Los Angeles, CA 2027
Once upon a time in the bustling city of Los Angeles, a bright-eyed intern named Jill worked at the Department of Water and Power. Jill was known for two things: her love for iced caramel lattes and her uncanny ability to solve complex equations on the back of paper napkins.
One unusually rainy day, Jill was on her way to work when she noticed the subway system was flooding. The El Niño storm had hit LA, and the city was as prepared for it as a cat is for a swim.
“Aw, H2Oh-no!” she exclaimed, pulling out a damp napkin from her coffee and starting to scribble some quick calculations. She realized that the city’s beloved subway system, usually as dry as a stand-up comedian, was about to become an underwater attraction.
Without a second thought, Jill sprinted towards the department, her shoes splashing in the growing puddles. Meanwhile, a horde of pigeons in the city square held a synchronized swimming competition, and the squirrels started building an ark.
Arriving at the department, Jill hastily explained her plan to her bewildered supervisor, Frank. Frank, a man whose idea of emergency management was organizing a pizza party during power blackouts, reluctantly gave Jill the green light.
With a quick nod, Jill set to work. Using the city’s blueprints and a pencil behind her ear, she formulated a plan to divert the El Niño deluge into the LA River. It was like a massive citywide plumbing job – a municipal Mario moment!
However, there was a catch. The plan required manually switching the city’s water valves in the correct sequence, and there was no time to explain it to anyone else.
So, clutching her detailed napkin map, Jill embarked on a dash across the city, splashing through the streets and alleyways. She dived into municipal water facilities, clambered over fences, and sprinted up and down stairs. In every location, she reached the right valve and turned it with all her might, like a contestant on a peculiar, urban edition of ‘Survivor’.
After what felt like an eternity, Jill reached the final valve located near the LA River. She was drenched, her clothes sticking to her like she was in a wet t-shirt contest nobody had signed up for. With a deep breath, she turned the last valve.
Slowly but surely, the floodwaters began to recede from the subway system, channeled expertly towards the LA River. The city let out a collective sigh of relief, while the squirrels begrudgingly dismantled their ark.
For her quick-thinking and heroism, Jill was given a standing ovation at the Department of Water and Power. Frank, who’d followed her soggy adventure on the city’s CCTV, declared it the most excitement he’d had since the great donut shortage of ’22.
And so, our heroic intern saved the day, proving that even in the face of an El Niño deluge, the real power lies in a brave heart, a sharp mind, and the magical ability to see solutions on a coffee-soaked napkin.
