(no subject)

[rivka]

I just called the cops on the neighbors again.[1]

Our landlord came by a couple of weeks ago to take down the windowboxes, because painters were coming. He told us that one of the neighbors was moving out of state, and that the other one wanted to renew the lease in her own name. Did we think that would be a problem?

No, we stupidly said. If they're separating, that should take care of it.

Meanwhile, they kept fighting - mostly late at night and early in the morning - and we kept hearing them. But it never crossed the "I have to call the police now" line, so I just gritted my teeth and waited.

Tonight the screaming argument started around 6:45, as Michael was leaving for a church Board meeting and I was taking Alex upstairs for her bath. They were still at it when I brought her downstairs, and worse - there was an awful, shuddering wailing. I heard... things... being slammed around.

"The wild things roared their terrible roars, and gnashed their terrible teeth!" I read to Alex, raising my voice so that she wouldn't hear the crying. Except that, really, I was trying to block it out for myself. She didn't seem to notice.

"...and into the night of his very own room, where he found his supper waiting for him. And it was still hot. Okay, Mama needs to make a phone call now."

9-1-1, I punched with shaking fingers. I told the dispatchers that my neighbors were having what seemed to be a violent fight. Weapons? she asked me. I told her no, I didn't think so, but that there was a history of domestic violence.

Then I sat down and read Alex another story, every nerve in my body tensed to see flashing lights outside the window. She wanted more books, but instead I hauled her upstairs. Fortunately, she didn't want a long bedtime routine. "Alex crib," she suggested as soon as we entered her room, and I was happy to comply.

This time the cop stayed a while. It sounded like one of the neighbors came out on the street to argue with him at length about whether or not the other one was going to come out and talk to him too - I heard him say "Well, her story might be different from your story, and that might be different from upstairs' story. I'm just doing my job." He knocked on my door at one point to ask me to repeat exactly what I'd heard, and I think that one of them was in the street while he did it - so if we ever had even a thin veneer of confidentiality to these complaints, that's certainly gone now.

He left without arresting anyone. I called the landlords. I am feeling awfully jumpy about being in the house alone. I hate that we have a blind front door - no peephole, and no overlooking window. I just bewildered the hell out of someone from the O'Malley campaign who'd come to drop off a sign for our railing, because I insisted that he shout his identification and purpose through the door.

This afternoon at work I found myself oddly tense - shoulders hunched, back aching, anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach. And then I realized why: some women a couple of offices down were having a loud, cheerful conversation. Hearing muffled raised voices of African-American women was sending me over the edge into a fight-or-flight response.

I just can't take much more of this.


[1] Backstory 1, 2, 3.

Comments

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

Ugh.

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

I don't blame you for not feeling comfortable in your place. I wouldn't even feel comfortable with my spouse around.

Have you considered moving?

Or perhaps the landlord should rethink letting even one of them stay there?

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Have you considered moving?

Or perhaps the landlord should rethink letting even one of them stay there?

I'm pretty sure that our landlords would rather evict them than lose us as tenants. We'll see what they decide to do.

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

I wish I were in Baltimore. I'd come keep you company. And answer your door.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't let you answer the door either! But the company would be nice.

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

Man, if the police guy DIDN'T get the other person's story (inside the downstairs apartment, I mean), then I think even less of your police dep't than I already did.

This's freakin' awful. I'm sorry.

[iamjw.livejournal.com]

I once lived in a similar situation - the apartment next door housed two adult brothers and their mother, all of them heavy drinkers and violent. I called the cops the night I heard one yell, "I'm going to kill you!" and heard what sounded like a body hit my dining room wall. I don't know what happened to them as far as the police were concerned. Fortunately they moved not too long after (nonpayment of rent, I think), because they also knew that I'd called the cops.

It was a terrifying situation all around. I can only imagine what it must be like having a small child around.

Which is a long-winded way of saying that GoodThoughts are on the way and I really hope this is resolved positively soon.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

I hate that we have a blind front door - no peephole, and no overlooking window.

if a person were looking for a solution to this problem, a person might investigate a wireless webcam.

*hug*

[(Anonymous)]

Isn't installing a peephole pretty simple? Just get permission, pick one up at the store, drill a hole, put it in, and presto...??

[rivka.livejournal.com]

This is a historic district, and any changes - no matter how trivial - to the exterior of the house need to pass a historical review committee. Our door itself might be 100 years old, or older, which is why it doesn't have a peephole to begin with. None of the other houses on the street have peepholes either, so I don't know if they would be permitted or not.

[beckyzoole.livejournal.com]

Could you at least put a chain on the interior, so you could open the door just a crack to see who it was without letting them in?

It's not as secure as a peephole, but it's better than opening blind.

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

And if permission is slow, just put in a peephole and get forgiveness. What a rotten situation.

[minnaleigh.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is so stressful. I've had to live near that kind of situation and it's awful. *hugs*

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

I would be so terrified and feel both responsible and helpless. I'm so sorry.

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

Ugh!

You did call the landlord as well as the police, yes?

Here's hoping they really DO split up soon.

-J

[rivka.livejournal.com]

I did, and she was appropriately upset. I think they are going to take some kind of action. I don't know if they can actually evict both of the neighbors, if one of them has already signed a lease for the upcoming year, but they're certainly within their legal rights to evict the one whose name isn't on the lease.

As soon as it gets a little later in the morning, we're going to call and get permission to install a chain lock on the inside of the door.

[selki.livejournal.com]

Sounds scary.

It's not kidproof (not sure what that would involve), but y'all could stay at my place for a week or so if need be. Or just hide out for the weekend, if the commute during the week would be too horrible. Guest bedroom, finished basement available.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

I was insanely spooked last night, but in the light of day, and with Michael home, I don't feel like we need to leave the house. But I appreciate your very kind offer.

[ailbhe]

Hooboy. I'm glad you have an offer of somewhere to stay, and that you're going to get a chain on the door. I need one of those.

[caille.livejournal.com]

I'd really like the landlord to avoid the whole eviction process. She might be able to do this by offering them money to move out within three days. Honest. I've spoken with other landlords in the past, and one of them said this usually worked for him. If he had troublemakers, he'd tell them if they moved out by the end of the month, he'd refund that month's rental and give them a few hundred to facilitate their move. The people always took advantage of this, and there seemed to be less damage to the place while they vacated.

At one point, didn't you mentioned that one of them is in the military? Doesn't that increase the possibility that there may be firearms in the apartment? I suggest making the point that paying money to get them out would be a whole lot cheaper than paying lawyers and settlement money if something awful happens. Plus, she'd recoup the money faster by getting the place fixed up and rented to new people.

In the meantime, rivka, honey, I'm wishing you the best. Do whatever you need to do to protect your family.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

You have my prayers and best wishes... I wish I was closer, and could offer hugs and such.