Neighbors

I've lived in four different houses/apartments in my twenty-three years, each on a street full of kids. In fact, in the last apartment I lived in, it was next door to a very religious family who owned the apartment building and had at least twenty children of their own, plus their tenants had at least another ten children between them. For those that cannot do the math, that is thirty kids, living next door, to me.

Despite the amount of kids there, though, they were (fairly) quiet. My neighbors now, however, are the noisiest people I've ever had the misfortune of living next to. Let me just give you a few examples:

1. Their entrance, like ours, is on the side of the house. Luckily for me, my bedroom and their entrance face each other, so I have the pleasure of hearing them buzz someone in all the time whenever I am home and in my room (which is very often) and leave.

2. On that same track, their kids (about six or so, I can't keep track and I'm not sure which are their kids or the kids' friends) apparently do not how to ring the doorbell, or maybe what it is even for. Instead of ringing the bell, they stand outside the front door, and my window, and yell at the top of their lungs, "OPEN THE DOOR!" or "LET ME IN!" This is extremely annoying. Especially on Shabbos. Especially on a Shabbos when I am reading or trying to nap.

3. None of the kids go to camp in the summer. None. So they are outside, all the time. Every. Single. Day. This is not so much a problem during the day as I am (or was) at work. But they are also playing outside when I come home. In fact, they play outside until about 8PM, when I am assuming it is their bedtime.

4. They bounce the basketball. A lot. And loudly. And right outside my window. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. Bounce. You get the picture.

I guess I should be thankful, though. They don't play loud music or have parties. And they do go to school for ten months out of the year, so they're not home most of the day (but neither am I). But still, they're loud. And annoying. And until we move, I guess I have to live with it.