When I realized this, one night as I drifted unhappily to sleep, it jerked me straight up in my bed!

Then she was violently yanked backward off her feet.

Now she turned abruptly and snorted. ''This is a hell,'' she said sharply, speaking with passion for the first time. ''You think I want to do this?

I leaped up, jumped on my bike, hightailed it home, and refused to go outside again for the rest of the day.

Only someone with bad news would be on the other end. I bolted upright and grabbed the receiver.