6:25pm, Monday night. There I was, standing in Spar Tops - the 'classy' bottle store - picking up a few Hunters Dry for our Streep braai and band practice, when suddenly my phone rang. Trying to answer your phone while holding a pack of lamb chops, your wallet, your bank card, and a six pack of glass bottles involves defying the laws of gravity and limbs per average human somewhat, but I managed to get to it in time.

You can imagine my excitement when it was none other than my (Streep) brother, Tim P. Streep. I became even more excited when he announced in an enthusiastic voice that he had some incredible news. News that would change my life, he said. Was I ready for this news, he asked.

I began to wonder, what could this news be? Was he marrying Jess? Was Dave Matthews finally going to stop singing about racism in South Africa and actually play a show here? Had Simon vowed never to play another song from Rocky Horror in future Streep gigs? Were Toad The Wet Sprocket going to reunite? Properly? I made sure my footing was solid, indicated I was ready for it, and as I awaited whatever tidings were about to be revealed, I was treated to the sound of the call being disconnected.

And then I realised what was happening. It was all a prank from back in the day. We don't exactly have a name for it, but the basic idea is to phone someone, set them up as if you're about to say something important, then hang up.

Well I wasn't letting him get away with that. I called him back from my car in the parking lot, and he pretended that there was a problem with the call. I played along for a bit, then said "Bro, you know what I thought you were going to tell me?" followed by a press of the Red Key Of Justice on my phone. "Hah, take that!", I thought.

My phone rang again. It was Timmy. I picked up. He told me that he really was having trouble with his phone, and that I shouldn't hang up this time, for real.

And I believed him. After everything that had happened in the previous 10 minutes, I believed him. In spite of the fact that logic indicated this was still part of the joke, I believed him. Something in me wanted to believe that he really had some wonderful news.

Then he hung up.

But the best part of the story was this: Timmy ju