A few weeks ago I tried to send my friend Geoffrey a text message from my phone to his in reply to a question he’d asked. At the time I didn’t realize that I’d incorrectly entered his number into my phone’s address list, so I couldn’t understand why he never replied.

Three weeks ago, mind you. I’ve since fixed the typo and all is right with the world. I didn’t really pay much thought to the minor issue of the poor confused soul who might have read my terse missive. Nothing came of it at the time, so it was no biggie, right?

“Wrong!”

I went to bed early tonight on account of sheer emotional exhaustion. For the first time in ages, I was actually asleep before midnight. Perhaps it just figures that such bliss couldn’t last…

My phone rang at just past midnight. The caller hung up about the time I managed to answer, and while the number looked vaguely familiar I couldn’t quite place it. Had it matched anything in my address list it would’ve displayed a name along with the number, so I figured maybe it was a coworker trying to reach me about a problem at the office. I decided to wait up a few minutes to see if they’d call back.

The caller did try again, but it wasn’t who I expected. See, this complete stranger called to ask if I’d just sent him a text message.

Nope, I replied, I haven’t sent a text message all evening. What did it say?

“Enemy Territory.”

Aroo? I did send a message like that, but it was weeks ago… and oh yeah, there was a problem with having the wrong number. But… that was weeks ago!

Turns out this gentleman had received the original message, wondered what was going on but decided to let it slide until it happened again. Here’s the weird part: It happened again. Tonight. Somehow either his carrier’s SMS got wonky or mine did, because a message I sent three weeks ago (he still had it on his phone, thus the date checking) was re-sent at midnight tonight.

I explained this likelihood to him, and we had a good laugh. I’m fairly certain he doesn’t think I’m some sort of weirdo who likes to play pranks on random strangers via SMS, anyway.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to see if I can manage to fall asleep again…