Drain - Clogged Outside

“Must’ve been a trick of the light, ma’am,” he said, wiping his hands.

The outside drain sat at the bottom of the back steps, a square iron grille choked with a slick, black ooze. A shallow lake had formed, lapping at the foundation bricks. “Just leaves,” she muttered, grabbing a trowel. clogged outside drain

She never told anyone what she saw next. She simply replaced the grille, walked inside, and called a plumber. When he arrived, he found the drain perfectly clean. No roots. No fur. No button. “Must’ve been a trick of the light, ma’am,”

And the next morning, the outside drain was clogged again. “Just leaves,” she muttered, grabbing a trowel

The water level dropped with a sudden, hungry glug-glug-glug . The drain had cleared.

Her grandmother’s button. From the coat she’d buried her in, twelve years ago.