Working Through the Noise

As the builder’s drill snarled into the structure of his father’s house, Jerry paused from his homework to massage his forehead.

Somehow, his Dad had gone through the whole morning without showing the faintest trace of the noise disrupting his productivity. Not Jerry.

To him, every roar of a drill or scream of a power saw was like a physical blow to his head. Like any such blow, Jerry needed a minute or two to recover and reorient after each one, before resuming his research assignment.

As Jerry paused with gritted teeth while he attempted to refocus, he realized things had gone quiet.

As the wonderful silence permeated the air, Jerry wondered if he should allow himself to feel cautious optimism.

But no, surprise surprise, a power saw shrieked into the gap. It was enough to make Jerry want to put down his pencil and stuff his thumbs into his ears.

Of course, what use was it to ask Dad to reschedule the work when he had already told Jerry that if the new deck wasn’t built this week, they would be into Fall and the renovation company’s prices would get too expensive.

No. Of course it was no use thinking that little old Jerry would be reason enough to more carefully plan a noisy home renovation.

Jerry heard himself sigh heavily as the drill joined the power saw. The agonizing cacophony was easily audible to him, even though he’d closed his bedroom door a good half hour ago.

Jerry wondered if it was too much to hope that the world would ever be as considerate toward his wellbeing as he wished it was. Probably yes.

Even if some people were learned enough to make the effort, there was always a ne’er-do-well blaring music from their car at a deafening volume, places crowded with chattering, shouting people, or a construction project that couldn’t wait.

Jerry tapped his pencil against his desk despondently as the back deck’s renovation rang in his ears. No. It probably was too much to hope for.

As Jerry listened to the troublesome outside noise, his sensitive ears discerned another, closer sound. The front door opening and closing, and footsteps coming into the kitchen. Probably his father coming back from the hardware store.

These sounds were followed by that of a large full shopping bag being placed on the kitchen counter, and Jerry’s father calling to the workers at the deck.

“Hey. I got the extra supplies you needed.”

The power tool ruckus subsided briefly, making it even easier for Jerry to hear one of the men reply.

“Thanks Mr. Allen. It turns out we actually do have enough ear muffs though, so you can keep the ones you bought if you want.”

Jerry blinked and his head snapped up. Ear muffs.

He immediately got up from his chair and headed to the kitchen, this time willing to withstand the noise.

The world may not be fully accommodating of his autism within his lifetime, Jerry reflected, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t help the process along.