07.23.08 - 9:31 am

he came home, he checked the connections. ran his fingers over the white tubes and eyed the joints suspiciously. there was a steady drip in the background, but he would deal with that later. his first priority made all the difference. if this didnt work, he would be forced to consider an uncomfortable option.

he flipped the switch.

there was a low hum, a gurgle and the sound of air being forced from confined spaces. suddenly, with the air purged, water streamed out and begin to fill the glass boxes. he quickly grabbed his flashlight and snuck down the side passage. the floor remained dry beneath the unions. the floor remained dry beneath the bulkhead. a few joints squeezed out drops of fluid between the cobalt blue of dried pipe cement. easily fixed. the unions. we must make sure the unions seal.

seven days of this. loads of wet towels. pvc pipes and pvc pieces strewn all over the floor. the old pipes. pipe cutters. glue. silicon. pipe crumbs in a sprayed out pile next to a pipe saw. an eerie silence in a room used to a steady hum. seven days of frustration. hands covered in glue and silicon. scratches cuts and abrasions. sore hands and arms. my animals in dire peril. my several thousand dollar investment. in peril. seven days of trial and error. money spent and wasted on bulkhead unions and elbows and angles and lengths of pipe. followed by disappointing drips of water that became devastating drips of water. complete despair. but now, a brief glimpse of hope.

today im sure ill reactivate it with an overwhelming sense of relief.