It was Thanksgiving night. All the guests had eaten turkey and the trimmings. They were chatting among themselves. It seemed Rockwellesque. I slipped out to wash a couple of pots before dessert, while everyone's food was digesting. Pumpkin pies, an apple pie, pineapple upside down cake, brownies, a huge assortment of pastries and cookies and candies were soon to be served. The coffee already was brewed and smelled terrific. As I finished scrubbing the first pot, the sink water started to rise—and kept rising. My son drove to an open store to buy a plunger. He plunged. Then, he drove back to the store and bought a rodder. He rodded. The water grew higher—and blacker. Lots of suggestions arose from the table, but none worked. I called Roto-Rooter. The technician arrived in less than an hour. Only a sewer monster could have caused a clog like the one we had. It filled the entire pipe. I know because my son took a picture. The technician needed the strongest tools he had, but soon we were able to sit down to dessert. This kind man gave up his Thanksgiving to save ours. I wish my son had taken his photo instead of the clog. Despite all the work that lots of people had done to prepare that Thanksgiving meal, it was the Roto-Rooter guy, Julian, who truly made our Thanksgiving—because he saved it.
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