When tapped, laptop keys sound like small glass beads clinking together;
when dropped on wooden desks pens and pencils sound largely the same
only the quality of wood on wood is denser, the plastic on wood more transparent;
when opened, bottles of fizzy liquid hiss, unimpressed at the impertinence;
when placed on wooden desks elbows can make either no noise, or a small
whuffing thump depending on the force used to put them there;
when opened in not-silence a chocolate bars' wrapper will shout unabashedly;
when swung outwards doors will emit a hallways' muffled chatter
like a small child desperate to lighten the mood;
when pushed backwards instead of lifted chairs will moan;
when drawn open or closed zips will whine or drone
depending on the speed with which they are pulled;
when dropped on the floor a book will give a hearty flap of complaint;
when floating in the cavern of a library, whispers in a foreign language
sound much like the unintelligible secrets of the universe;
when surrounded by studious young people there's a tendency
to wonder if you have ever taken anything seriously at all.
