The
noise was really beginning to annoy Stevie.It seemed the new neighbors
partied almost every night .They would turn the lights down low
and cars would begin to arrive, parking the driveway full, and
even sometimes on the lawn, close to the well groomed flower beds
bordering Stevie`s lawn..
Then
the music would begin..foreign sounding flute music and other
unfamiliar instruments.Droning on and on until early morning .Just
before dawn the cars would start leaving.By that time Stevie`s
entire night`s rest had been blown to smithereens.
He
didn`t like the idea of being one who complained to or called
the police on his neighbors but he didn`t know how many more nights
of this he could take.
The
first night Stevie thought it must be a house warming .Well,so
be it.He had done the same thing when he had first moved in.Three
of his buddies and their wives had drank and talked into the wee
hours.A much smaller gathering than the neighbors had thrown..and
it had been a weekend evening.This was Wednesday and for the third
night the music was playing again and there were at least two
dozen cars parked out front and on every side.He couldn`t see
that he would ever get a few winks with this going on all night.
Stevie
decided he would at first trot on over there and politely ask
them to turn down their music and cut out the parties during the
week as all in the neighborhood were working people and needed
their rest.If that got no results Stevie would have no recourse
but to make a complaint to the Police Department.
Stevie
carefully made his way across the patio and to the side door where
he could see a dim light and hear the strange music pouring out.As
he made ready to knock on the door, the light went out and the
music abrouptly stopped.Leaning closer and peering in, Stevie
could not believe what he saw...
The
room was empty, totally empty, save for some abandoned cardboard
cartons in the far corner.The polished hardwood floors were bare
of carpet and no drapes adorned the windows.In fact ,Stevie could
see from the front porch door straight through to the back windows
of the house and out into the back yard by the glow of the security
lights on poles above the house.
How
was this possible?He turned and looked at the array of cars parked
around.Where was everyone? They certainly were not inside and
what had happened to the music?Strange but at least it was quiet
now .Maybe he could get some sleep.
Heading
home,he felt strangly lightheaded and woozy.He almost sat down
on his steps to catch some rest but he knew he would feel better
once he was safe inside his own door where he could ponder the
missing noisey neighbors and their rowdy company.
Reaching
his door he felt a rush of release as he turned the knob.The scratching
of a spent record on the turn table greeted his ears.What the
heck?Looking around his messy living room he reconized several
of his friends in various poses on the floor,chairs and sofa ,all
looking to be sound asleep.
Curled
in the corner was his friend Stan, asleep with a flute in his
hand with a large round tall basket next to him.On the sofa with
his eyes firmly closed was Paul,with Eddie curled up, contently,
beside him.
Hearing
Stevie`s suddenly sharpe intake of breath and cry of exclaimation,Paul
awoke and looked around .'Good grief',he said,'I`ll be late to
work .Gotta run,Stevie.'He and Eddie headed towards the door.
Stan
stumbled up clutching his flute in one hand with his arm encircling
the basket.
'Me,too,Stevie,I
need to go home and feed my snake.Thanks for inviting me.It`s
been a helluva housewarming.Who knew it would last for days?'
Fully
awake now,Stevie became aware of an insistant knocking at the
door.
Opening
the door he found the complex manager standing there with a vexed
look upon his face.
'Young
man ,I have several complaints from your neighbors about your
excessive company and the loud music coming for your house for
the last three days and I see you have a dog and a snake in here.Your
lease says no pets.You realize I shall have to evict you.This
behavior is not accetable'
'But
..But..' Stevie thought, 'this is not possible.. or is it...?'
'Sir,The
party for my housewarming was only one night and these animals
do not live here',Steve pleaded,'see,they are leaving with their
owners right now.They just passed you.'
The
manager smiled and said, with a grimace,'This is Wednesday.Your
party started on a Saturday .The requests to turn it down were
all directed to this address.!Your neighbors heard the flute music
almost constantly and also sounds of someone frolicking with a
dog.I suggest you get sober and get this mess cleaned up and then
perhaps we will talk.Right now I have nothing further to say .Good
Day,Stevie',and with that he left Stevie standing with a blank
look on his face and his jaw ajar.
Turning
to survey the unsightly living room Stevie saw such a disarray
of drink containers and partly eaten food containers that he was
taken aback in shock.Where had it all come from? He was well aware
that this was Wednesday and he was at a loss to explain all this.
Stevie
dialed Stan`s number and a sleepy Stan answered.'Oh,it`s you,Stevie,why
did you have to wake me up?I was having the greatest dream.When
I went to collage I left mt snake,Slither, at home .I loved that
fella.While I was away, he became lost, and was never found .I
was dreaming of him and playing my flute and having a good old
time.I was even dreaming that Paul`s Eddie was there too.Remember,Paul
was so sad when he died.Can I call you back later,buddy?', and
without waiting for an answer, Stan hung up ,leaving Stevie in
shock once again.
Stevie
picked up the drink and food containers and put them in the trash
can, all the while going over Stan`s words in his mind.It had
to be just a coincidence.
He
dragged out his ,sometimes runs,vacuum cleaner and proceeded to
clean up the rug.He vacuumed the corner where his friend had been
sleeping with the snake and where the indent from the snake basket
still looked fresh.All the while he was shaking his head in disbelief.
As
he continued cleaning he convinced himself that all was well and
he had just gotten drunk and stayed that way for three days.
When
Stevie got to the furniture he was doing a great job until he
discovered the sofa was covered in dog hair...
