Up and Down the River

May 22nd, 2006

It was a bright sunny afternoon in Ivory Coast, and the African sun was blazing through the moisture-packed clouds, soaking the air with humidity. Having been outside most of the day, Gary and I were ready for a cool retreat in our French-style home. We began preparations for an evening of relaxation with our Liberian friends Enoch and Doris. Snacks were set out on our table, along with our special game of entertainment, ‘Up and Down the River’.

 
Gary and I waited with anticipation for our guests to appear. Suddenly, we heard a loud burst of noise! Could that be our friends arriving? Looking out our windows we glimpsed a bolt of lightening crisscrossing the African horizon, followed by a crackling peal of thunder. This scenario repeated itself, each time with more intensity; until the entire sky appeared to break loose, throwing torrents of angry rain to the earth.

 
No need to worry, we reasoned; an African rainstorm can’t spoil our party. The porous soil will soak up all the water! But there was one factor we had forgotten to consider. Our French-style home, nestled at the bottom of a mountain, had been built with a fully enclosed cement courtyard. Well, by the time Enoch and Doris arrived, rainwater had rushed down into our courtyard, filling it up like a swimming pool! The water had even seeped into our house up to several inches deep; tables and chairs were floating, mice were frantically paddling.

 
As soon as Enoch and Doris arrived, we urgently put them both to work. Gary enlisted Enoch in building a detour for the muddy river raging down the mountainside. I thrust a bucket and broom into the hands of Doris. Our party quickly took a new direction; we spent the entire evening bailing and sweeping water out of our house! I guess you can say that we REALLY played ‘up and down the river’!