#11b. Old-fashioned Water Pumps: Metaphor alert!
by storytellerisabel
Those first few weeks–after the murder—if I were that pump, I would have been dry. Bone dry. No fresh, deep well water was coming from me. Same with Clyde, Sam, Mimi, and Pop I’d say, too.
We were Just. Plain. Sad.
Here’s a tiny surprise, though. We weren’t Just. Plain. Sad. Every. Single. Minute. It’s almost like we needed a break from Sad in order to keep going.
I read somewhere that you can eat a certain amount of dirt as long as you don’t eat too much all at once. Maybe it’s the same with grieving.
ISABEL
-sketch by my friend Ryan
I Am Isabel the Storyteller 
I know why the Captain Underpants series is so popular. Everyone snickers or chortles when anyone even says the word “underwear.” The “new underwear every day” incident was great. My body felt so much better after we all laughed.
Isabel
When I told Mimi later that I felt guilty about laughing so hard so soon after Mom and Dad got killed, she said, “Isabel, we can’t LIVE in Anger Alley ALL the time. It’s okay to laugh. Really.” Then she told me that being sad all the time lowers your immune system. Know what that means? It means you could get sicker easier. So then she showed me a yoga move that boosts your immune system. You lie on your back and stick your arms and legs in the air for about 3 minutes and breathe slowly with an empty mind. I think it’s called The Dead Bug. Mimi said she’s doing this a lot now. I learn something new about Mimi every day. I mean, I knew her before of course! But the twins and I had never spent 24/7 with her and Pop like we are now.
Isabel
Sounds like you know about little kids. Mimi and Pop are getting pretty good at it too. ‘Course they had Dad and did a good job with him, but, well, they’re pretty old to have a 13-year old and two almost 5 year olds, don’t you think? I hope we don’t wear them out.
Isabel
You won’t wear them out because love will give them the energy they need. Don’t worry, kiddo!
Wow. This helps me a ton, Ela. I never thought about the idea that their love for us is giving them energy. Way cool.
Isabel