Stanley Harrison, a middle-aged man who had recently become a self-employed contractor, received an early morning call from Ms. Robertson, a retired school teacher known to all her previous students for her dedication and love for literature.
She rang him up for a simple yet diligent task of sanding down and varnishing her precious wooden bookcase that was her study room. Ms. Robertson, although now retired, lived her old love for teaching through the treasured collection of books stored in the very bookcase that needed restoration.
Yes, Ma'am, Stanley replied to her inquiry about the task in a professional tone, slightly stirred by the grogginess of sleep, Ms. Robertson, you want to hire me to sand down and varnish your wooden bookcase in your study room. Ok I’ll be around 9 o’clock this morning. Ok thanks see you then Ms. Robertson says.
Stanley and his helper arrived at Ms. Robertson at 8:45 a.m. and went straight to work. 3 hours later Stanley and his helper are finished working.
Stanley: Ok Ms. Robertson I have your bill for sanding down your wooden bookcase and varnishing it. It’ll cost you $600.
$600? She reacted, with an intonation mixed with surprise and some bitterness, For $600, it better be for all the bookcases in my house including the short plastic ones! You gonna mess around and give me a heart attack with such steep prices!
Despite the complaint in her voice, there was a playful note too, revealing her fondness for humor. The corners of Stan's lips turned into a small smile, amused at the banter, but keeping the tone firm. After all, his experience and professionalism called for appropriate compensation.
Well, Ms. Robertson, you might want to pay me my money before you have a heart attack then, Stan said, following along with the joke but maintaining his request for fair pay.
Stanley and his helper left Ms. Robertson house with $300. Later that evening Stanley returned to Ms. Robertson house and broke into her outside storage and took her radio, MacBook Air laptop, 42 inch smart television, and a self push lawnmower to compensate the other half of money she owes him.
When Ms. Robertson arrives home the next day she notices that her outside storage room door was open.
Ms. Robertson: Oh no. I can’t believe this.
She dials 911.
911: This is 911 emergency how can I help you?
Ms. Robertson: Yes I to report a break in at my house can you please send someone out.
911: yes ma’am there in route to your house.
When the police arrived Ms. Robertson was standing at the end of her driveway pointing towards her storage room.
Police: Yes ma’am we received a call saying it was burglary at this address can you show us where it happened?
Ms. Robertson: Right this way someone broke into my storage room and stole my daughter’s MacBook Air laptop, radio, 42 inch television for her apartment and my dead husband self push lawnmower. Why would they do something like this?
Police: That’s why we hear to see who did this. Do you have any one that you know of that would want to harm you? or any strange occurrence that might happen?
Ms. Robertson: Yesterday I had someone to come over and do some work for me. His name is Stanley Harrison I had to sand down and varnish my wooden bookcase and his price was just a little much for me. So I paid him half of the money.
Police: If you mind me asking how much was he charging you Ms. Robertson?
Ms. Robertson: $600
Police: Yeah I know what you mean that amount is a little bit overboard. Ok we will check with Stanley Harrison and see his whereabouts and what else he has to provide to this investigation. Ok Ms. Robertson thank you for calling us and we be letting you know status after we talk to Mr. Harrison. Ok have a good day Ms. Robertson.
Ms. Robertson: Thank you so much have a good day and be safe.
The police left Ms. Robertson house and headed back to headquarters to get the information on Stanley Harrison.