Slip

If I had known that all it takes to get a fast repair around here is to get injured, I would have started doing this a long, long time ago.

Going down the basement steps with a basket of laundry, I missed the last two stairs.  The irony here is that even after eighteen years in the house, I still count the steps as I go down - it's one of those quirky personality things (that sounds better than obsessive-compulsive, doesn't it?).  But I was thinking of something else, and my foot chose that moment to misjudge where I was.

The good news is that I didn't fall forward; my landlord has a seven foot tall ladder sitting at the bottom of the stairs, along with several upright metal posts and various other sharp edged, potentially lethal pieces of  other people's junk.  Had I fallen that way, the damage would have been much more serious.

As it was, when I felt myself slip I dropped the laundry basket, leaned backwards and grabbed for the (only on one side) railing.  Caught the railing, which wasn't firmly attached to begin with, which then dropped me on my side.

Once the initial pain fog lifted, I could tell nothing was broken, just very, very angry with me, and likely to turn purple and protest any movement for the next several days.  Since no one came running, I limped ahead and put the load of laundry in.  Honestly, it wasn't horrible until I started back up the stairs.

Ever practical, I figured I could hold off the poor-me tearfest until I at least called and let the landlord know the railing was no longer attached to the wall.  Busy signal.  Try five minutes later; busy signal.  Finally get through fifteen minutes later.  Landlord answered the phone and I explained what happened.  It only took until his third question for him to ask if I was hurt.  He was more concerned with telling me they had plans that evening, and wouldn't be around if I needed help.  Ay.

A couple hours later they left, and I decided I'd better go change over that load of laundry.  I open the door to the basement stairway - and he has already repaired the railing.

Gee, if I had known an injury would result in such quick action, I might have arranged a little bit of electrocution rather than waiting ten days for him to restore power to half my flat a couple of years ago.  Or, when the kitchen faucet went spastic and wouldn't turn off, I could have claimed to be drowning when I called him, rather than have him make me wait an hour and a half with the water running full force before he finally showed up.

Good thing I have some left over muscle relaxers; I should be able to sleep, though I'm not sure I'll be able to get out of bed in the morning.