I dread going down the steps into the basement. I know what I will find.

I hear the constant thumps. The sunlight is blinding today.

I might as well get it over with. I open the door and peer down into the darkness. I turn on the light but it doesn’t help. The puny recessed lights don’t make much difference.

I grab the wooden banister and step onto the first step. It creaks of course.  One at a time I pad down to the bottom.

I know where to look. It is there waiting for me.

I shine a flashlight onto the cement floor. I nod. My fears are confirmed.

Water is seeping through the cracks in the concrete floor.

I sigh and manhandle the shop vac into position.

I know what I’ll be doing for the next hour.