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Thanks,
Patricia
[This is where the summary would go if I'd bothered to write one.]
A friend offered me her house while she is away for the weekend. “Why” I asked her ever so graciously.
“In case you want to get away.”
I laughed. “Away from what?”
“I don’t know,” she replied.
“Thanks,” I said, “I’ll think about it.” The tone in my voice implying that I would do no such thing.
“You have the keys,” she replied, “in case you change your mind.”
Friday night I considered the option and realized that, with several chores needing to be done, it actually would work out just fine if I did them while at her place. So I threw my laundry in trash bags (classy!), carried it down the three flight of stairs, placed it in my car and took off.*
I’ve now spent the better part of the day in the quiet house and I can say that I’m glad I changed my mind. While I of course have registered the amount of noise that is ever present in the city, I thought I’d gotten used to it. I’ve been telling people that it’s become white noise and I believed it. Till now. I’m surprised by how—I’m not sure what the correct word is. Relieved perhaps? Not relaxed as that doesn’t really seem to be a word that exists in my lexicon. Whatever it is, I now know that the next apartment, wherever it may be, will have to be a little quieter. Let’s just hope I can afford quiet! 
*Was a mile away when it suddenly hit me that I had forgotten her keys. I honestly don’t know how I manage to get around most days. Thank god I realized it before I drove the 30 miles to her place!
have you read “Haroun and the Sea of Stories?” This very situation is described but not from the perspective of the omnicient narrator, so this kind of fills in the feelings that a wonderful character probably was experiencing during a difficult passage in his life. Made my palms sweat to read it - I’ve been on stage and forgotten my line, my cue, my name and the english language, thought the world was gonna end…
oop - I read the rest - not much like Haroun anymore. But damn good stuff! I love the technique of starting with the same item and going in different directions - I’ll figure out a way to post some bigger stuff I’ve done along similar lines sort of…