Last week I was enjoying some moments on the computer reading about Abraham Lincoln's life. It was Thursday afternoon and I was looking forward to the beginning of our weekend. I could hear Langston and some friends making lots of noise in the backyard. I kept thinking, 'I ought to go see what they're up to.' In a few minutes Langston came screaming through the back door and stood at the bottom of the stairs. My first thought was that he was hurt. Seeing that he was okay I thought then someone else must be hurt. He kept screaming for me to come outside. In our back patio area water was gushing out of the reserve water tank by the side of the house. He had tried to get on top of it by standing on a pipe. The pipe had broken and out gushed gallons and gallons of water! I frantically called Jon who alerted the front office. I tried to think what the "Little House" characters would do in this situation since we're reading that series. I didn't know any way to cut it off so I decided to at least try to save some of it. I gathered all the large containers I could find and filled them with water. I filled the two bathtubs with water. Finally the plumber came. After he cut off the water at the main we had a confusing conversation about whether to fix it or not. He said it was a reserve tank so we didn't need it. When I asked if he could fix it next week he said I'd be without water if I didn't fix it now. Very confusing. I decided in the desert I wanted all the water I could get. I gave him 20 riyals for him to buy the part. In a few minutes he brought me 12 riyals back and they proceeded to fix the pipe. I stayed in the house not wanting to get in the way. When I went to check on them they were gone! I found the broken pipe across the street. I haven't received a bill. I guess it's covered through the compound fees. It took me awhile to calm down from that situation with Langston's screaming, precious water running into the street and me runniing up and down stairs to fill bathtubs.
After the flood experience had died down I was reading out front while Langston rode his bike. I barely heard him exclaim nonchalantly, "I enjoyed the water party." I was quick to ask him what he said, to which he clarified that he enjoyed the water out front, NOT all the water that came out of the pipe in the back. ;-)
Posted by nellie at February 14, 2004 05:36 PM