4

It was silent in there. Not a sound of rustling or even using his bathroom. I had found some cereal in the back of the cupboard. The sugary substance went fine without milk, so I was not complaining. That dog had stopped barking last night. The owners had let it in, or it ran away. I always wanted a little farm dog.

Uncle would have liked one, he claimed he would not but he most likely would. A little boxer or lab would be sweet. It could lay in bed with me, keep me safe from the snakes if they ever got inside. After I finished my bowl, I set it in the sink. When I went to flick the sink on though, no water came out. I tried the hot handle, the cold one, then both. No water.

Our water came from a well. Did it run dry? There is no way it could have. I walked into my bathroom and threw the pink curtain back.

The shower handle turned, but no water had come out of the head in return. I also tried the sink, still nothing. The bowl sat as dry as the plains outside. I had to let Uncle Pete know. I had helped make the well, alongside the house. But he did most of the work, for obvious reasons. I am a skinny Mexican kid with a farmer's tan, I was little to no help. Uncle Pete is the ex-military badass. I could not stand a chance in a fight with him either unless I had some hidden strength (which I do not).

Uncle Pete would have to fix it. Which means I must go wake him up. What if he is not even in there? He left the house.

Should I ask him about the candle that was in the hallway last night?

I walked up to his door. I honestly was not even sure if Uncle was in there. I laid my ear to the door. Any noise at all would make me less nervous, but there was none. I lifted my head back up and stood there. I threw my hand behind me and pinched my neck. And with a swift motion I cracked open Uncle Pete's door.

The first thing was the smell. It slammed into my face like a drunk driver. It was sour, like spoiled milk. But it also was raw and strong like roadkill that has been in the Arizona sun for a few hours. It made me wince, my eyes watering a tad bit. It was dark in the room. When I entered, I saw his little TV stand. Another step in and a noise broke the silence.

Bark.

That dog was barking again. It sounded closer but it was still outside. The owners let it out again.

The noise was enough to make me take another step. This step was wet and squishy. I lifted my foot back up and stepped back. There was something wet on the carpet, but due to the darkness I could not make out what it was.

Please be water, please be just water.

I took a large step hoping to hop over any soiled carpet but it seemed to be everywhere.

"Uncle, are you in here?"

No response

Another step in. I could see the outline to his bed and the hallway to Uncle's bathroom. I laid my hand on his bed frame. My other hand rested on the blankets and I gave it a good shake.

He is not in bed; the blankets are all flat.

Another step and the carpet made another nasty, squishing sound. All this water had to be coming from the bathroom. If the rest of the house was not getting water how come Uncle's room was? I called out louder this time.

"Uncle are you ok? You haven't come out in a while."

That is when a splash came from the bathroom. It sounded like a gallon of water hit the floor.

I waddled into the bathroom. The smell had gotten significantly worse, being trapped in this dark room for what had to be hours, just building up. I slid open the already cracked bathroom door. The floor glistened in puddles of water. Uncle stood crouched over the bathtub. It was a little easier to make out due to the night light by the sink.

Uncle had no shoes on, his knees half way covered by water on the ground. His brown pants soaked, pulled up past his ankles. He had no shirt on. The muscles of his back were tensed up. His rib cage was exposing itself like he had not eaten in months, which was not true. Uncle's shoulder blades stuck out like wings as his arms held tight on the bathtub. His neck was stretched unnaturally into the tub. Uncle's entire body was covered in sweat or glistened with the bath water; it was too dark to tell.

Slurp. Glug. Slurp.

Uncle was drinking the tub of water. It sounded dreadful, like he had been in the desert for days and had just found sight of water. His head bobbed up and down. I could not stand to watch this, I was scared.

"Uncle what are you doing!? Are you sick!? Are you hurt!?"

Uncle had always enjoyed working out and physical fitness. He had always encouraged me at an early age to lift the weights.

"Jr, our family has a past of heart problems" Is often something he would say. He would always tell stories about his basic training. Saying men would pass out mid run since they did not drink enough water. And when it was time to eat, it did not matter how unsettling the MRE was, you ate it.

Uncle said he would pour the whole pack of salt on the food he ate so he could replenish the sweat he had lost. A strong man like that, is now rib cage exposed, drinking out of the bathtub. I was terrified.

He had bobbed his head back and looked up at me. Uncle had moved to sitting on his knees. He watched me intensely, like a dog to a bird.

Did he think I was dangerous? Or did he think I was food?

I grabbed the towel off the shower door.

"Uncle, what are you doing, what the hell is going on?"

I wrapped the towel around his motionless body. Water had started filling my eyes.

I hope the dark hid it, how embarrassing. His eyes followed me the whole time I wrapped the towel around him. I lifted myself up on the counter to raise feet off the wet tiles. After Uncle stared at me more, he finally opened his mouth to speak.

"I am sick. My head is spinning."

His voice cracked. His throat had sounded dry, yet he had just been drinking water a few minutes earlier. I had so many questions but I was still in a state of shock.

"Hey, I'm going to be ok. I just need to lay down."

I stood up and gave him my hand.

"Ok. Uncle let us get you into bed, I can deal with the water once I know you are ok"

Uncle had stared deep into my eyes, not taking them off for anything. I walked him to his bed, his body was still wet so hopefully this can warm him back up.

His hands were so cold, yet he did not shake at all. Once Uncle was lying down, he murmured something.

"Can you get me a glass of water? My throat is dry."

I was surprised, but I must be helpful anyway I can, he is sick. "Uncle, none of the sinks work in the house. I don't know how you managed to work your room but I can get you something out the fridge instead."

Uncle had still not taken his eyes off me. He reached his hand out the blanket and on top of his chest.

"That's a shame. I will be fine. Go away."

I was surprised. He must be sick.

He really told me to go away…

"Oh, and don't worry about the floor. I don't care about it"

Uncle Pete was a good man. He was mad. I walked out, but I could feel his eyes lingering on me until I left.

Go away.

He must be really, sick. I should have called someone to look at him. But I do not think anyone will come all the way out here during the lockdown. Is the lockdown still even going? Our radio died yesterday.

I reached for it on the counter and popped the bottom open. It took two double A batteries. I reached down on the kitchen drawer. I shuffled through pens and paper, but no batteries. I am sure if the lockdown ends our neighbors will be driving down the street. I mean the dog is a sign there are neighbors still here, right?

There was no reason for me to stay down here. Besides Uncle, but I do not think he wanted to see me. I walked back upstairs with the radio in my hand. I can catch some sleep to pass the time.