The Great Water Quest: An Awoite’s Exclusive Privilege

This delightful morning, I was jolted from my peaceful slumber by the thunderous footsteps of my fellow residents, bravely embarking on their daily pilgrimage down the stairs to fetch water. The privilege of having a conventional alarm clock is not comparable to this fantastic symphony of clattering buckets and heavy footfalls. It’s like living in a real-life action movie, but instead of saving the world, I’m chasing down my daily ration of H₂O.

My excitement was immediately piqued by the thrilling realization that I had a little extra time to ponder life’s mysteries while waiting in the never-ending queue for water. Armed with my trusty 25-litre keg, I eagerly eyed the magnificent shade of light brown water sitting at my bedside. What a luxury! I consider myself blessed to have been one of the few fortunate souls awake when the water on my floor hilariously decided to make an appearance. This marvellous gift, which I won’t see again for about three weeks, provides the unique opportunity to acquire water that’s suited for flushing toilets—surely a coveted prize in this grand game of life! 

Stepping out of my room is merely the beginning of my adventure. We have no need for an amusement park when our stairs offer a delightful, unpredictable sliding experience—all for the low, low price of near-certain injury! Each descent is reminiscent of my childhood, reminiscent of playing in the rain, except now the rain is coming from above, and I’m dodging potential disaster as I journey a thousand miles down to the water area.

Once I arrive at the water oasis, the silence greets me like an old friend—eerie, yet strangely comforting. Water scarcity? Oh, what a thrill! Who needs reliable access to clean water when I can engage in a thrilling scavenger hunt? Stress? Pish-posh! I’m just embarking on an epic quest, fighting against the odds for that coveted liquid gold. Two floors down, I gallantly descend, hopeful to encounter my equally excited sisters.

But let’s not forget the pièce de résistance: the charming walk through a delightful layer of green algae. It’s a bonus feature! Navigating this slippery terrain is like a scene straight out of a nature documentary, and if you’re not careful, you might just find yourself and your bucket doing an impromptu tango on the floor.

Do we really need basic human rights when we can have the thrill of a lifetime filling just one bucket? Going to class on time? Ha! I’d much rather be late for that than miss out on my daily aqua-pursuit. After all, studying is overrated compared to the joy of scavenging for water!

Olive O’Dwyer