I Give Life

I am hurt. I am abused and for me, it is injustice. I do believe I deserve care. Why are you doing this to me?

I stand here in this corner quietly all through the day. You need me that is for sure. But you step on me, kick me and spit on me. Like as if it is my fault when thee is drought in my system. You even sometimes shout at me or scold me though you know I could not answer you and as if could not answer you and as if you could hear you in the first place, just for the freedom of expression. Is this what I get for being a drinking fountain?

Here comes this spiky haired, pale guy wearing dark glasses. For goodness’ sake, it’s cloudy outside. I suspect he’s been into running from the ground floor because he is catching his breath. The second bell is going to ring soon. He reaches for the pedal but unfortunately my bubbler head has not spit water these past few days. My fellows form the other floors may have water but they might as well get hit for letting out “hot water: because the refrigeration system is malfunctioning.

Sometimes my water running without even having to step on the pedal but when drinkers do, I could let my water out in the same projectile fashion as before.

Ouch! I get a kick again, I just wish my internal parts are still in tact. Since this morning, this has been probably the 20^th kick I got. Am I the one to be blamed if my maintenance and repair are not given attention yet? Well, my manufacturer do check my condition here upon the request of the Campus Planning and Site Development Office or when I needed to be fixed. The problem is, that does not happen very often. Tsk tsk tsk….. Doesn’t this spike guy realize that he’s adding insult to the injury? If he does this regularly, sooner or later I might break down eternally and give up. Or is that what he wants? To get rid of me and new models of drinking fountains might come. Is he not anymore satisfied of me? Don’t I quench his thirst anymore?

Now, a tall gentleman wearing a huge silver earring approaches me and before he bends to turn me on, he sticks gum on the surface of my tarnished sink. I could not get the logic of doing that! It would only drive other drinkers away and give the impression that everyone and everything in this school is dirty. Does he like that? There are many trash cans standing on different parts of the campus and I certainly do not like one. Or is it hard for him to determine where to throw the gum, in the red or yellow garbage container?

And please, I give drinking water, it is definitely not proper to spit sticky, green phlegm on me. “Yaaak!!! The ladies would shout when they get near me. Do you like it when you see the slimy thing while you open your mouth drinking? Comfort room sinks or toilet bowls won’t be clogged if you do the spitting there, just be sure to flush it away because it’s really gross!

Such a nag if I know how to talk, ei? I hope I do not sound like your mothers. It is just that I am still here after 48 year(not literally) and I can still be of use though I have depreciated and have become rusty. If given a chance I would still be an efficient drinking fountain anymore, it would depend on how you treat me here. Please do not neglect me. And if that times comes that my role ends, I shall give way to the new generation. After all, I am just rented.