Help! Help! Help!

An attempt at assisting my husband goes horribly, horribly wrong! Won't try that again.

I’m going to help. At least, I intended to.

My husband worked so hard. He was tired, stressed, and anticipating a week full of insanity. I didn’t want to interrupt his time by asking him to clean the algae-filled pond pump. I could do it.

I’d never done it before but I’ve watched him. It didn’t look too complicated.

We all know those are famous last words.

I popped off the fountain head so I could clean out the water holes. Slippery like soap, it bounced from my hand and plopped into the pond water.

For one horrifying moment, it drifted towards the shallow step then started to sink into the deep, murky center. I acted fast. If it reached the bottom, the only way to retrieve it would be to get in the water.

Stretching my fingers, I leaned forward and-

The sharp rocks shifted beneath me.

Helpless to stop, I followed the pump with a heavy belly flop.

No, not again! The water was in my mouth, my eyes, and my knees burned. How did I manage this insanity?!

My first reaction was to cry out for help but who would help? No one was awake or home but me.

I didn’t need help. I could do this.

I groped around the bottom of the pond and found the slimy fountain head. Without re-slipping into the pond, I managed to pull myself out.

I was the master. “Ha, I don’t need any help. I got this.”

I cleaned the pump, put it back together and resubmerged it. Time for the final product. I flipped the switch. A small drizzle bubbled out but the main waterfall didn’t turn on. Confusion short-circuited my brain waves.

I turned it off again.

Okay. Maybe I needed my husband’s help after all.



This is an entry for

Daily Flash Fiction Challenge  (13+) Enter your story of 300 words or less. #896794 by Arakun the Twisted Raccoon