Being winter their window hasn’t been open. Last night it was. They live in a flat in the opposite block to ours. Nevertheless, it seems close, particularly in the carrying of sounds. Before they arrived the couple that were there used to hold dinner parties. She had a very high, raucous laugh. It would penitrate into our flat. He couldn’t stand it. With this family its their little girl. Well, not so little, eight, nine or even ten perhaps. She has a temper. A real temper. She screeches, screams, yells, argues and shouts. For hours. She woke me at just before ten pm. I saw a man’s arm, presumably her father’s, reaching out to pull the window to. I still heard her from behind the glass. I rarely hear her parents’ remonstrations. Do they leave her to it, hoping that she will wear herself out and sleep? It rattles me, her distress becomes mine and finding sleep again is hard. Is she unhappy or is it just temper, encouraged when she was young or at least not tempered? Bless her, bless them and me. I am soggy as a result.
