INXS X

Hear That Sound

As I drifted off to sleep after an exhausting week, a peculiar noise, unlike anything I'd heard before, caught my attention and had me sitting upright in bed, scanning my bedroom for the source. It was a sound that seemed to defy explanation, a mystery in itself. Through the darkness, I didn't notice any movement; all was still. I waited, my ears keenly listening for the slightest sound. Nothing. I laid back down, hoping sleep would find me, but the mystery of the noise lingered in the air, taunting me with its enigma.

Hours later, a noise pulled me from my slumber. It was two o'clock in the morning, and at this rate, I knew I would get restful sleep once I investigated the source. Determined, I flung the covers back and sat up on the edge of the bed, listening intently. I slid my feet into my slippers and stood, cautiously hoping the wooden floorboards wouldn't creak and interfere in my quest to find the culprit.

One step forward. I waited. Nothing.

I sighed and went to the bedroom door, trying to decide if it was coming from my bedroom or somewhere else in the house.

Thwackitythump

The sound stopped me in my tracks, and my heart pounded, thundering in my ears. I spun around, knowing that sound was coming from inside my room. Fear coiled its way through my body, turning my limbs to steel. Was someone in my room? Was it a thing? An animal? Dear God, don't let it be an animal dying, I thought.

Thwackitythump

Flicking the light switch, bright illumination defied the darkness. I waited and listened, but nothing. If something had been in the bedroom with me, just turning the light on would've garnered a reaction, yet none came. Fear subsiding, I quickly searched the room just to be safe. I even went so far as to check under my bed, and all was clear. I padded back to the light switch and turned it off, hoping to get a few more hours of shuteye before I heard that jarring noise again, almost sure it would come.

Crawling under the covers, I lay down, my eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling. This was different from how my Friday night was supposed to go, and even though I was exhausted, I knew I'd have to fight my way back to sleep. Minutes ticked by ever so slowly as I switched positions, trying to get comfortable enough to sleep, yet my eyes and ears were on full alert.

"One hundred. Ninety-nine. Ninety-eight. Ninety-seven."

Thwackitythump

"Damn it!"

There was only one thing left to do. I grabbed a pillow and yanked the blanket, dragging them across the bedroom, down the hallway, and into the living room. Tonight, I'd be sleeping on the couch.

I spent a restless night on Sofa City and awoke at dawn. I knew I could always nap once I figured out what the strange noise was. The first thing I required was coffee. As the machine was brewing, I returned to my bedroom, wondering if the mystery noise had disappeared by some act of God. All I had was time, so I sat on the edge of the bed and waited. I sucked at waiting for anything. Patience was not in my DNA, nor was it my friend.

I stood. From the furthest corner of my room, the noise sounded. I finally had a place to start. I moved toward the corner and waited, peeking behind the nightstand, and then pulled it forward. Nothing but a few dustballs.

Thwackitythump.

I looked up at the ceiling, realizing it was coming from above me. That left the attic to investigate. The mere thought of going up the rickety steps and attempting to make it to the corner of the house sent a cold shiver down my spine. It would also require a flashlight, which was in the kitchen.

I headed back down the hall to retrieve my coffee and decide if I was going into the attic. I grabbed the mug and sat at the kitchen table, looking out the window at the rising sun. A bird landed on the window ledge, flew back to the tree off to my left, and then toward my bedroom. A few minutes later, the bird returned to the tree and flew toward my bedroom as if following some unknown path.

"Well, I'll be damned," I muttered, rising from my chair.

I went out the back door, trudging through the dewy grass, and sure enough, the bird was perched on the corner of the house, in the gutter.

Thwackitythump.

As I approached, the bird squawked, clearly annoyed by my presence. I stood watching. A second bird flew from my neighbor's tree, carrying a worm in its beak, heading straight for the bird on my roof.

I heard the chirping and instantly knew the pair had babies in a nest at the corner of my roof. The second bird dropped the offering, and as it pushed off the gutter...Thwackitythump.

WC: 841






So your time has come
Children watch the fools
Don't let anyone tell you
What you must do
Do you like what you see?
Or does it make you cry?
Use your imagination
And start a fire
Hear that sound
There's a voice to be found
Making changes go 'round
Do you hear that sound?
And my selfish ways
Disappeared one day
With the realisation
Of the new way
Images of the free
Coming into view
Our hearts full of promises
Of all we can do
Hear that sound
There's a voice to be found
Making changes go 'round
Hear that sound
So your time has come
Children watch the fools
Don't let anyone tell you
What you must do
Do you like what you see?
Or does it make you cry?
Use your imagination
To start a fire, oh, yeah
Hear that sound
There's a voice to be found
Making changes go 'round
Hear that sound
Hear that sound
There's a voice to be found
Making changes go 'round
Hear that sound
Hear that sound
There's a voice to be found
Making changes go 'round
Hear that sound
Hear that sound
There's a voice to be found
Making changes go 'round
Hear that sound