

"Yes, yes I am very interested. But how did you get my home number? Can we talk at work tomorrow?"

"Never mind that now. Listen, you were there. You! So was I. You were in my dream and I was in it with you. We were inching along, gripping the jagged rock face, on some kind of precipice. I had a backpack, you had a flashlight. The narrow path, our steps were deliberate. Our progress was slow. We dared to peer over the edge into the inky blackness. Can you picture the inky blackness?"

"How the hell can I picture inky blackness? What is this really about?"

"The swirling abyss. Our movements were careful, small pebbles tumbled over the side. Oh how the gravel crunched!"

"The abyss, crunching gravel, got it. Now look here--"

"Don't you see? You were there, it was me and you, inching along. We shared this moment of terror and exhilaration. I barely know you! We nod in corridors, awkwardly we share the occasional elevator. This is significant."

"It's a dream, that happens in dreams. It's probably not significant. The insignificance of this dream is extremely likely. Who gave you this number? What time is it?"

"Stop saying what time is it, for I bring news of joyous import. You recognized my voice when I called. Don’t you see, it's like you expected it. We were practically strangers, but now that’s all changed. We're connected. Years from now we'll both remember this occasion as the moment we forged a deep and lasting connection. Let's exult."

"Actually I simply read your name off the Caller ID screen."

"Listen, listen. I awoke, I was drenched, I was in a thoroughly moistened state. When's the last time you awoke from a dream literally in a cold sweat? I never even knew what people meant by 'cold sweat' until tonight. Amazing. You should see this, I'm shaking, even to describe this dream causes a shaking or trembling. You pointed the flashlight into the abyss, don't you get it? For my benefit, for our benefit. The inky darkness, the terrible void."

"Look here, I don't mean to be rude but it's very late, can't we talk about this tomorrow? You're on twelve, right? We'll have lunch, okay? Tomorrow. Lunch."

"That's fine, that's fine, sure. Look, this isn't about having lunch or being tolerant. I see where this is going. Don't tolerate me! I am telling you, you were there. Whether you like it or not, you were there."