Who's Your Neighbor?

It was one in the morning on Saturday. Jill tossed and turned. She put the pillow over her head. Nothing was working to keep the yelling and screaming, the breaking of glass, the slamming of doors from invading her sleep. It was late to be calling a friend, but this was too much. She grabbed her cell phone off the top of the dresser and punched in Laura’s phone number.

The voice sounded groggy and deep on the receiving end. “Hello.”

“Laura, is that you?”

“Jill?”

“Yeah.”

“Is everything all right?”

“I wouldn’t call you if everything was all right.”

“Is it my cat?”

“No, Laura.”

“Is there something wrong with the apartment?”

“No.”

“Is...”

“Stop. I didn’t call to play a guessing game with you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s your damn neighbors. They’re fighting like wild animals. Why didn’t you tell me about this? I would have stayed in a hotel. You did this to me on purpose, didn’t you?”

“No. I knew you were getting your house remodeled, and I wanted to help you. It seemed like perfect timing. My mother needs me here, and I needed someone to watch Kittykay.”

A loud boom sound came through the wall. “Laura, did you hear that?”

“What?”

“Probably their refrigerator; one of them threw it at the wall.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Whatever! How do you put up with this?”

“It’s usually not that bad. They yell at each other. They don’t usually throw things. I’ve never heard them do that before.”

“Well, apparently they’ve run out of things to yell to each other.”

“The Henkersons are actually a very pleasant couple when they’re not arguing. You know what, there’s something in my junk drawer.”

“Something in your junk drawer?”

“It can help.”

“Is it a dart gun?”

“What?”

“You know, like for wild animals. Something I could tranquilize them with.”

“Go to the junk drawer.”

“You’re talking about in the kitchen, right?”

“Yeah.”

Jill got out of bed and hurried into the kitchen. “Which junk drawer?”

“I only have one.”

“No offense, but they’re all full of junk.”

“It’s by the stove.”

“Okay, I’m at the junk drawer.”

She pulled the drawer open. “What am I looking for?”

“There’s a card in there. Sister Amy from my church gave it to me. It’s for marriage counseling. I was supposed to give it to the Henkersons, and I forgot.”

“What? A business card? How’s this supposed to help?”

“You go give it to them.”

“What? Are you out of your damn mind? They’re killing each other over there. You want me to knock on their door and say, excuse me. Would you two quit pounding on each other for a second? I want you to read a card!”

“Then, call the police.”

“Big help you are.”

“Well, I thought it was a good idea. It’s one in the morning. I’m half asleep.”

“Quit bragging.” Jill moved things around inside the drawer. She found the business card and pulled it out. She heard Laura’s mom’s voice in the background of the phone.

The voice, though low, was clear and sounded panicked. “Laura. Laura. Who are you talking to? Where are you?”

“Mom, I’m in the living room. I’m just on the phone. Everything’s fine. Go back to sleep,” Laura called out. “Thanks a lot and goodnight.”

“Goodnight? Are you trying to be funny?”

After Laura ended the call, Jill returned to the bedroom; placed her cell phone and the business card on the nightstand, and turned off the light. Seconds later, there was a loud purring sound next to her head. She turned on the light. “Kittykay, go sleep in your own room.”

The black and white cat stretched and moved down from the pillow. She landed near Jill’s neck and shoulders. Playfully she pawed at the collar on Jill’s green, cotton pajamas.

Jill picked up Kittykay and carried the cat to her own room where she jumped from her arms and landed on the blue, cushiony pet bed. Agitated, Jill walked into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water. During the moment that her lips touched the glass, she heard a loud thud and a woman’s scream causing her to jump and jerk her glass. Water jumped up and splashed the side of her face. “That’s it.”

Pulling on Laura’s pink housecoat and her own orange slippers, she thought, it is ridiculously late, and I have a right to sleep. With the marriage-counseling card in hand, Jill marched over to the neighbors’ apartment. With a bit of righteous indignation, she knocked on the door. When no one answered, she knocked harder.

The apartment door opened a crack. “Who is it?” Tim asked.

“I’m a neighbor. I have something for you.”

She could only see a bit of his forehead and a few strands of his sandy brown hair as he peered through the opening. He reached two fingers out and grasped the business card. “Who are you?”

“I told you, a neighbor. Look, I would have called the police, but Laura Knight said I should give you that. She said that you and your wife are a nice couple, and you should go to counseling. You know, some of us have to work in the morning.” She took a closer look at the apartment number, 2A, and recalled the man who had held the building door for her yesterday morning. “You’re Tony, right?”

A moment of silence occurred before he responded, “Yes.”

Jill had expected him to open the door wide and be the gentleman that he had displayed to her before, but he closed the door. Disappointed, she walked back to Laura’s apartment.

Tim watched her through the peephole. Then he grabbed Robin’s arm and pulled her over to the door. He opened it a crack and shoved her toward it. “Who is she?”

Robin peeked out the door. She only saw the back of the woman. “I don’t know. I’ll go talk to her.” She quickly opened the door and took a step out of the apartment.

He reached out and grabbed her by the neck. “Get back here. Nobody’s going anywhere.”

Robin gasped in fear. The tightening of his fingers around her throat silenced her cry.

It was the man’s harshly whispered words that got Jill’s attention. She was about to enter Laura’s apartment. Quickly, she looked at apartment 2A and saw the hand around the woman’s neck dragging her back into the apartment. Running, she made it to the neighbor’s door just in time to have it slammed in her face.

“You let her leave, Tony. You obviously need time to calm down so no one gets hurt. Let your wife leave or I’m calling the police.”

The door opened and Robin quickly stepped out. “I’m fine, really. Thank you for your concern. I’m fine.”

“I just saw him grab you. Has he been beating you?”

“No, no, I’m fine.”

Jill peered at the woman’s hazel eyes and thought she was lying to her. “Did he threaten you? You can stay in my apartment tonight. You don’t have to put up with abuse.”

“No, I’m fine, really. I’m sorry about all the noise.”

Jill looked her over and did not see any cuts or bruises, just some redness around her neck. She wondered why the woman was wearing a dress. She even had high heels on, and her hair was neatly styled. At one in the morning, Jill thought everyone should look as ridiculous as she did: wearing a short pink housecoat over long green pajamas, slippers that were orange, and hair that looked like it had hung out of the window of a speeding car. “Knock on my door if you need me. My name’s Jill. I’m staying in Laura Knight’s apartment for a couple of weeks.”

“I’ll be fine, but thank you.”

“What is your name?”

“Robin, Robin Henkerson.”

“Robin, don’t be afraid to come over.”

“Thank you, Jill.”