16 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2953: raw sewage

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“So, um, about those sewer lines that were supposed to be capped off in case Bayard Heights did wash out … that was done, but, um, that has created a problem at the Veteran's Lodge about a half-mile up the road, so … .”

Sgt. Vincent Trent just sat down and listened to why Tinyville, VA was going to be home to him and his family, the Lees, and the Ludlows for a good, long time yet.

“Well, at least nobody is going to be bothering us about the rent at that end of the Veteran's Lodge,” he said to Mrs. Melissa Trent at the end of the phone call he had gotten. “Our houses are OK, but tell me why somebody thought it would be a good idea to reroute a sewer line backwards like that wasn't going to cause a problem?”

“Our houses are OK,” Capt. Ludlow was saying to Mrs. Ludlow, “but the problem is, they've basically now got a merry-go-round of raw sewage happening with no place else to go – the tanks that should be handling it are now at capacity, so if they turn the water to that area back on, there's no telling whose houses that's going to be backing up in. It's already coming out of the street grates close to us, but they've got it contained.”

“So, this is good,” Mrs. Ludlow said, “so we can figure out who else in Public Works in Lofton County needs to be fired.”

“Would cooked sewage be safer, though?” five-year-old Lil' Robert Ludlow said. “It's like there's some food that is good raw, but then there's sausages.”

“No, Rob, that ain't it,” ten-year-old Andrew Ludlow said. “When we flush stuff down the toilet, we gotta clean it before we let it get into the rivers and lakes and then come around and come out of the faucet again. If we don't clean it, and it's just out there, raw, there's going to be problems.”

“Well, raw sausages aren't great either just left out in the sun too long,” Lil' Robert said, “although flies seem to love them that way!”

“Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!” seven-year-old Amanda Ludlow said. “See, this is why I'm a vegetarian and I'm not becoming a sewageatarian either!”

“Yeah, we don't recommend that at all,” eleven-year-old Eleanor Ludlow said, “which is why we can't go back up to the Veteran's Lodge for a while – they've gotta get on top of what they call backwash problems where the water we don't want can get into places with the water we do.”

“When are these people going to be fired?” eight-year-old Edwina Ludlow said.

“I'm just going to put my head out to say that when I get done being grounded,” nine-year-old George Ludlow said as he poked his head out of his room, “I'm suing these people and taking all their money, because they really don't need to be paid for this mess!”

“And sent to their rooms without dessert, too!” Amanda said.

Six-year-old Grayson Ludlow looked up from the Lego pile and sighed.

“See, if they woulda just let me build it,” he said. “I mean, Legos are not worse than whatever it is they are using.”

“Think of the great job security you are going to have in the future,” ten-year-old Glendella Ludlow said as she went over and embraced and kissed him to cheer him up. “Lofton County is going to be so ready for you!”

“Yeah, and I'm getting ready for it,” he said as he looked back at the pile. “Gotta be ready.”

Meanwhile, Sgt. Trent's two younger daughters Velma (11) and Gracie (8) just came outside and sat down on the porch.

“Well,” Velma said, “I enjoyed living at the Veteran's Lodge, but, I guess I better get started planting my winter garden here.”

“Ain't it the truth,” Gracie said. “Goldie and Goody have you covered for fertilizer, and we don't even have to put in any pipes backwards. We just need these adults to get the sense of our cat and dog.”