Day 18: Utility worker who has come into your home

Charles has more tools than teeth.  Far more.  But what he lacks dentally, his fix-it knowledge and warmth make up for.  Anytime the AC, heat, pipes or whatever else stop doing their assigned jobs, we wait and watch for his white, late-model, slightly rusted Toyota truck to pull in front of our house. 

Charles always greets us with a “Hey now!” and giant grin.  Before he gets into the plumbing or electrical work, he recites the same jokes, the same compliments, and the same questions.  Did you hear that someone broke into our local police station and stole the toilet?!.... Right now, the police have nothing to go on!  That’s a good one, Charles.  How is that beautiful momma of yours doing?  You make sure she knows if she needs anything, I would be there in two minutes flat.  I will let her know for you, Charles.  Has Elliott graduated from college yet?  No, Charles.  But he did just graduate from kindergarten.  I like Charles’s jokes but mostly I like the enjoyment he seems to get from them, throwing his head back with a full belly laugh each time.  Each of his visits ends with his offering a kiss for such a pretty girl, as he pulls the small, foil-covered, chocolate candy from the pocket of his khaki work pants.

Charles is a dying breed.  While I have to admit I have pretended to be in the middle of an important phone call to avoid his routine, I eventually come to enjoy and respect it.  So many handymen, utility workers, and other people quietly slide in and then out of your house and life without a word, only asking the most relevant questions and sharing the most important information about their work and your home.

Charles reminds me of a time when neighbors knew each other, asked about your family members by name, invited the street over for cookouts and holiday parties.  Today, we are often too buys, wrapped up in ourselves, or only looking down at our smart phones.  We rarely venture to even discover our neighbor’s names.

So rather than seeing Charles as someone who is just in our house to fix inanimate objects, I try to return his smiles.  Listen to his jokes.  And even participate in his routine:  How is that beautiful wife of yours doing, Charles?

Anyone know a good plumber joke?

Day 13: Lobject’s Utility Worker

Now’s as good a time as any.

Please don’t ask to use the bathroom

or stare at the pile of dog hair on the floor

I don’t know how long it’s been broken.

I should have folded the laundry, at least

compressed it inside the dryer and put on a bra 

Can it be fixed?

Sure am glad I showered this morning

walking trash to the dumpster in the rain

When will you be back?

No need to call before coming.

I’ll be here.

Day 9: Dobject's Utilities Worker

-->I heard the bearded man’s voice

through my door

I crouched behind

when he drove his gigantic truck

with the sharp tools

and the long chains

and the hundreds of white metal safes

into my driveway

because he knew where I lived, and

after the dogs tried to bite him,

and after he bribed them to be quiet

with the food he brought

for protection,

I heard him from behind my door,

knocking knocking,

knocking, knocking,

knocking… pounding,

to come in

but why—he didn’t say

or where he came from

or who he was

or what he was going to do

or how he wanted to do it

and my

heart was

punching

my throat

with need

for air

when he shouted

where are my parents

and if they were home

and if I could open up for him,

but no one was at home.

Day 7: Pobject's Utility Worker Who Has Come Into* [My] Home: A Story in Six Sentences and One Picture (*the word "into" is used loosely here...)

It was raining this morning, when the guy from the city pulled up.

I got out Tybalt and went to meet him at the street.

"You need anything from me?" I asked, rain spattering on Tybalt's back.

"Nope, just need to get a reading."

"Cool."

In 30 seconds he had gone, and the water was in my name.