John Lee Hooker

We have discussed many times how the desire to understand is a form of intelligence, but why did you call me at 5 a.m? That wasn't intelligent, nor was it kind.

I let the phone ring. You left a message. I knew you left a message because the little red message light on the telephone beside my bed was blinking in my face.

Wake up Brooks, you said, come on over, I have some really good coffee in my room. We can party, get some breakfast, then go see Dave.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was your voice on the phone, the recording of a call you'd made to my room at 4:49 a.m.

I called you back at 5:02, dialing a 1 then your room number, 420. You picked up on the first ring.

Did you call me at 5 a.m. I asked? Yes, you said, like there was nothing wrong. Are you crazy, I said, I was sleeping! You're incredible, I said, what's wrong with you? It's dark out, we're in a small town, there's nothing open for breakfast yet, I said. You are crazy, loony I think I said, I was asleep. What's wrong with you?

You can party by yourself, I said. I'm going back to sleep.

You said you were sorry, in between what I was saying, that you just wanted to party, have fun, get the day started. You thought I was awake, not asleep. You were sorry you called, you said.