THE NOISE

The new home was as pristine as the last and the garden was decked out in fairy lights.  The house warming party looked like it was going to be the same as all Henderson gatherings, perfect.  The beer was the right temperature, the champagne had the correct crisp biscuity bubbliness and there was a balance of healthy and decadent at the buffet.  Their friends and colleagues were torn between envy and joy at being present at such a sumptuous event. 

Kelly sighed contentedly and smiled at Clarice Henderson; “This is a great house warming party, such a lovely house.”

“Yes,” Clarice said frowning, “except the Noise.”
“What noise?” Kelly asked.
“Can’t you hear it?” Clarice enquired. “When we viewed it, it was lovely and quiet, but from the minute we moved in there was this noise.”
Kelly frowned as Clarice went away to circulate, usually at a Henderson party the hosts controlled the conversation so well that nothing strange was ever said and the subject matter was never deep or taxing.  There wasn’t usually anything to worry about, but now there was.
“David,” Kelly called her husband to the drinks table.
“What dear?”
“Can you hear a noise?”
He listened; “No.”
"Neither can I.  Clarice thinks she can.”
“So does Roger.”
Kelly looked at Roger Henderson, he wasn’t his usual cheery self, he was rubbing his temples.  When he saw her looking a smile covered his face like a mask.
“What did he say the Noise was?” Kelly asked.
At that moment Oscar joined them at the table; “Is this the Noise?” he asked, “it’s such a puzzle!  I can’t hear it.”
“Neither can we.”
Oscar hummed a spooky tune; “Only they can.  Apparently it’s like a high pitched whining sound.  Roger said it started off in the background, but recently it’s been getting louder and louder.  They’ve had the Council round and everything.”
They watched Clarice cross the lawn to her husband, at one point she stepped clumsily into a flower bed.
“Is she drunk?” Kelly hissed.
“Apparently they’re not sleeping,” Oscar said, “the Noise keeps them awake.”
“It’s not as good a party as usual,” David complained, “shall we make it an early night dear?”
Kelly shook her head, she wanted to stay to the end to gather as much gossip about the strange fate of her successful friends as possible.
Alison topped up her glass and turned to them; “Are you talking about the Noise?”
“Yes!” whispered Kelly.
“Did you hear they had the Council round?  They couldn’t measure anything!  Said there was nothing to hear.  So Clarice went to the doctor.”
“But they both can hear it,” Oscar frowned.
“Yes but Roger wouldn’t go...”
“Oh, is this about the Noise?” William had arrived, “load of nonsense if you ask me.”

The group at the drinks table looked round to see if the Hendersons had heard.  The Hendersons were alone in the middle of their perfectly manicured lawn, Roger was clutching at his head in pain and Clarice was clinging to him crying.