An Explosion and a Flood on Thanksgiving Eve

DeRay and I are watching old reruns of West Wing

When we experience an explosion and a thunderous crash

It takes me a couple of seconds to understand that I’m burning.

I jump up yanking my clothes off,

I stand in the bathroom trying to decide
How to get cold water on my legs.

I grab a big bath towel and wet it in the sink.

Draping it over my legs.

Sitting suffering on the toilet,

Amy dashes up still brushing her teeth.

“Water is flooding the bathroom downstairs.

The ceiling is saturated.”

I guess my towel was wetter and drippier than I though.

A teakettle on the gas fireplace blew its lid

Spewing scalding water everywhere. . . .

The TV, the fireplace insert, the chair, the floor, the hearth,
the mantle, and me.

The spout was open.  Why did pressure build up?

Amy and DeRay had been to Sam’s Club earlier

Amy did her spur-of-the-moment Christmas Shopping

Spending $450.

I was just trying the new leggings on

And hadn’t taken them off.

They got the brunt of it.

Not holes yet but spots of white

Like twinkling stars all down the front.

Usually I’m covered with a blanket

But with the warm stretch fleece leggings

I hadn’t reached for the blanket.

Getting ready to go to Brooke’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, I murmur, 
“I’m trying to decide what to wear that won’t hurt my burns.”

“Well, don’t tell Brooke’s family,” Ed admonishes.

“Just tell them what you’re thankful for and that’s it.”