The Missing Iron Grille

To contact or meet Edwin is extremely impossible. He is quite busy meeting clients, I was told. When Mike phoned up to fix an appointment, I was of course delighted.

The moment I approached the house I noticed the iron grille covering the manhole outside the house has gone missing. Obviously, some one has stolen it. A metal collector carting it away? A neighbour, perhaps, ‘borrowing’ to replace their missing grille? Whoever they are, they did not have the forethought that their selfish act might cause severe or fatal injuries to anyone who unsuspectingly might fall into the drain below.

It was passed midnight when Mike returned from Kota Kinabalu. It was pitch dark. As he got down from his taxi he had pushed his trolley bag ahead of him. It fell into the manhole. Had he walked the short distance towards the gate, pulling his bag behind him, he would have fallen into the drain instead. The drain has a depth of approximately 6 ft.

It gave me goose flesh to think what injuries he would have sustained if he had fallen into the manhole. Will I be responsible for the accident? Will I be liable for the medical fees?

My welder could only find time to replace a new grille the following week as he had a heavy schedule to cover. He wanted me to take measurements before he could weld a replacement. All the manholes in the neighbourhood are sized the same. So I borrowed the opposite neigbour’s to save him from making two trips.

I was worried for the delivery guys, mail man, the water & electricity meter readers. What if they come visiting? A temporary cover is required to prevent another fall. Sawing planks, nailing them together is no easy task for me.

Including a set of extra padlock ears for the front door grille, Mr Yap charged me RM450.00. I tipped him another RM20.00 for the rear grille which is a last minute request. For that I had to repeatly shower him praises for his nice handywork and his willingness to come all the way from Kepong. He was happy, Mike was safe and my purse was thinner. I could use it to watch Sam Hui’s concert at Genting Highlands!

If I ever find the thief I want to weld him to my front gate. Wishful thinking. The neighbours couldn’t careless to reveal him.