Neighbourly Music
- A Dialogueby
Anna McDonald
They lived side by side in the North End's low income section of the city. These houses had been built in 1908. So close were they built that when walking down the sidewalk to reach the back door, you could stretch out your arm and touch your neighbour's house. Not only that, Mary's kitchen window faced John's living room window. That summer was a hot one. John, a recent widower had just retired. No air conditioner in these homes. Windows had to be kept wide open.
Mary was quietly having her morning devotion at her kitchen table while she also breakfasted on toast and coffee. "How can I think of a prayer when John is playing his Polish polkas so early in the morning? Dear Lord," she prayed, "give me a sign of how to face this problem. Oh, I know. When he takes out his garbage I'll take mine out too. Then I'll wish him a good-day."
So she waited for the music to be turned off when John would leave the house. But that didn't happen.
'Why, it seems he had even turned the music up so he can hear it in his back yard," mused Mary. "Tomorrow I'll just wait for that click of his back door and I'll go out at the same time with my garbage."
"Good morning, John. You certainly are up early this morning with your dance music as loud as ever. You know, that isn't my kind of music. Do you think you could turn down the volume?"
"No, thank you, Mary. I don't need to be told by you or anybody else how I play my music in my house." Next morning the volume of music was as loud as ever.
"0 Lord, show me what to do. I do want to be on friendly terms with old John, but he is so difficult. When will you, dear Lord, give me a sign?" As Mary opened her Bible, it seemed that it just opened itself to the words: You shall proclaim my words from the roof tops. "That's it. 1, too, have a right to proclaim my ideas. I like music too." So next morning, she set her little cassette on the kitchen window sill. She put in her Crystal Lane tape and set the volume on medium high. "I hope he is listening, Lord. He needs some of Crystal's message, especially 'Love lifted me'."
Next morning, no polka music came through Mary's window. Had her music made peace between John and her? Then she realized: today was Saturday, the day John went lawn bowling with his cronies. Peace reigned again on Sunday morning. John went to Mass at nine and Mary to worship at eleven. What would Monday morning bring? It rained! Windows had to be kept closed. Tuesday morning, the polka music came through Mary's window as loud as ever.
Mary, just as stubborn as John, set her little cassette at top volume. This time she deliberately went out of her way not to face John. But the garbage did have to be taken out. This time it was John who greeted her over the garbage bins.
"Did you notice that I turned my volume down after you turned yours up this morning?"
"You did? I guess I was busy making my bed. I just didn't notice. I'll take notice tomorrow. It is such a hot summer. I'm glad we can turn down our music even if we can't turn down this summer heat. You know, John, I miss your Natascha. We got along so well. It seems that we too can now work out our differences. I do think it's going to be a good day."
"And a good hot summer at that!"