Still May 27th, 2012
We have a intercom linking the workshop and garage to the house for convenience and to listen for the different alarms set in each building. I walk past the intercom this particular late evening and hear familiar sounds of hand tools being shuffled, the sorting of screws and maybe even a measuring tape being recoilled, but strangely in the pauses I don't hear the clock ticking. These are sounds I've grown accustomed to with Doug (my husband), out in the shop. But not this time. This time... well this time Doug is in bed. I listen more intently and the noise grows in duration and loudness - I call Doug to come to the intercom. He listens and is rewarded with very loud heavy noises, he begins to dress, I grab the stick by the door and together we go out into the still falling rain and strong wind. It's so cold. I hadn't bothered with shoes and was wishing I had.
We listen at the door there is no movement or noise, but then the wind and rain outside sort of take over all noises. Doug unlocks both garage and shop so that the alarm can be shut-off. First we shine a flashlight in, seeing nothing Doug turns the shop lights on and we enter. The clock is silent, it's hands are still, the battery is dead we suppose. We stand and listen... you can barely hear the rain outside and there surely is no other noise in the room - nothing, it is silent. Both of us shrug, turn out the lights, set the alarm and race back to the house where it is dry and warm. The intercom is silent.....for a moment. Then it all starts over again. Doug depresses the button and says, "the shop is closed for the night.". That gets us a whole lot more shuffles, rattlings and bangs. I try by saying it's enough for tonight, the sounds seem to fight with my words which is impossible, the intercom works one way at a time and I had the talk button depressed! Doug reaches over and shuts the switch off, "It will be quiet now," he says as he makes his way back to bed.