When it comes to procastination, I should say that I am one of the royals of procastination. I never liked getting anything done at the appropriate time. I would always dish out this mantra, " I will do it later or I will get to it soon". This practice of mine also tagged along with me to examination period. I would have ample time to read but as usual I would "push it till later" and only just rummage through the pages of my textbook, some hours to the examination. How I managed to get to the top five students list in school surprised me then.
An incident that would have claimed lives still lingers in my memory like a stain refusing to leave. I learnt the true power behind the popular proverb....
"A stitch in time saves nine".
It happened almost eight years ago.on a Sunday evening. I was in my room, snuggled in bed while watching a movie on my phone. Of course, for maximum enjoyment I had my headphone connected to my phone and I dived in to the cinematic universe. I felt at ease, on top of the world even, cause all was just right at that moment in time.
I had cooked lunch prior to my movie time. While I was tidying up the kitchen, my instincts kicked in. Something was pulling me to check on my gas handle to see if it was secure but as usual, I pushed that thought to the back of mind while chanting "I will get to it later". I had no idea that something was amiss or that something untoward was going to happen.
My kid brother who came to vacation at my place was also at home with me. He was in the living room typing away at his phone to "who knows who" but as long as he didn't bother me, then all is good and well.
There I was deeply engrossed in the movie I was watching when I felt a strong pull on my legs. "Who the heck is that" I screamed as I flailed my legs like a mad woman. After sone seconds of leg flailing and panting, I sat up to stare angrily at my brother who was standing with arms akimbo by the edge of the bed.
"Hey! What was that for? Couldn't you have called out my name?" I asked looking at him with an "unbelievable" expression.
"I did call out your name sis, thrice actually but your headphones were getting in the way and so I thought of doing something to bring you back to Earth" he replied chuckling.
Seething with anger but also trying not to "chop off his head, I asked nicely...."So what do you want?"*
"Let me ask something as well sis, did you check the gas stove handle to see of it was closed tightly?"
"Eh...ehm .... I think I did put it off but I was going to check if it was closed tightly later. I simply want to finish this movie okay", I replied.
"Hmm, sis do you know your little game of procastination would have set this whole building on fire?" He asked again.
Sitting straight up with full alertness, anger flying out the window, I asked calmly, "What do you mean by that?" And that was how my brother explained how he had caught the scent of an unpleasant odour and he traced it to the kitchen only to discover that there was a gas leak. The entire kitchen atmosphere was already saturated with smell of liquified petroleum gas.
My brother said he froze for a bit but then he recalled a training video he had seen where a towel soaked in water was used to hande such a case and that was what he did. He took out a kitchen towel, soaked it in water and bravely used it to turn the knob of the gas stove handle gently until it was tightly shut. He waited a while to allow diffusion of the gas take place and when he felt like it was cleared, he came to my room to tell me. Only, he met me in a state of excitement rather that that of anxiety like he was in.
After my little brother's narration, I felt cold chills all over my body with goosebumps flooding my skin as proof. "Oh my God! What have I done?" I asked no one in particular because I already knew the answer.
Had my brother not been indoors with me, there could have been a major fire accident caused by a gas leak. My brother's quick thinking saved us all. He took the initiative while I was procastinating. Indeed *a stitch in time saves nine" well maybe in my case, it saved more than nine.
Thank you all for reading... Shalom
Images used are Ai generated.
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This gas thing scares me a lot. Even to repair a leaking gas cylinder is a risk to me.
One thing about procrastination is its entertaining vibes. Jeeez! That feeling of not to go/do at that moment can be so entertaining to the body system... more like receiving a massage.
Thank God your brother was around
You really know the feeling of procastination oooo.
Yeah thank God he was around.
Thank you
Thank God for your brother. At least you learnt a valuable lesson, never to procrastinate, no matter how insignificant the situation may be
My sister I learnt really well o. The fear of fire gave me a push.
It's well
Yes ooo
Lucky!
I once had a house with two kitchens.
We had a party and I was cooking a curry upstairs and cooking in the downstairs kitchen andrinking.
Loads of people were there, then one minute there was a knock on the door and firemen came in, the upstairs kitchen was on fire!
The neighbours reported it.
All ok just damaged lol
That was lucky indeed
There must've a huge amount of luck on your side that day. Fire outbreaks especially from gas leaks can be quite dangerously, particularly with how fast they easily spread. Lucky your brother was not only around, but equally knew the right thing to do as well.
Yes, I am so glad as well. There was no sad incident
My mom often say and I quote "anya ji ahịa ihe" meaning you can leave out on doing important things when your eyes are glued to the screen.
Good a thing your brother was at alert and knew exactly what to do at that moment, if not, kasala for don burst.
No be small thing o sis but I'm so glad nothing bad happened.
Thanks a lot.
Fire can be scary most times...
Thank God your brother was there for you ❤️🩹
I'm so glad as well.
Thank you for stopping by
You're welcome.
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My sister, same thing happened to me some years ago, then I was living with my aunt. I put water on the gas for my aunt that night to take her bath and I was so much engrossed in my phone that I lied on the bed. I couldn't wait just a few minutes for the water to boil so I could turn the gas off, I slept off oo. My aunt decided to ease herself around 2 am because she also slept off and thank God she woke up that night. The big kettle filled with water was dried off and smoke were already coming out. I blamed myself that day and was always careful. For a week, my aunt refused to let me near the gas because of that mistake thinking I would be careless again 🤣🤣
😂😂😂
I also refused to near the gas for a few days but thank God that episode is in the past. I don't joke with such anymore o.
Thank you for your support
You're welcome 😊