Sarah was preparing dinner while her friend Emma called for a video chat. She filled a large pot with water and put it on the stove, then forgot about it while talking. A few minutes later, she noticed white foam rising from the pot. "Oh no!" she shouted. The water was boiling over, and starchy liquid was pouring onto the cooktop and dripping onto the floor.
Sarah quickly turned down the heat and grabbed a dish towel. She wiped the stovetop, but the mess had already spread. Pasta water had reached the edge of the counter, and a puddle was forming on the kitchen tiles. "What happened?" Emma asked through the phone. "I forgot to add the pasta before the water got too hot," Sarah explained, still cleaning frantically.
After ten minutes of mopping and wiping, the kitchen was finally clean again. Sarah decided to start over with a smaller pot and set a timer this time. She had learned her lesson: never cook while distracted. Emma laughed and said, "At least it was just water!"