X asks Y for something when the thing becomes available. Another facet, Z, to Y that says: “now is the time and here is the thing”. In other words Y should respond to X now perhaps with an exceptional value so that X may take unusual steps in this case. At least X is in the best context to know what to do in these cases. Sometimes X need not be cognizant of such events. Of course X is not in a position to invoke Z when needed for X is waiting on a response from Y, but a friend of X can do so. The Keykos timers are of this form. Some I/O keys in some ports of Keykos are like this when the hardware allowed such behavior. The Keykos join object is almost a pure version of this pattern.