Home Improvement

The house we rented was not screened and, being as large as it was, we had no intention of installing screens ourselves. Mosquitoes were not a regular problem because our flat was so high off the ground. Normally, the strong sea breezes kept insects away.

But when the wind dropped…

A friend explained that I must make mosquito nets. This was not something life in Grand Rapids, Michigan, had taught me to do. I listened to her instructions, decided that (awful as it sounded) I had no option, and set about the task.

First, Bucher was delegated to supply a barrel hoop for each of our three beds. I bought enough mosquito netting to drape a large stage for a fairytale production.

For each bed, I wrapped a hoop in torn strips of sheeting. I cut out a circle of sheeting slightly larger than the hoop and stitched the gathered netting around the edge of the circle, allowing enough material to envelope the bed. Last, by hand I awkwardly sewed the circle with its net to the sheeting wrapping the hoop. The hoop with its great folds of net was suspended from the ceiling on ropes strong enough to prevent its breaking loose some unexpected night and slicing the sleepers below into small pieces.

Bucher never got used to the net, but I loved lying inside its tent with a light on for reading. The bottom of the net was tucked firmly under the mattress all around, and I listened to the winged monsters buzz in helpless fury outside it. Mosquito nets added a special, warm dimension to tucking the children into bed at night.