Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Sounds from my apartment complex

Friday night, 10:30 p.m. Outside my apartment building:
The sound of three bugs clicking and chirping rhythmically call back to each other. The first one clicks quickly 5 times. Then the second, a cricket, calls back with 3 successive high pitched chirps. The third bug emits a low vibrating buzz one at a time with pauses in between just long enough for the other two bugs to chime in. An air conditioning unit clicks loudly and emits a buzz, loud at first, then soft and steady. A car comes out from behind the building. The tires scratch against the pavement; breaks shriek as it comes to a stop. The motor purrs and as the car turns and drives down the street, the rumble of the motor softens until it is gone completely. There is a loud hiss followed by a sharp click, the air conditioner is off. This allows me to hear a high pitched, but faint hum. I guess it is the light. A bug falls to the ground with a loud thud. It sounds big. Its wings scratch and scrape the sidewalk, then nothing. A stereo comes in soft and gradually becomes louder. The bass from the horrible rap song makes the windows tremble. The high pitch shudder contrasts the low bass rumble. Relief comes when the car turns the corner and drives down the road. A door opens, CLICK, and closes, THUD, click. Keys jingle and the cackle of two girls comes in high and fades away. Suddenly, I realize it’s a Friday night, and I am listening to sounds in my sweats. I have no life.

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