“ Hey man…really need a job with hours. Can’t even afford to get a flat fixed let alone register the thing.” And that was obviously true as I stood there looking at the tiny treadless donut wheel the guy was sporting on the front passenger side .
“ I can start ya Thursday morning 7 o’clock….how’s that sound ? ”
“ hhmmm….can ya make it next Monday ? “ And so Tony started the following Monday with the request that he might leave early on Tuesday to register the donut wheeled junker…..
Mike, a new transplant to Florida from Michigan came in response to a four day old add in the local paper….
“ Man , I know I’m late responding but I don’t suppose you still have an opening for a block layer ?” he seemed so apologetic ….
“ Course I do…you’re the first to respond . “ and he then wanted to rush to the car to retrieve for me a copy of his resume……
“ Mike…can ya make it through the day with out a beer ? “
“ Sure“….
“ Good, ya got the job “ “But what about the resume ? “ and he seemed perplexed that I had to repeat the previous question and on the strength of his answer hired him on the spot and without perusing his resume.
Then there is the likes of this….. The office calls to say
“ Rich…got a new laborer for you, he’ll be starting Tuesday and his name is Josh” and I’m thinking arms, legs and speaks English sounds good.
On Thursday…not Tuesday…35 minutes after starting time a “lump” with a 45 degree hat and hands in the pockets of his pants that lumped up around his ankles shuffled up on my concrete slab and I asked…
“ Who are you ?”
“ Like…..I’m working here Man”
“ Since when ?”
“ Starting today Man.”
“ You the guy that was supposed to start Tuesday ? “…I needed to know
“ You know what its like man….” he said with the shoulder shrug
“ I do and I’ve hired two guys since Tuesday…you can hit the road.”
“ Total fucken buzz kill Man…like my ride just dropped me off, how am I gonna get back to North Port ? “ and the answer was of course concise.
“ If ya had started on Tuesday…ya woulda had enough money for a fucken cab”
Being the last to leave that day I found a youth in a Honda with the seat reclined and studded jewelry all over his face next to my truck.
“ Hey Dude Man” he said…”Like, where’s Josh ?” and so I politely informed him that
“ Josh will be out in ten minutes, hang tight.”
ago just somehow sticks in my craw….
