< Bolting upright in bed in a total adrenaline rush>
Me: What the fuck! Holy shit! Man, that was close
Brain: What’s up Fat Man
Me: What’s up? Didn’t you hear that thunder?
Brain: What are you talking about?
Me: We almost got hit by lightning
Brain: Really?
Me: What? We really almost just got hit by lightning
Brain: Ummm, not really
Me: What do you mean “not really?”
Brain: I hate to break it to you but that was a dream
Me: No fucking way. That was real
Brain: Nope that was a real dream
Me: What the fuck, it seemed so real
Brain: To you it was real.
Me: Why the hell would you do that to me?
Brain: Well, every once in a while we need to test the reticular activating system whose circuits run from the brainstem through the thalamus to the cortex
Me: Huh
Brain: Think of it as one of those tests of the emergency broadcast system you hear on terrestrial radio every once in a while. You know, “this has been a test of the emergency broadcast system, this was only a test….”
Me: Yeah, yeah, yeah I get. Why didn’t you tell me about the test?
Brain: I forgot
Me: You forgot?
Brain: Hey, shit happens. I was busy and REM happened and then, well, given the storms that happened yesterday…..
Me: Shit happens? You scared the shit out of me
Brain: Hehehehe. Sorry Fat Man
Me: Sorry?
Brain: Oh, calm down Larry Lightning. So you had a crazy dream, big freaking deal. It wasn’t like you were falling
Me: You can be such a dick
Brain: I am who I am
Me: That you are
Brain: Hey, remember the words from the Garcia song, The Wheel?
Me: Huh, no?
Brain: “If the thunder don’t get you then the lightning will”
Me: Very funny
Brain: Yes I am
