I woke up yet again, heart pounding, sweat pouring, once again not daring to move, except of-course to roll over and over towards my boyfriend. Recently, I wished we hadn’t even bought a larger bed; one roll nearer to him would be enough.  His warm body, his breading, our bodies touching, re-assured me all was well, but it didn’t stop the strange noises.

Over the past 3 days I heard it every night.  I finally worked out what it sounded like.  Wheels, rolling wheels with added, yet undiscovered, strange noises at the end.

I’d spoken to Brian about moving, how frightened I was, how I didn’t understand what was going-on.  ‘Why don’t you ever hear it?’, I moaned at him. ‘I’m exhausted love’; he said gently, ‘things well settle down, we can’t move already, we’ve only just moved here’.

He was right of-course I thought, as the guilt consumed me.  We’d moved from a beautiful, large, airy, flat in the middle of town, into this one, just as nice, but very different.  I loved the flat, actually, if only these strange noises in the night would stop. We’ve moved as I was in a new job now, training to be a clinical psychologist.  Oh! I know it sounds very high flouting, but I wasn’t interested in it for that reason, but because I’ve always been intrigued as to how people’s minds worked, and how I could help people.  Help people! What a clique, I wasn’t even helping myself right now!

Poor Brian he was exhausted, he biked into work everyday, just so as I could be nearer my work, and yet I complained.  I felt my eye-lids finally getting heavy, and thought I must talk to Brian again tomorrow as I finally dosed off.

There was no time the next morning, as usual we rushed our breakfast and dashed out.  We were always rushing; we always found it hard to get out of bed.  We kissed good bye tenderly, as we always did. I was glad of the happiness I felt of knowing that all was still fine between us in spite of my moaning.

During the day it began to snow and snow, by lunch time management decided that we could go home.  I was thrilled; I could catch up on my sleep, excellent!

Making my way in settled snow to my front door, a man was heading towards me. What does he want, I wondered, as his smiling face was right up to mine; his hand out stretched.  ‘Hi!’ he said.  The Estate Agent said a young couple moved in, I guess you’re the young lady.  Politely I shook his hand saying ‘Carol, my boyfriend is Brian’. ‘Sorry’ he said, ‘about the noise over the last few nights.  It’s the Asian people in the community; the Muslims like to have their funerals as soon as possible.  Hope we didn’t disturbed you too much’.

Glancing over his shoulder I slowly began to realize what all the noises were.  The other funeral staff were moving a Coffin, placed on wheels, into a Hearse.  The rolling wheals, I though, trying to hold back a smile.  What a plonker I’d been!  We passed a few more pleasantries, and then happily, now that I understood what was happening, I entered our flat, yes, our flat above a Funeral Palour.   

I didn’t want to sleep anymore, I was full of life.  I had to chuckle at my own pun!  I wasn’t going back to bed.  I was going shopping for some fresh food to cook for my lovely boyfriend.  Blow! The snow I thought, I’ve got my hat, coat, and boots, and I feel on top of the world.

Sniffing, Brian entered the kitchen. ‘What’s that lovely smell?  What are you doing at home?’  ‘Oh! I love you’ I giggled happily, throwing my arms around his neck. ‘Hang-on!  Don’t you know I’m knackered?’. ‘On second thoughts,’ he winked at me sexily, ‘How about bed first, food later?  ‘That was my original plan’ I said, ‘together is far, far, better’.

‘What are you talking about?’  ‘Rubbish’!  ‘Let’s go to bed!