http requests in node

I have a node process running locally on port 8888. I have a second node process running locally on port 8889. When I make an http request to, GET, to localhost:8889 from localhost:8888, I get an error : Node.js Error: connect ECONNREFUSED

but if from localhost I send an http request remote:8889, all is well. I use the request node package.

What is the issue here? Not finding a whole lot of useful answers.

Has anyone seen this?