plumbing, for adults only

Turn on the basement lights one by one

Illuminating cars and boxes

The dingy collections of tools and appliances

On the ceiling footsteps fall

On the walls the water pours

we lay down our tools

Someone yells, No, no, no from upstairs

But the rest is murmur

The house hums

Cut the pipe, snake it out, put it back together

Check that it is working

It is not working

Go to the other end of the pipe

Unscrew it, dark and dank

Ominous gurgling sounds echo

What if our efforts do not work?

Eyes touch eyes as hands rhythmically push the metal in and out

How many times do we have to do this?

This time the sink

My face pressed against the wood

Working the snake down its dark space

Catching my breath, grey water splashing my legs

Dripping muddy on the tile floor

Try the water again

Success

As I go to walk out the door

ominous gurgling taps me back

Back to the dungeon

Find an angle that was missed

Undo the work and try again

Pushing that metal snake

Pulling it out releasing a rush of rank air

Pushing in that metal snake

Pulling it out

Getting that rush of clotted rotten water

Doing it again and again

The dirt gushing fountain

Bubbling out its grimy clots

Drenching hair, skin, and air

The clog released

We pack up our tools

And leave