Bob, for heavens sake, do something already! Laura snapped, nudging her snoring husband with an irritated elbow. This is unbearable!
What? Whats that? he mumbled in his sleep.
Bob wasnt bothered by the shrieks from the flat above, but Laura definitely wasnt about to get any shuteye.
Noras screaming again! Cant you hear her? she whined.
Bob stayed dead to the world, drifting deeper into his dream.
Fine, go on sleeping then! Laura roared, Ill go myself theres nobody else in this whole block to quiet this monster!
She threw on her dressing gown, slammed the door shut with a decisive bang, and marched out.
Bob, still halfasleep and muttering curses under his breath, pulled himself up and followed her, reluctantly.
***
Laura stood at the door of the peacedisturbers, pounding on it with all the force she could muster. Just then Bob arrived, just in time, as Paul flung the door open.
From somewhere inside the flat came the wails of sixyearold Danny and the sobs of Nora.
Whats the problem? the drunken host croaked, swaying on unsteady feet.
Did you look at the clock? Laura shrieked. Its the middle of the night!
And now what? Paul stepped forward, fists clenched.
Nothing! Bob bellowed, and with a single swing knocked the neighbour off his feet. The man crashed onto the doorstep and fell silent.
A few moments later a terrified Nora peeked out of the hallway, her face streaked with tears. She stared at her husband, too scared to move any closer.
Call the police, Bob said, looking at the distraught woman with a touch of sympathy, and then hell be back at it again.
He wont, Nora sniffled, hell finally get some sleep.
Are you sure? Laura asked.
Nora shrugged. I hope so
No way, Laura snapped, her tone leaving no room for argument, I cant stand any more of this farce. I have work in the morning. So take your son and stay with us for the night. And as for you, she glared at the neighbour, youll sort yourself out tomorrow.
The nightly squabbles in this building had become routine for the other residents most of them kept their noses out of it.
Only Bob, complying with his wifes demands, would sigh heavily, pull on a shirt, and head upstairs.
Soon Laura grew tired of the whole charade. She also noticed that the farther up she went, the more eager Bob seemed to rescue the neighbour.
Again? Youre a saint! she hissed after him.
Bob didnt hear her. In his mind were only Dannys frightened eyes, now clinging to his mothers lap, and Noras pale, terrorshaken face.
After dealing with Paul, Bob habitually ushered the woman and child into his flat a safe distance from the drama. Laura spread a blanket for them in the living room.
The next evening Nora repaid their hospitality with scones and other homebaked goodies. Thus the neighbours became friends.
In time Nora and Danny turned into regular visitors at Laura and Bobs house. Nora constantly offered to help with chores, and Danny
He adored Bob. The strong, calm, tobaccoscented, reliable man seemed a superhero to the boy.
Bob basked in the attention, buying Danny toys, fixing his model cars, once bringing home a metal building set, then a football.
***
Laura and Bob had never had children. At first they wanted just the two of them. Then it simply never happened.
That quiet ache became a third, unseen resident in their flat.
One day the boys wideopen eyes stared at her, and Laura felt a pang she couldnt name.
At work she let loose her feelings. Cigarettebreak gossip became her outlet.
Can you imagine? Last night the neighbour burst in, crying again! Her husbands been out of his mind. I just dont get women who put up with that. Its disgraceful. Id have thrown him out in a heartbeat! she exclaimed to her colleagues.
Maybe she loves him, warned Valentina, the most senior officer, You always say when hes sober hes a proper chap.
Gold? Not a speck of it! Laura snorted. Hes a useless lad. Any sensible woman would have left a long time ago.
It could be she has nowhere to go, young Ira chimed in, Its hard with a kid on her own, so she endures.
No! Theyre not even married! He lives in her flat! Its high time she sweeps him out with a broom! Theres not a shred of pride left in her. Shes just a pushover!
She shouted as if trying to convince herself more than anyone else that she was clever, strong, independent, a hundred times better than Nora.
Yet every day she saw the same picture on returning home: Bob and Danny huddled over that metal set, and she heard a sound shed almost forgotten her husbands genuine, happy laugh.
One Saturday, Laura came back from the supermarket laden with heavy bags. The door to Noras flat was ajar. She peered in out of habit and froze on the doorstep.
They werent kissing, hugging, or doing anything scandalous.
They were simply being.
Bob sat on a stool with a hammer in hand, Danny standing beside him, solemnly handing over nails. Nora, propped against the doorway, watched them with a deep, serene contentment that made Lauras stomach turn cold. They were a single, flawless unit the picture of a family Laura had never managed to create.
What a monstrous thought, she muttered, turning away. Nonsense! Bob could never Im everything to him! And Nora what a foolish hen!
***
The next time Nora came over asking for help, Laura stopped her at the door and shouted, loud enough for Bob to hear:
How many times, Nora? When will you finally get a clue? He isnt even your husband! Why put up with that drunken beast in your own flat? Throw him out and thatll be the end of it! Or do you enjoy playing the victim? Shame on you! Your son is watching!
Her words fell like poison on fertile ground.
A week later, a dejected Paul shuffled out of the building with a suitcase, his shoulders slumped.
Laura celebrated. At last!
Now Nora and her son would vanish from their lives forever. No more rescue missions were needed.
***
True enough, a calm settled over the block. No more Saturday scones, no more children’s laughter echoing down the hallway.
At first Laura savoured the silence, the order, the neatness. But soon the quiet in her own flat turned heavy, oppressive.
Bob came home from work, ate dinner in silence, and retreated to the living room to talk to the television. He grew gloomier, more withdrawn.
Hes just tired, Laura told herself, Thats why he doesnt look at me at the table, why he doesnt laugh at my jokes. He even sleeps with his back turned to me, as if I dont exist.
Then something turned the whole world upside down.
One day Laura returned from work unusually early, a splitting headache pounding her temples. She stepped into the lift, absentmindedly pressed the wrong button, and stepped out a floor below. The door to Noras flat was ajar
Déjà vu.
She slipped inside
She kept asking herself why, why shed gone in.
Seeing Bob and Nora wrapped up in each other, oblivious to everything else, Laura was so rattled she said nothing, didnt even announce her presence. She tiptoed out, quietly closing the door behind her
Bob reappeared an hour later, as if nothing had happened, ate dinner in silence, stared at the TV
Laura kept quiet.
She never told Bob a word. She decided that knowing his secret was enough to try to set things right.
She hated Nora in that moment, and hated herself for having pushed Paul out, freeing up space for her own husband. Her husband? But Bob wasnt really hers. Hed proposed many times, and she always balked, saying a marriage certificate was just a piece of paper And now he could walk away with that?
No, she wouldnt tell Bob she knew about his affair!
What if things never work out with this hen? Laura would just wait.
She would endure
***
And wait.
And endure.
Bob and Nora carried on their clandestine romance. Laura knew, but pretended not to see, not to understand.
Sometimes Nora dropped by with Danny and a pie, just like old times. Laura smiled, forced herself to accept the treat, and kept quiet.
Shed been tolerating this for years.
One day, calling Nora a pathetic survivor, Laura never guessed that she was scripting her own future.
Now she finds herself in an enviable position, and her silence has become the loudest confession of her defeat.
Laura fears saying the wrong thing and ruining her happy family, where shes been cast in the starring role
The role of the patient one.
