I think the "AGUAAAAA" man is taunting me. He walks through the neighborhood each morning with a dolly specifically made to hold bottles of water. The bottles are the same as what we use for a big water cooler. He yells, "AGUAAAAAA!" repeatedly, so the neighborhood can hear. If you need water, you run out and stop him.
Yesterday I heard him on the block behind my house so I waited and waited for him to come to my block. I thought I heard him once, so I grabbed my water bottle to exchange and ran through the yard, down the driveway, and out the gate, but no one was there.
Last night I forgot to bring home any water at all from the church, so this morning I knew I would have nothing to use to brush my teeth if I did not find the water man. When I heard him yelling , "AGUAAAA!" in the block behind my house at 6:44 a.m. I got up and got dressed. I could not miss him again today if I wanted to brush my teeth or have water for the cat.
I waited and waited. Thought about watching tv, but decided against it so I could be sure to hear the water man. Cleaned the house. Mopped the floor. Thought about taking a shower. Too chancey - what if he came while I was in the shower, or not fully dressed? Waited more.
Finally there it was, "AGUAAAAA!" This time not so loud - that means he is on the street in front, not behind the house. I ran out. "AGUAAAA! AGUAAAA!" I could hear him, but he was nowhere in sight. I looked down the hill, then heard him again, "AGUAAAA!" He was definitely at the top of the hill. This could only mean he was on the way down, headed toward me. And then his voice became fainter... and fainter... until I couldn't hear him any more. I stood outside listening. Finally I could hear him going down the next block over.
Did I miss him? Did he decide to skip my block today because of the steep hill? It has to be hard to carry all of that water up the hill. Maybe he just wasn't up to it. Guess I could chew some gum and then brush my teeth at the church.
I went inside and got into the shower. Shampoo. Conditioner. Lather up. And then I hear it. "AGUAAAA!" I listen closer to be sure. "AGUAAAAA!" Yes. He is outside. Ahhh! What do I do?? Throw on a bathrobe and run out? No, I'd never make it in time anyway. I'm covered in soap, head to toe. I rinse off, towel dry. and start on my hair.
That's when I hear it again. He must have been on the block behind me while I was in the shower! That's why it was so loud! (My house is at the back of the property.) Hurry! Get outside!!
This time I sprint out the door, through the yard, down the driveway. Forget the keys. Oh well, I'll hold the door myself. And there he is. The water man! "Hola!" I say. He has probably never met someone so happy to see him. He carries the heavy bottle of water back to the house while I hold open the outside gate. As I pay him I tell him I have been waiting for him since 6:45 and heard him on every street but my own. He laughs and tells me to have a good day. I tell him to have a good day too.
I go back inside. It is 8:24 a.m. I brush my teeth, give the cat some water, and relax, knowing I am set for the next couple of weeks. And then I hear it again. "AGUAAAAA!" Hmmmm...
