My New Hero
Let me tell you about my new hero. His name is Billy, and he is an appliance repairman.
You see, Sharon and I have this big tub of screws that we have kept ever since we built and subsequently moved into this house. We have all kinds of little nails and screws in that tub, and we are just sure to have one in stock for every occasion.
The problem came when that tub happened to be sitting on top of the dryer. And then, poor Kris comes along with arms loaded down with some bedding to wash. And the tub of screws and nails was swept right into the washer….UNBEKNOWNST to my poor unsuspecting Self.
And I was not aware of the goings on in the midst of the sheets until that load reached its Spin Cycle. And such a screeching ensued that I knew without a doubt that there was a Problem. And so I interrupted the cycle, mid-spin, and what should I observe, but a washer filled with not only screws and nails, but also the remains of what had once been a Small Cardboard Box. And I immediately declared that I did not know how that circumstance could have happened without my having been made Aware. Ignorance did not, however, make those screws and nails and cardboard shreds any less There. And so, I peeled the bedding away from the sides of the dryer, shook the cardboard remnants onto the floor, and sent them immediately into the Dry Cycle next door. The vacuum cleaner was put into action, and I swept up whatever cardboard shreds I could get to.
The screws and nails were next. Thank goodness for a handy-dandy magnetic wand. And I retrieved screws and nails for the next good little While. And when I had retrieved all of them, I tentatively set the cycle back into motion. And then I knew that I had not, in fact, gotten them all. And I wished them away, and I prayed them away. And still, they were There.
I knew a Confession was in order, and so I called my younger sister, with Whom I reside, and I confessed to having had a minor Mishap which had quite possibly resulted in the ruination of an otherwise functional washing machine. And I could tell by the Tone that she wasn’t as understanding as I would have hoped her to be. This was confirmed when she insisted that I would have to be the one to call the Repairman. And I didn’t argue. Not even a little.
Enter Billy—my new hero Billy. Billy knows his stuff. He was such a kindly and understanding gentleman, that I liked him instantly. And he took that machine apart so quickly and easily. And he did not mock me when he found a long-lost comb in the midst thereof. And he did not scold me for washing our household supply of screws and nails. He merely minded his own business and did his job. And he did such a good job with fixing my washing machine that when he left, I asked him if he fixed icemakers too. And he said yes. And I asked him to please look at my icemaker. And five minutes later, the icemaker was fixed also! At no extra charge!
And the whole mess cost me a little over $80. And when I reported to my sister, I made her guess at the cost. And she bravely guessed $250. And she was pleasantly Surprised—as was I.
Unfortunately, that was not the last Billy saw of that washing machine. For with the very next load of wash, more screws made their way down into the pump, and we had the same problem as before. Billy had predicted that this might happen, but I was still loathe to call him back. But I called again anyway. And on Monday, Billy came back with no grumbling--while I was in school. And when I came home, there was another bowl with quite a few more screws sitting on the dryer. But now, the washer is Fixed!
I like people like Billy.
You see, Sharon and I have this big tub of screws that we have kept ever since we built and subsequently moved into this house. We have all kinds of little nails and screws in that tub, and we are just sure to have one in stock for every occasion.
The problem came when that tub happened to be sitting on top of the dryer. And then, poor Kris comes along with arms loaded down with some bedding to wash. And the tub of screws and nails was swept right into the washer….UNBEKNOWNST to my poor unsuspecting Self.
And I was not aware of the goings on in the midst of the sheets until that load reached its Spin Cycle. And such a screeching ensued that I knew without a doubt that there was a Problem. And so I interrupted the cycle, mid-spin, and what should I observe, but a washer filled with not only screws and nails, but also the remains of what had once been a Small Cardboard Box. And I immediately declared that I did not know how that circumstance could have happened without my having been made Aware. Ignorance did not, however, make those screws and nails and cardboard shreds any less There. And so, I peeled the bedding away from the sides of the dryer, shook the cardboard remnants onto the floor, and sent them immediately into the Dry Cycle next door. The vacuum cleaner was put into action, and I swept up whatever cardboard shreds I could get to.
The screws and nails were next. Thank goodness for a handy-dandy magnetic wand. And I retrieved screws and nails for the next good little While. And when I had retrieved all of them, I tentatively set the cycle back into motion. And then I knew that I had not, in fact, gotten them all. And I wished them away, and I prayed them away. And still, they were There.
I knew a Confession was in order, and so I called my younger sister, with Whom I reside, and I confessed to having had a minor Mishap which had quite possibly resulted in the ruination of an otherwise functional washing machine. And I could tell by the Tone that she wasn’t as understanding as I would have hoped her to be. This was confirmed when she insisted that I would have to be the one to call the Repairman. And I didn’t argue. Not even a little.
Enter Billy—my new hero Billy. Billy knows his stuff. He was such a kindly and understanding gentleman, that I liked him instantly. And he took that machine apart so quickly and easily. And he did not mock me when he found a long-lost comb in the midst thereof. And he did not scold me for washing our household supply of screws and nails. He merely minded his own business and did his job. And he did such a good job with fixing my washing machine that when he left, I asked him if he fixed icemakers too. And he said yes. And I asked him to please look at my icemaker. And five minutes later, the icemaker was fixed also! At no extra charge!
And the whole mess cost me a little over $80. And when I reported to my sister, I made her guess at the cost. And she bravely guessed $250. And she was pleasantly Surprised—as was I.
Unfortunately, that was not the last Billy saw of that washing machine. For with the very next load of wash, more screws made their way down into the pump, and we had the same problem as before. Billy had predicted that this might happen, but I was still loathe to call him back. But I called again anyway. And on Monday, Billy came back with no grumbling--while I was in school. And when I came home, there was another bowl with quite a few more screws sitting on the dryer. But now, the washer is Fixed!
I like people like Billy.
posted by Kris at 10/29/2006 11:11:00 PM
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