Posts tagged ‘plumbing problems’
PLUMBING PROBLEMS: PART VI
PLUMBING PROBLES: PART VI
Jack continued, “I had spread word around the community that people should stay away from the property; there is something wrong about that place. Whenever I saw a car drive up, which wasn’t often because the place was so remote, I warned, “This place is no good. It’s strange.”
I asked him, “How can you say that?” The house is a wonderful place to live.”
Jack replied, “I know it’s a great property, but there is something wrong. I pressed him to go on. “One day, while walking through the field you now own, I found something strange near the pond,” he stated. “The first thing I noticed was the smell, a God-awful smell that made me gag; then I saw it. It was lying on the ground, about eight feet long. Been dead for some time I would say. Had a head shaped like a pipe.”
I looked at him, unable to picture a head shaped like a pipe.
He continued, “Had fins too, so I think it was some kind of fish. Damndest thing I ever saw. The fins at the bottom of its body were huge. I thought – what the hell is that doing here and what the hell is it. I buried the damn thing to get rid of it and the stench. There was also one night I couldn’t sleep, decided to take me a walk. I was at the edge of my property and looked over at your pond and saw the damndest thing. There were things in the pond glowing and swimming around. I said to myself, “That’s it! This place is no good. Then when I heard the owner had gone missing, I just tried to keep people away. Did a good job too, until you came along. Be careful in that house, something just ain’t right.” With that he walked to his tractor and continued his work.
I thought about Jack’s description of the strange occurrences on my property. A head shaped like a pipe, that was the part that made me think that Jack had a libation or two before he made his discovery, or maybe forgot to take some medication.
PLUMBING PROBLEMS: PART V
PLUMBING PROBLEMS: PART V
The house had been on the market a long time, with the downturn of the economy not helping, but the realtor could not understand why there was so little interest in the property. So, when Laura and I came along, the family of Marcus Worthy was happy to sell, and I sometimes wonder if I could have gotten the price a little lower.
We sold our old house and the three of us moved into our new farmhouse along with our cat Molly. It wasn’t long before I discovered the first problem with our house, and it turned out to be the only real problem I could find. The sinks, especially the one in the master bedroom, would clog up periodically. It was weird though, because sometimes I didn’t treat the sink and it would unclog by itself. Other than the plumbing, the house was perfect.
Situated on the southeastern edge of the property, our back and western windows look out on our land. Not far from the eastern edge of our property stood a split rail fence and it is over this fence while out walking, that I met my neighbor Jack Small. Jack was in his late seventies and sat perched on an ancient tractor; he gave me a wave and shut her down, walked my way with hands in the pockets of his bib overalls, his work boots kicked at the newly turned earth.
“So, you’re my new neighbor,” he shouted as I noticed a hearing aide in each ear.
I introduced myself and told him about my family. He then told me about his. Jack was a widower and had grown children in New Jersey and Virginia. They visited and brought their children, but for the most part he was on his own.
“Sorry you moved in here,” he continued. This comment startled me. He saw my expression and hurriedly said, “Let me explain. I guess I didn’t hear you coming up the road when you came to look at the house.”
I focused on his hearing aids.
PLUMBING PROBLEMS: PART II
PLUMBING PROBLEMS: PART II
My eight-year-old daughter Robin was crying uncontrollably; her cat Molly was missing. My wife Laura and I searched the entire house with no luck.
Trying to comfort Robin, I suggested, “She’ll turn up, she always has before,” but my efforts were useless. In frustration, Robin ran out of the house crying out for Molly while Laura and I continued to search. Later Robin returned covered in mud, dejected, and ran up to her room and slammed the door.
While Robin was crying in her room, I went upstairs to the master bathroom to clean up and could not believe the sight that awaited me. The place was a mess. There was a thick yellow slime all over the sink, flowing onto the floor, and the smell was horrible. Neither Laura nor Robin knew anything about the condition of the bathroom. Normally that would have set me off, but considering Robin’s current fragile condition, I thought it better to let the matter drop.
PLUMBING PROBLEMS: PART I
Published by Hadrosaur Press in Hadrosaur Tales Volume 21 in 2004. At one time Writers Digest considered Hadrosaur Press one of the 100 best websites for writers. I had a great deal of fun writing this story using my science background.
The story will appear in multiple posts. Hope you stick with it.
PLUMBING PROBLEMS: PART I
Marcus Worthy purchased the farmhouse and 20 acres of property in rural Pennsylvania two years ago. He immediately started the renovations required for the barn, and now the renovations for the house and barn were completed long ago. Marcus had a few decorating chores to complete, and his house would be to his liking. Grabbing two paintings, a hammer, and some picture hooks, he headed for the master bathroom. As he was hanging the pictures on the wall opposite the sink, he suddenly felt a constriction around his chest and a stinging sensation. He withered to the floor and lay motionless, paralyzed while he was slowly engulfed.
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