fix it now

every time we
have a hard rain
the water
rushes down
the sides
where both roofs
converge
and then overflows
into that small
stretch
of gutter, there.
and what
doesn't
go down
the spout finds
it's way into
the house,
saturating
the ceiling until
it finds a low
spot to drip
out.
how much, she says,
taking
out her check book
to make this
right.
i'm willing to pay
almost anything
to get my life
back to normal and
not have the ceiling
come crashing down.
five thousand
dollars,
the contractor
says. it will take
at least a week
or two, depending
on the weather.
and I can't guarantee
that it won't
happen again. plus
i'm about six weeks
booked up. this makes
the woman pull
out a gun
and says fix it now.
get your ladder
off the truck
and go to work.
the first shot is just
a warning.