Barry was a plumber with a very confident smile. He always told his customers, “Don’t worry, I’ve seen it all before.” Unfortunately, this wasn’t true.

One Monday morning, Mrs. Jenkins called him about a leaking toilet. Barry arrived in his van, carrying his big red toolbox. He walked into the bathroom, whistling happily. “Easy job,” he said.

He bent down and twisted a pipe. Suddenly, SPLASH! A jet of water shot straight into his face. He slipped on the wet floor, landed on his back, and knocked over the toilet brush holder. Mrs. Jenkins gasped.

“Is everything under control?” she asked nervously.

“Of course!” Barry said, dripping wet. “Just testing the pressure.”

Barry tried again, this time with a bigger wrench. He turned the pipe in the other direction. WHOOSH! The water sprayed across the bathroom like a fountain in a park. Mrs. Jenkins’ cat ran in, saw the water, and jumped onto Barry’s shoulder, digging its claws into his jacket.

“Ow! Get off!” Barry shouted, spinning around. The cat flew into the laundry basket, knocking it over. Wet socks rolled across the hallway.

Mrs. Jenkins covered her mouth. “Maybe I should call someone else?”

But Barry wasn’t ready to give up. He stood tall, trousers sticking to his legs, hair plastered to his forehead. He turned off the main water supply, tightened every pipe he could see, and finally, with a loud CLUNK, the leak stopped.

He gave a victorious grin. “See? Perfect job. No problem at all.”

At that exact moment, a loud GLUG-GLUG-GLUG came from the toilet. The bowl bubbled like a witch’s cauldron, and then —BLOOP!— brown water exploded upward, covering Barry from head to toe.

There was a long silence. Barry wiped his face slowly. Mrs. Jenkins whispered, “Oh dear.”

Barry sighed. “Well, at least the leak is fixed.”

Mrs. Jenkins handed him a towel. “Yes, Barry. But perhaps next time… I’ll call an electrician.”

Barry blinked. “An electrician?”

She smiled sweetly. “Yes. It might be less messy.”

Barry stood there, defeated, dripping, and smelling awful. He packed up his tools and left with as much dignity as a plumber covered in toilet water could possibly have.

And from that day on, Barry never said, “Don’t worry, I’ve seen it all before.”

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Vocabulary Notes

Leak (noun/verb)
Meaning: A small hole or crack that lets liquid or gas escape, often by accident.
Example: “Mrs. Jenkins called him about a leaking toilet.”
Extra example: There’s a leak in the roof; water drips onto the floor when it rains.
Similar words/phrases: drip, seep, escape, spillage

Fountain (noun)
Meaning: A structure that sends water up into the air, often decorative in a park or garden. In the story, it is used humorously to describe water spraying everywhere.
Example: “The water sprayed across the bathroom like a fountain in a park.”
Extra example: Tourists threw coins into the fountain for good luck.
Similar words/phrases: spray, jet, spurt, geyser

Victorious (adjective)
Meaning: Feeling or showing success after winning or solving a problem.
Example: “He gave a victorious grin.”
Extra example: The football team was victorious after scoring in the final minute.
Similar words/phrases: triumphant, successful, proud, winning

Defeated (adjective)
Meaning: Feeling like you have lost or failed, with no energy left to continue.
Example: “Barry stood there, defeated, dripping, and smelling awful.”
Extra example: After trying three times, she felt defeated and gave up.
Similar words/phrases: beaten, hopeless, powerless, downhearted

Dignity (noun)
Meaning: Calm, respectful behaviour or appearance, even in a difficult or embarrassing situation.
Example: “He packed up his tools and left with as much dignity as a plumber covered in toilet water could possibly have.”
Extra example: The queen carried herself with dignity during the ceremony.
Similar words/phrases: self-respect, honour, pride, composure

Story written by ChatGPT AI.

Image created by ChatGPT AI.

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.

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