Hick continues to be on-call for his newest job. I was trying to get his supper ready on Thursday night when his phone rang. The call went on and on. Of course I wanted supper to be Hick's focus, rather than an afterthought or an activity he could do while talking. This one would have been difficult. He was having a homemade McRib with sliced onion and pickle, with a side of thawed-out warmed-up roasted vegetables. That McRib was going to need two hands.
Hick wandered around the kitchen, letting forcing me to hear one side of the conversation. I hate that! It seemed like the call would never end. Hick finally saw me putting his rib on a plate, and wrapped up the conversation.
"That lady wanted to rent an apartment. I told her they were all full. I told her sometimes people move out. That one guy has been saying he's going to for months. And that I DO have one that I'm trying to fix up to get ready to rent, but it will take a while.
She said her dad is living in the city. He's lived in this place 36 years, and now it's being sold. Her and her husband want to get him down here, closer to them. He has too much money to get into any places that give assistance. He just needs a place to live. I told her I don't have any way of knowing when I might have an apartment. To text me her details, and I will put her on the waiting list with other people who have called me.
She said her husband is a retired carpenter, and he would be glad to help me get this other apartment ready. I said I can't do that. Because of insurance and stuff. I wish everybody I dealt with was like her!"
Heh, heh! Not me! She might be nice, but it's people like this who can take up a LOT OF TIME, just talking to them! Hick started off by telling her he didn't have any apartments available. Could she just ask if there was a waiting list, and move on? NO! Hick had to hear her entire life story, for something that was out of his control, and would have no influence on getting her an apartment.
Not being mean. It's just that Hick's less-than-$300-a-month job sure takes up a lot of time.
The less than $300 might just cover Hicks gas to drive to and from this place, lol!! Otherwise I cannot see anyone moving out of low income housing anytime soon unless they meet their maker! (Amen)
ReplyDeleteAt least Hick is already in town for other reasons (like Bargain House, or LUNCH), most of the time when he goes to the apartments. The rent is a good price, so yeah, people really want to get in. And nobody is dying to get out, heh, heh.
DeleteShe needed to vent. Besides, sometimes explaining can lead to another option. Maybe they can take him in until something turns up for him. It is too bad her husband cannot somehow be authorized to be covered by insurance.
ReplyDeleteThere are people who make a career of listening to people vent, and they earn more than less-than-$300-a-month! It's not Hick's job to listen to venters, nor find strangers alternative places to live.
DeleteThat said, she seemed like a nice enough lady, and Hick likes to help people. Let the record show that I am STILL waiting for my car to get an oil change, which was requested of Hick more than three months ago, when the warning message came on. So I am just a little crankier than usual when other things take up Hick's time.
The city owns the apartments, and they're not about to open themselves up to the possibility of a lawsuit by allowing random people to work in them.
Why do people feel the need to call around supper time? Is it because they know people are generally home by then? Here, we get people calling around that time wanting us to change electricity providers or to ask if we want solar panels on our roofs. I don't even answer anymore if it is a number that I don't recognise.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that Hick likes helping but suppertime calls should be kept short so food doesn't get cold.
I think that's exactly why they call at supper time. I am begrudgeful enough about making Hick's food at his convenience, during my prime scratching time. So when he takes a phone call over eating the food I timed to be warm for him, it makes me even more resentful.
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