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The Ol’ Water Pump
On this sweltering afternoon, it’s the first thing you notice as you walk into the backyard. Painted a bright fire-engine red, the ol’ water pump is mounted on a large gray cement slab. It looks like a king sitting regally upon his throne declaring his importance over all the land. This is probably a true description of the water pump considering there is no plumbing in the house. This water pump is a vital lifeline for the family.
“Klink, clang, klink, clang,” sings the white tin drinking cup in a sudden gust of wind, its long slender red handle chained to a rusted metal pole. The ringing noise of the cup against the pole is in stark contrast to the silence, which just a moment before, was prevalent on this listless, humid afternoon.
“Purr, Purr, Purr,” sighs the sleeping cat curled up in a dry area on the cement slab. Hardly a creature is stirring…definitely not the cat nor the dog lying in the wet dirt next to the pump. The only activity is a dragon fly hovering around the cat’s head.
The water for the pump is fed by a spring that can be faintly heard churning underground during this typical dog-day of summer. The ice cold water that gushes forth from the squeaking pump is refreshingly delicious. It is a clean, crisp taste free from modern-day chemicals. The water is frigid, one must sip the water slowly with lips curled around sensitive teeth or the freezing water will shock the teeth.
No matter how miserably hot the day may become, there is always the comfort of crawling up on the cool cement slab surrounding the water pump. Erosion, due to years of constantly dripping water, has caused the slab to sink in the middle. There is always a delightful pool of water in the sunken area…enough water to refresh burning feet.
A small round metal trough sits on the ground to the right of the pump. This beat up old tub has served next to the royal water pump for years, a servant who ministers daily to the needs of its owners. Even though there are sharp, rusty edges on the rim that are a hazard and the tub has seen better days, just like the ol’ pump, it is invaluable to the family. This is the summer bathtub, as well as swimming pool and laundry basin. As a result of being in one place for eons of time, the tub is now a permanent fixture as it sinks many inches into the ground.
The wet ground is bare for several feet around the water pump since the grass has long been trampled from years of faithfully fetching water. The slimy mud is another delightfully cool place to squish hot toes.
I lived with my grandparents until I was five years old and the water pump is one of my strongest memories. Even though all the neighbors had plumbing, it was a luxury my grandparents couldn’t afford. In an era of modern conveniences, I tend to glamorize that water pump. I’m sure for my grandparents, it involved a lot of work transporting the water into the house every day, possibly several times a day. The Midwest winters must have made the chore more tedious. And yet as a young child, the ol’ water pump provided hours of entertainment for me and my sister. This is my salute to good memories during difficult times.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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