The Noise Next Door

2:30 this morning: the cat climbs on my chest, and his kitteh breath rouses me from sleep. I roll over causing him to crawl over to Caesar, then climb out of bed myself to use the restroom. Finally sneak back underneath the comforter and electric blanket only I can't fall asleep thanks to our neighbors in the apartment building directly adjacent. The noisily pound up the stairs and across the walkway, laughing and shouting to one another. A few voices drift away and disappear while three remain, joking, probably drinking, and keeping a general ruckus too loud for sleep lasting roughly 30 minutes. I wonder why their neighbors aren't saying anything, especially the one with the young child who screams every Saturday and Sunday morning non-stop beginning at 6AM. I also wonder why I hope someone else will take care of it instead of opening the window and asking them to keep it down. Maybe I don't like confrontation. Maybe I doubt it will do any good. Maybe letting the neighbors know that I'm the one complaining for fear of retaliation. The college-aged kids next door -- and I will call them kids because that's how they act -- seem to lack respect for others. Once confronted, they tend to go out of their way to make life a living hell for those who rat or complain. Clanking bottles during the wee hours of the morning. Mischievous laughter and trampling along the walkway shortly after the lights go out. Anything just to mess with people.

Eventually, the voices fade away, and I manage to drift back to sleep. Before the alarm blares The Cure announcing time to get ready for work.