You don’t get to choose your family, at least you can choose your neighbours. It had been over a year since Lisa had been urging her parents to move elsewhere. Yet she couldn’t understand why they didn’t budge.

“We bought this house after considering everything – your school, our workplaces, safety, convenience and our budget. This is the best we could do.”

The explanation didn’t seem to offer a solution to Lisa’s complaints. “But Mom, I can’t play the guitar without any interruption from him!” The man in question was their septuagenarian neighbour.

“Lisa,” her father calmly added, “we have to adjust. Maybe try keeping the volume down. If he can’t hear, he won’t complain.”

“He’ll be seventy-seven but his hearing is as good as...as...um,” she paused to think. Unable to come up with a proper simile annoyed her further. “I don’t know what! But he has sharp ears. Try dropping this spoon on the floor.”

“Finish your meal. I think there is nothing to talk about,” her mother sternly ended the discussion.

Lisa wanted to storm out of the room in frustration like any other fifteen-year-old. But her mother had taught her to respect dinnertime with family – never leave the table without finishing the meal. So she just kept moving around the food on her plate, having lost her appetite.

Noticing his daughter’s sullen mood, Howard tried to cheer her up. “When is your next gig?”

“Next month.”

“That’s cool. Where are you guys playing?”

“A competition at Neptune Hall.”

“Neptune Hall!” her mother exclaimed. “Awesome! Why didn’t you tell us?”

Not showing any enthusiasm, she replied, “As if you guys would care.” The eye roll followed by a shrug changed her mother’s expression to disbelief.

“Now, honey, is this what you think of us? We love you and are proud of you. We encourage your love for music...be it any kind of music.” Getting no reaction from her daughter, Christie understood the reason behind Lisa’s fuss. “Is it still about Mr Banks?” Again, no reply. Christie set her spoon on the table, got up and stood next to Lisa, who was seated on her right. She gently smoothened her hair as she spoke, “Lisa, he is an elderly person, who lives all by himself. We should be glad he is not a nosy neighbour. All he wishes is to have some peace and quiet. Is it too much for an old man to expect?”

“But what about my practice?” Pushing the chair behind, she stood up. “I’m unable to do something at MY home! Because it troubles the old man!”

“Enough! You are excused. Go to your room. This is not how you talk about an elderly person. Where are...” Before Christie could complete her sentence Lisa ran to her room.

“Well, that didn’t go as expected,” Howard commented.

“She’s a teenager. But she needs to learn empathy,” Christie reasoned.


“That’s not fair...that’s not fair...” Lisa kept repeating the phrase in anger while pacing to and fro in her room. She peered through her window which overlooked Mr Banks’ house. He was in the kitchen. The light in the kitchen turned off. Then he passed his bedroom window and the lights in the bathroom turned on.

Lisa looked away. “I’m so stupid! I’m observing an old man moving around in his house. Am I crazy? No, HE made me crazy.”

With nothing to do, she lay on her bed, texting her friend. Her friend pitied her situation, joining in and complaining about how unfair the entire world was. Realising that she again forgot to charge her phone, Lisa cursed under her breath. After bidding goodnight to her friend, she left her phone to charge and went to sleep.


The following morning she woke up and got ready for school. As she walked past Mr Bank’s home, she saw him arguing with a young man near his door. The man, she noticed, wore a black Black Sabbath t-shirt, and seemed annoyed. Lisa could relate to him. Mr Banks took out his left hearing aid and rubbed it on his shirt before placing it back into his ear. He saw her and yelled, “Keep it down, will you?”

Rage filled her as she replied, “Thanks to you, I don’t even get to practise these days.” He mumbled something inaudible. Black Sabbath tried to escape stealthily. But he was not successful.
“Where do you think you’re going? Tell me, who asked you to come here?”

This time Lisa hurried on her way, unnoticed. She tried to brush off the scene from her mind but he always managed to rile her up. Not wanting to ruin her day, she tried to distract her mind.

“I’m telling you, Gina, that man is a lunatic. Today I saw him harrassing a guy. Though he needs a hearing aid, we’ll go deaf with his constant squawking.”

“My grandfather has used one for the past ten years,” Gina replied. “I’ve never seen him without it. Except for when he goes for a bath and when he sleeps.”

“Really? Maybe Mr Banks does that too. I must find out when he takes them off. I can practise then.” The thought brightened her up. All that was required of her was to keep an eye on her neighbour.

Two days were enough to note Mr Bank’s schedule. Though it was a boring task Lisa had no other option. From her window, she could see his kitchen and bedroom. Mornings were out of the question since she had school. When she returned from school, it was already lunchtime. The problem was that he didn’t take naps. Luckily for Lisa, he took a long bath at around six-thirty in the evening. Forty-five minutes were enough for a quick session. All she had to do was keep her equipment plugged in and wait for the bathroom light to be switched on.



“Sweetheart, won’t you get bored alone?” Christie was getting dressed for the community programme. Lisa had declined to attend the function. Yet, her mother confirmed for the last time.

“No, I’d rather stay at home.”

“If you insist. Lock the doors. Food is already in the oven. Heat it before you eat. Don’t stay up late. We’ll return as soon as it finishes.” The usual instructions, but Lisa paid no heed. She wanted them out of the house quickly and return to her window.

Once the door was shut, she glanced at the clock in the living room – it showed six twenty-five. It had to be now! Rushing to her window, she saw the bathroom light already on. Wasting no time, she hung the guitar on her shoulder and rehearsed the song they were going to perform.

Little did she know that there was something amiss at the Mr Bank’s home. It was close to bath time and Mr Banks stepped into the bathroom. He felt a box in his robe pocket. The sealed box contained his new hearing aid, which he forgot to open earlier. He thought to better keep it on his nightstand. He would try it out after his bath.

As he stepped into his bedroom, he could hear music. “Not again,” he grumbled.

He grabbed his walking stick and walked as fast as he could. Reaching Lisa’s house, he kept ringing the doorbell. Lisa set down her guitar and ran to the door. Fear gripped her as she saw her neighbour through the peephole. She quietly grabbed the set of her mother’s keys, ran towards the backdoor and locked it, while the doorbell kept ringing. The plan was to move as quietly as possible and hide next to the car in the driveway. After Mr Banks would get tired of waiting and return home, she would drive to her aunt’s place.

As she soundlessly made her way from the back to the side of the house, she looked at her archenemy’s house. Did she imagine or was there someone in the house? Did Mr Banks leave and reach there already? The sound of the bell had stopped but he wasn’t fast with the limp in his right leg. She looked ahead and froze.

“Hey! I’m here at your door!” He was leaning from the side of the porch and had seen her. Panic stuck her and she made a dash to the car.

“Hey, where are you going?” His voice made her fumble with the keys. “Hey! Who’s that?”

She saw him looking at his house and his attention was diverted. He ignored her as she unlocked the door and sat in the car. Getting off her porch, he was walking towards his house. Already out of her way, she thought now was the time to escape. As she reversed the car, she heard him yelling, “What are you doing?”

The car was on the road, and Mr Banks was a few inches away from her. And then she saw the most terrifying thing that evening – Black Sabbath was at the door of Mr Banks and he had a knife in his hand. She rolled down her window and shouted, “Mr Banks, get into the car!”

He turned around to face the car. Black Sabbath was on his feet too. “Hurry!” Lisa screamed. The elderly man grabbed the door handle and got in swiftly. The door shut just in time as the attacker reached the car. He began banging on the window, Lisa grabbed the steering with her shivering hands. Mr Banks urged Lisa to drive, and she did. Black Sabbath fell on the ground.

“Who is he?”

“I don’t really know. Two days back I caught him looking around my house. I confronted him...you saw it! You were there!”

“Yes, I recall his t-shirt. Shit!”

“What happened?”

“He’s following us! There, on the bike!”

“Where are you driving to?”

“My aunt’s place. But now I need to rethink.”

She fumbled into her pocket for her phone. On retrieving it, she offered him, “Call 911.”

“I don’t know how to use it,” he confessed.

She grimaced. It was difficult to concentrate on the road, yet she managed to dial 911.

“Hello, this is 911. Please state your emergency.”

‘Hello, I am driving around Canary Street, on my way to St Albert. There’s a guy on a bike following us with a knife.”

“Keep driving. A dispatch will be on its way. What’s your name and the car you’re driving?”

“I’m Lisa and...” her phone went dead. “Shit!”

“What happened? Why isn’t she talking?”

“My battery died.”

“Didn’t you charge your phone?”

“Stop asking questions! I’m already stressed out.” She checked the mirrors, “Oh God! Where did he go?”

Mr Banks turned around too and couldn’t see him. Lisa kept driving, hoping the murderous maniac had left. She slowed down when she still couldn’t see him. And then, she stopped.

“Why did you stop?”

Lisa turned around to face him. “I saved you from getting killed. I called 911. I kept driving while under tremendous pressure. All you do is ask questions! I AM ONLY FIFTEEN YEARS OLD! Show some respect, gratitude or at least, mercy.”

Some sound caught their attention and they looked ahead of them. Black Sabbath was back! He was riding towards them at full speed. Lisa got back into action and reversed her car. She was grateful the roads were empty. Or would it be helpful if there were people around? It wasn’t the time to think of scenarios, she reminded herself. She could see the end of the straight road. Reversing along a turn at her speed would be impossible. She prayed.

And then she heard the sirens. The louder they got, the sweeter they sounded. Two police cars were visible. Black Sabbath noticed them too. Lisa stopped the car and he fled past the car. One police car followed him while the other one stopped near their car. Lisa and Mr Banks narrated the whole story. The cops contacted her parents, asking them to reach home. Meanwhile, they escorted Lisa and Mr Banks to their respective houses.


The following afternoon, Lisa’s doorbell rang. Howard opened the door and was surprised to see Mr Banks smiling at him.

“May I come in?”

A flustered Howard invited the usually grumpy neighbour inside.

“Is Lisa okay?”

“Yes. But she is tired from yesterday’s...driving.”

“Rescuing, actually.” Mr Bank’s acknowledgement made Howard smile. The older man continued, “The police nabbed the guy last night. He confessed why he tried to attack me. He worked at a store that was a front for illegal stuff. Apparently, he stole a few diamonds and hid them in a box. And I bought my hearing aids from that store.”

“The diamonds were with you?”

“Yes. The police were at my place in the morning. Fortunately, I still had not opened the box. The cops found the diamonds and confiscated my machine as evidence.”

“Gosh, that’s really scary!”

“Right, if it weren’t for Lisa, I’d probably be dead.” He fidgeted with his nails as he held back his tears. Howard gave him time to compose himself. “So...I’ve come to thank Lisa.” Christie walked into the room.

“How are you, Mr Banks?”

“I’m alive and better. I hope Lisa is alright.”

“She was shaken a bit last night. But after a good night’s rest, she’s doing good.” She looked at Howard who gave her an I-don’t-know look. She again addressed Mr Banks, “I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation with Howard. I’m sorry this happened to you. Do you have any family who could spend time with you, especially after what has happened?

“I was married once but not for more than a year. I’ve been on my own since she left. A lone soldier for...” Lisa entered the room. “Ah, Lisa! I hope I didn’t disturb you.”

“No, Mr Banks.”

“I dropped in to thank you, dear girl. Not for just saving my life but to change my perspective towards life and music. You see, I loved music. That’s how I met my wife. We were happy together. Then one morning, I woke up to find her gone. She wished to pursue a music career, so she didn’t want marriage to weigh her down. All this was written in a letter. She never even shared with me these feelings. I would’ve given her freedom had she asked. I was heartbroken and began to hate music.

“Then you began to play and I remembered my wife, her selfishness. I was mean to you. But you showed me how selfless you were! You could’ve easily run without helping me. Even in dangerous circumstances, you kept your calm and handled the situation in the best possible way. I’m sorry for being a rude neighbour.”

“It’s okay, Mr Banks. Now that I’ve heard your story, I understand how difficult it must be for you. I’ll keep that in mind...”

“No, the anger has left my mind and my heart is healed. You are free to play music any time of the day. You won’t hear me complain. I promise.”
“Oh, thank you!” She went ahead and hugged him. He patted her head before secretly wiping his tears. Even Howard and Christie stood sobbing quietly.

Lisa stepped back and ran to her room. The three adults were confused by her abruptness. After a few minutes, she returned. Handing something to Mr Banks, she said, “This is the ticket for my band’s performance. I’d be glad if you will be there.” Her parents smiled as Mr Banks took the ticket.

“I’ll surely be there for you, Lisa.”

That day onwards, Lisa practised with much more gusto and joy. Sometimes Mr Banks even let the band use his empty garage for rehearsals. While for years they wished for different neighbours, today they seem like a family.