What Do You Mean No Water? - Unedited Book Excerpt

​Moez and I have moved into a home that has a “Chaudière” – some French contraption that heats the water as you are using it.  It sounds like a good idea, but it seems to break down a lot.  Such was the case when I moved in to my new apartment.
 
We were told that the hot water would be fixed soon.  Well, soon is a relative term – especially in Africa!  In an Arabic country, they like to use the expression “in sha’allah” (God willing) so that they can shove the blame on God if it doesn’t happen.  Anyway, God got blamed more than once, because the first time the Chaudière broke down, it took about five days to fix it.  The second time, he came the next day.  The third time, it was over a week. 
 
So what do you do without hot water for a week?  You improvise!
 
I must say that I am a lot more agreeable than Moez when it comes to taking adventures one step at a time.  After all, we aren’t in the States, so we have to expect some kind of discomfort from time to time!
 
“What are we going to do!” Moez thundered.
 
I smirked: “No problem.”
 
“What do you mean no problem?”
 
I get up and head to the kitchen.  Out came the two largest pots I had; under the water and on the gas stove.
 
“I can’t believe you are going to heat water!” Moez exclaims.
 
“I want a bath!  And if it means I have to heat water, then so be it!”
 
The good thing about gas is that it heats and fast!
 
So as I hear Moez on the phone screaming obscenities at the man who needs to fix our Chaudière asking him for phone numbers, I gleefully create a system.  The first pot goes in the bathtub; then it gets filled and set back on the stove; and then the second one follows.  Five minute wait and repeat.  In no time, guess who gets a hot bath?  I become so inspiring, even Moez wants to take one.
 
What can I say?  I’m a trendsetter!