Years ago, I do not really remember, but about 200 years, or so, I was working in an out-of-the- way place, of an out-of-the-way country, of an out-of-the-way world, when while having my evening beer (in this case I accurately remember it was my 158th beer that evening) I saw a very specially shaped, gold-plated phone.

As I was staring at it, the owner accosted me and asked:

“Do you know what’s that?”

“No, I don’t. What’s?”, I replied

“It’s a hotline telephone. A hotline with Heaven”

“Oh, no! I cannot believe that. Are you trying to pull my legs?” I continued to say.

“Yes, I promise. It’s a hotline with Heaven. For real! You can try it but it’ll cost $ 100 per three minutes”

On one hand it was my huge curiosity, and on the other a terrible need. I would try it, what could I lose? Yes, I know, I could lose 100 “bucks”.

But if that man was not trying to cheat me. If it were true. If certainly I were able to speak to Him. Well, then...

Taking into account my power of speech, my capacity to hit the nail on the head, my good arguments, my modesty, my...

Well, I would easily get what I was so in need of.

I picked the phone and started chattering. Suddenly, I heard a big noise through the receiver and then “bip, bip, bip, bip, ...”

Well, I tried and I had not lost anything. Yes, I had. One “hundred”.

Years after, I was working in another out-of-the- way place, of an out-of-the-way ... Well, you know”, when I saw what I thought it was exactly the same telephone. I could not give any wide berth to my curiosity and I asked.

The reply wasn’t late, “Yes, sir, it’s a hotline with Heaven. You can try but it’ll cost $100 each three minutes”.

Really I was still in the same need, and you know that saying which says “Second time lucky”.

So, I tried again. Yes, this time I was lucky, really lucky. As I moved very swiftly the thunderbolt hit the ground few feet from me. “FORK!”

Well, with my backpack I continue to run the world till, again, in another out-of-the- way place, of an out-of-the-way country, etc, etc, I saw the same telephone in a bar, and as the owner was approaching me I thought: “Ha! This time I’m not gonna be taken in. I get you”.

“Wait, wait a minute!” I told him. “I’m sure you’re gonna tell me that phone is a hotline with Heaven for real, and that I can try it but it’s “gonna” cost 100 “bucks” the call.”

“Yes, sir” he replied, “you’re pretty right. It’s a real hotline with Heaven but it costs only 35 cents each three minutes”.

I couldn’t believe it. I felt myself cheated, deceived, swindled...

“But I paid in The Neetherlands and in South Africa$ 100 for the same call.” I argued, “How come that here it costs only 35 cents?”

“Very easy, sir, here in Pittsburgh that call is a local one”