Chapter 14: The Flood That Turned My Room Into a Swimming Pool
After Kwame finally vanished with my coins and my peace, I locked my door properly, double-bolted it, even pushed one small stool behind it.
"No visitor shall pass!" I declared proudly.
I took a long, deep breath and said:
"Samuel, today you will rest properly. No drama."
The sun was hot, but I didn't mind.
I lay down with fan blowing on my face, feeling like a small king.
About 30 minutes later, as I was drifting off into a sweet nap, I heard something:
"Plop... plop... plop..."
Water drops.
I opened one eye.
Looked around.
Nothing serious.
"Maybe it's just small leak. Ignore. Sleep."
That's what my foolish mind told me.
But two minutes later, I heard:
"PLUUUSH!!"
(Like someone pour bucket inside my room.)
I jumped up!
My feet landed straight inside cold water.
"EH???!"
I looked around and almost wept.
Water was entering my room like VIP guests at a wedding.
Small river was flowing happily from under the door, carrying pieces of paper, a lost sock, and even my poor bathroom slippers.
I rushed to the door, opened it — and nearly fainted.
The whole compound was flooded!
Water was moving like it had important meetings inside people's houses.
I shouted to my neighbor:
"Ei, what happen?"
The man shouted back:
"Pipe burst for junction! Big pipe oo! Water dey pass house-top!"
I rushed back inside, lifted my mattress like it was the Ark of Covenant, threw my laptop and phone on top of a chair, and started scooping water with a small rubber bowl.
The water mocked me.
No matter how much I scooped, more kept coming.
I was slipping, sliding, shouting, praying —
it was a full wrestling match between me and Mother Nature.
At one point, I slipped and landed flat on my back.
I just lay there, water swirling around me, staring at the leaking ceiling fan.
I said:
"Samuel... you have fought tro-tro drivers, survived dog attack, snored with village champions...
Now you are doing swimming lessons for free. Life is beautiful."
End of Chapter 14