Ministry Of Eccentricity

White Water

My Dearest Readers,

This is a very short story that I have written three years ago, during my Eighth Grade, which symbolizes my perception on the issue of environmental management. The article has been published in Teenstuff Magazine in Egypt in their October 2010 issue. Read and Enjoy!

Water…… A liquid underrated by most around the world, but don't you think we need to give it a little more attention? I am sick of "Save Water" Posters. We need to do something about it. I mean Imagine yourself waking up and fining white water pouring down your tap.

After waking up and reaching the toilet, I turned on the tap, shaking my head, not believing my eyes. The water was white, like milk. Turning the bath tap, I found the same. Milk. I tasted it, and then wished I had not. Stinks, I checked all the other taps. The same. No, it can't be. I wondered about the neighbors  They were at home, so I checked. Their expressions gave the answer before their words.

"We've had it analyzed", they said. "It's only 35% water and 40% oil. The rest ... you'd rather not know."  "This is disgraceful" I said. "What's being done about it?"

"You haven't heard? Where have you been this past month?"

It all came back to me then. I'd just come out of the hospital. All the time, everyone talked about it. That was all they talked about: the water. Being delirious most of the time, I did not even try to make sense of it. Even after my recovery, it all sounded like rubbish. It was not. I was fine. So I just ignored the talking. By the time of my release, the water-talk was, at best, at the back of my mind. Now, it all came flooding back.

I went to search for the mail, had to be in one of the drawers, which were all still locked. The keys; where are they? The doctors warned me of the memory loss. Here they are. The last drawer; Whatever you're looking for is always there. I pulled out the official-looking envelope.

"Fresh water allowance notice" it declared. "Your personal water ration for this month has been reached." What? Does that mean I'll get no fresh water till next month? Two weeks away. The white water was undrinkable - not even fit for animal consumption "We advise that, in future, you use your water ration more wisely. If you wish to apply for a distillation permit, please contact ..."

This stupid machine has added the exempted water I used in hospital to my personal account! I could complain, but any adjustment to a government account takes ages.

"Your application has been rejected", read the bland machine, "Due to current heavy demands.” Your further application will be welcome in no less than two weeks ..."

It rambled on about the seriousness of the situation, and all the necessary sacrifices. Perhaps I was to be one of the necessary sacrifices... Stop using water unwisely.