It’s bad enough that on-and-off for the past few months I’ve had to listen to my neighbor’s going at it, sometimes night after night. Arguing, at times screaming at each other, more than once in the middle of the night.
The walls in my place, being lathe-and-plaster, are about as soundproof as a sheet of paper. Joy.
It’s worse that I spoke to him about it at one point, after one troublesome night that resulted in me getting only three hours sleep. (I’m not particularly keen, mind you, of going over there when they’re in the middle of going at each other, know what I mean?) That gave me a reprieve of a few weeks, but it didn’t last.
It’s even worse that Friday night she, alone in the apartment, apparently discovered that he’s been chatting with other women on-line (which makes him an idiot both for doing it and for leaving the evidence on his computer).*
How do I know this? That’s the fun part about having thin walls: I could hear her whole phone conversation even though I didn’t really want to. Of course, it had been brought to my attention because it was preceded by 20 minutes of screaming, crying and, apparently, breaking every piece of glass available. Against the shared wall between our places. Of course.
But the absolute worst so far was last night, when I was woken up at 4 a.m. by the police banging on his front door.** Five officers, no less, entering the apartment and searching both inside and around the house. Why the were there, exactly, and what they were looking for, I have no idea.
And the neighbors weren’t even home.
If it weren’t having a detrimental effect on my sleep, it would almost be entertaining in an odd way.***
* * *
* So, he’s in a relationship that’s clearly having problems, and he’s going to talk to other women on the side. Yeah, that’s constructive. Of course, all of it is heresay through a wall, so who knows if it’s even accurate.
** Which, I gotta say, when you’re pulling yourself groggily out of a deep slumber, hearing the words “police, open up” is scary as shit until you figure out it’s not your door they’re banging on.
*** I’m not one to wish heartbreak and drama on anyone, but at this point my patience has worn a bit thin. They should either break up or get some professional counseling, I don’t really care which anymore…
The GeekHiker 
Sorry, I giggled through the entire post… not that it is a laughing matter really. And your right, your wakeup was much worse than my not being able to go to sleep…. but wow what a shot of adrenalin that would be! And what a story… As far as relationship advice for your lovely neighbors… I’m going to go with the break-up route as their best option… I mean they already have to buy new dishes, so why not buy their own.
By: Aly on May 25, 2008
at 11:14 am
How pleasant.
*snort*
By: just a girl on May 25, 2008
at 2:28 pm
When you first wrote “going at it” I immediately thought “sex!” which would be nicer than hearing them scream at each other..
Right?
In any case, here’s hoping they break up and you get some much-needed sleep! 😀
By: Wendy on May 25, 2008
at 3:03 pm
Are you locked into a lease? I think maybe it’s time to move. 🙂
By: Mel Heth on May 25, 2008
at 10:27 pm
Aly – Heh, yeah, you could say it was a rush of adrenalin. My heart was pounding!
Just A Girl – Yeah…
Wendy – Given my lack of a sex life, I wouldn’t like that much either. So far, for the last couple of days, silence…
Mel Heth – Wait, why should I leave? I think they should move!
By: geekhiker on May 26, 2008
at 10:17 pm
don’t you love living in a metropolitan area??? I know I do!
Just wait, the search light for the escaped convict is SOO much better.
hehehehe, poor thing…
By: cripkitty on May 27, 2008
at 5:40 am
Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation 🙂 Anyway … nice blog to visit.
cheers, Cochabamba!
By: Cochabamba on June 19, 2008
at 11:39 am