The cartoon boy and the cartoon moose, both drinking Pepsis, sat in the living room and watched TV watch them.

The phone rang. The cartoon boy remained seated. It rang three more times. From off-screen the cartoon boy's voice answered, "You've reached my machine. You know the drill." (But I didn't even have an answering machine. Not yet, anyway.)

A beep, then Stephen's voice: "What in the world is wrong with you?! I called your boss; he said you'd quit last week. I've been to your apartment a couple of times. I know you're in there; you haven't fixed those blinds. They don't close all the way and I can peek under them. What's so important about that TV that you can't even go to work or answer the door or pick up the stupid phone? I know you're in there. Pick up the phone. Pick up the stupid phone... please... pick up... oh God damn it...

"Pick up the stupid motherfucking phone!"

Another beep.

STOP. EJECT.