A Shocking Story

15 A Shocking Story Let me tell you something very important: Never have water near you when you have something electric nearby! Last year, my family had a close call that nearly changed our lives forever. My brother Tom had just received a new train set. We decided to build a little “ world" for it with mountains, valleys, streetlights and even a lake. We found a large board that was big enough to hold the train. Then we started to build. We spent over a week building the landscape out of paper maché and cardboard. We wanted to have a lake for our landscape, but it would take a long time to make one. We'd have to use cement, and that would take another day. Instead, we decided to use a box and put a garbage bag in it and fill it with water. We cut a hole in the board, and we placed the box underneath. Now we had our lake! We even put a boat in it.

Later that day, we showed everyone our new train set with all the buildings, mountains, and tunnels. It was very realistic. Now, it was time to turn it on. I flipped the switch and the train began to move. Everyone was clapping. I turned to look at Tom and he looked strange. He was shaking. He was not smiling. “ Tom! " I yelled. He didn't move. He was standing really still, looking straight ahead. Suddenly, my dad realized what was happening. He reached frantically for the switch and turned off the train. The water had leaked from the bag under the board and soaked the rug where Tom was standing. One of our wires for the little street lights had fallen under the table and was touching that water. We called an ambulance. And luckily Tom was fine. He told us that when the electricity was on he could not move a muscle! We learned a lesson that day. Never mix electricity and water! It's a deadly combination.