93: Propping Up the Walls

He comes in the front door, says, the sump pump must be blocked, water’s spraying all over the yard every two minutes.  Outside was snow, whistling blasts of ice, howling wind trying to deconstruct the walls.  That’s why there’s water in the basement, she said.  Unrelated, the dishwasher’s leaking water and mice are in the ceiling.  And it’s supposed to snow through midweek.  Constant, accumulating, unyielding.  What do we do, they say in unison.  Then they laugh.  Lights flicker.  Windows rattle.  They light candles.  They drink wine.  They keep the walls from falling.