*** the following day , at the crack of dawn , the haunting sound of his name roused me from a deep sleep and followed me throughout the day like an uneasy conscience , for i could sense his proximity with every step i took through the squeaking sound of my rubber soles during my usual morning walk , through the high-pitched , presumptuous voice of mr. kis who called to inform me about the rehearsal schedule , through the screech of the violin strings as the bow mercilessly scraped against them like a blunt kitchen knife .