The water tap was leaking (漏水) again, and the noise was driving Cassie crazy.
Cassie looked at her watch. It was nearly nine o'clock. She climbed out of bed and stood on a chair by the shelf. Her mother's Mr. Fix-It Book was on the top shelf. She found the page she was looking for and then began to read carefully.
Next, Cassie opened a box in the kitchen and picked out the tools she needed—a hammer, a wrench (扳手), and several small things. It was not easy for her to repair the tap, and she tried several times. Finally, the water tap was in pieces. One by one, she carefully laid them out on the table. That way she would know how they went back.
Cassie worked late into the night. At one point, she thought she was done. Oops! A small piece that she had forgotten still lay on the table. Slowly Cassie took the water tap apart (分开) one more time. This time she made sure everything was in place. She turned the water tap on and then off. One... two... three... She waited a full minute. There was no leak! Cassie smiled and put the tools back into the box. Then she went to bed and fell asleep.
The next morning, Dad was in the kitchen when Cassie got up.
"Notice anything, Dad?" she asked.
He looked around and listened. "Hmm, something's missing... I can't find out what it is... Wait, it's too quiet in here!"
"That's right," Cassie said. "Something is missing. I fixed the water tap. It doesn't leak any more."
"That's my girl," Dad said. "It'sagoodthingyouarereallylikeyourmother."
