The Price of Coffee

Chapter 7: No Water

The next several weeks seem to fly by and before they knew it, it was June. Clarrisa stopped her in the kitchen one morning.

“Tabitha we need to begin to conserve water. We have moved into the dry season so it won’t rain everyday.”

“What do you mean conserve water?”

“We won’t flush the toilet as often. There’s a saying here among missionaries. If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down. The toilet is actually out biggest water user. So flushing less will help a lot. Second, we will only be washing laundry once a week and then only one to two loads. This is our second biggest water user. Third, “Tabitha could see Clarrisa cringing a little.” “we will reduce the showers to every other to every three days. We will sponge bath in between each shower.”

“No way. Do you realize how unhygienic that is? That is so gross. I’ll smell like something died. I could probably handle not washing once a week but the toilet flushing thing is so gross. Do you realize what our house will smell like? I have no desire to live in a place that smells like a urinal.”

“You may not like it but needs to be done. You think it’s bad wait until we’re completely out of water and you’ve got to haul water from the emergency tanks around the campus. If you waste water, I won’t let the local boys help you either.”

“Fine,” Tabitha huffed, however, she had no intention of actually following through. She told Jennifer this in her conversation later that morning. Her friend was already on the town drinking with friends. It almost seemed as of time stood still for her. All her friends were moving on with their lives. Some were off to college, others in relationships, a couple were being set up for marriage in the U.S. elite. It was hard to call her best friend each week and pretend to be excited but she didn’t complain to her aunt because she knew it wouldn’t do any good.

Friday, they were sitting down to friendship dinner. And Tyler informed everyone that his father was coming to PNG next week at the end of the term.

“Well there goes your planning time for your term break.” Clarrisa stated unhappily.

“Yep but he needs this visit. He wants to check his investment and try to get me to take over the company. He wants to retire and live his life in Florida. The biggest problem is, I know my father. He won’t actually retire. He will try to rule through me. I don’t want that job.”

“So what are you going to do?” Tabitha asked intrigued.

“According to our agreement, I still have time. So I’ll use that until I can’t anymore. Then we’ll go from there.”

Clarrisa reminded Tyler to pray about it that God works all things for good for those that love the Lord.

Tabitha frowned at that thought. She didn’t love the Lord. What did that mean for her? She would ask that question later.

Tabitha didn’t see much of Tyler as he was getting ready for his father’s visit. He cleaned his home, cleaned vehicles, and has the automotive crew complete the yearly maintenance on them.

Tabitha asked Clarrisa about this one afternoon after Clarrisa shared her day.

“ There’s a couple of reasons for this. One being he’s a big supporter of our programs here only because Tyler lives here and has made it abundantly clear that he will be pulling his funding as soon as Tyler goes back to America. The second reason is Tyler’s father expects perfection and will give Tyler a difficult time if things go wrong during his time here.”

“When does he arrive?”

“Saturday, so Tyler will have friendship night with us and then head out to pick up his father that morning early.”

Friday morning Tabitha decided to cook something nice for Tyler for friendship night. She decided on chicken pot pie soup and southern style biscuits or scones as she has been corrected several times here. Tabitha put some chicken in a pot and went to switch on the electric pump to bring water from the big tank to the small tank on the roof and she noticed the pump sounded differently.

She messaged her aunt and her aunt came and listened to the pump. “The tank is out of water. Did you follow the water conservation rules, I laid out for you?”

Tabitha answered, I did reduce the laundry but I need my showers every day and I need to flush the toilet. Do you realize the germs an unflushed toilet leaches into the air?”

“I warned you though the consequences for not conserving water. You will be hauling water. I will inform the boys they are not to help you. Clarrisa handed Tabitha the blue bucket that they often use for showers and said, “Follow me. I’ll show you the emergency tanks.”

Clarrisa showed Tabitha how to syphon water out of the big tank. It took four trips to fill up the spare buckets around the house for water.

“You will be flushing toilets with water and you can no longer use the big washer for washing laundry. I will show you how to wash laundry in the blue wash tubs. Maybe next time you will listen to me. Pray this dry spell only lasts a few more days. But we won’t have any consistent rain for another four to six months.”

After her lesson in washing laundry by hand, Tabitha was exhausted. And she still had a meal to make. One would think she would learn to follow her aunt’s advice by now.

She was sitting at the kitchen table quiet too tired to continue in conversation. Tyler asked why she was so quiet. Tabitha looked down onto her coffee cup and didn’t say anything.

“Tabitha, Tyler asked you a question. Part of growing up is learning to own and clean up your mistakes.”

Tabitha sighed, “Fine, I screwed up and didn’t conserve water and now I have to haul water and wash laundry by hand. And I have to flush the toilet by hand. It is so gross. And I’m exhausted. I just want to go to bed.”

Tyler smiled. “We've all been there. I remember the first time I didn’t conserve water. The first week of dry season we ran out of water. By the time the dry season ended we were traveling to the river to get water. It’s a part of line here You’ll learn for next time. It also teaches you to appreciate America’s instant water system. We waste so much water in America and take so much for granted.”

“Maybe but I still hate it.”

“Why don’t you go with me to Port Moresby tomorrow. It’ll get you out of the house and you can enjoy city life for a few days.”

Tabatha looked at her aunt with a hopeful expression.

Clarrisa laughed at the look on her nieces face. “Yes you can go.”

“YES! Tabitha yelled. Thank you aunt Clarissa. I’ll even make sure the buckets are full before I leave. Tyler what time do I need to be ready?”

“we’ll leave here around 7 in the morning. I’ll need to get tickets before the flights are booked. Dad messaged at Doha and said his flight will arrive on time. You don’t keep dad waiting.”

Tabatha ran upstairs to start packing. Clarrisa yelled after her “Tabitha what do you say to Tyler?”

“Thank you, thank you! Hot Shower here I come.” Tabatha called from her doorway.

Clarrisa chuckled. “I think she’s excited. I’ll see you out Tyler. I don’t think she’s going to be much company for the rest of the night.”