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Most conversations at the jobsite goes nowhere. I have bruises on my forehead from pounding my head against the roof, so I should know ;-).
One of my workers, the one whose cell phone rings more than E.F. Hutton's, wants to get an I-Phone. He thinks he needs it. Why, I have no idea, since the man doesn't know how to use a computer. Or how to change the ringtone on his phone, for that matter. I told him he doesn't need it; he just wanted it. He challenged me, saying that I was going to get one anyway, so why couldn't he?
I'm very frank with my roofer-workers. I mean, you can't talk pretty with them, okay? My answer: "Because you fucking asked me to advance you rent money for this week, you dumbass."
"But you're going to get one," he reiterated.
I sighed. This is the classic example where I can't make myself understood no matter how I tried. It was the same when I used to have a house to rent. I remember the renter whose logic went like this:
Him: "I can't pay you rent this week."
Me: "I can't have you pay late again. This is the fourth time."
Him: "But you own the house."
Me: "What has that got to do with anything?"
Him: "But you own the house."
Me: "Yeah, and you owe me rent."
Him: "I can't pay you this week."
Me: "Can you pay me next week?"
Him: "But you own the house."
Thus ended my career as a landlady. When I sold the house last year, I had the greatest pleasure in telling this tenant that I NO longer own the house, so bye-bye. I may write, but I sure don't know how to communicate. Sigh.
So back to the worker with the NEED for the I-Phone. Here's the rest of the conversation:
Him: Well, I'm getting one.
Me: What are you going to use it for?
Him: To make calls.
Me: You can do that with the cell phone you have now.
Him: But I need this new one. It has stuff.
Me: But do you use them?
Him: Not really.
Me: Okay, so then you don't need this new I-Phone, right?
Him: But I want one.
Me: Okay, we've established that. You want one. How much does it cost?
Him: About $600.
Me: Actually about $1000, once you activate the phone plan and change your service.
Him: Oh. Can I borrow $400 then?
And this man is a 44 year old father of two. I have no doubt that he's going to get the I-Phone somehow some way. And will probably be whining that he can't afford the rent next month.
I can so see the conversation now:
Me: "You had money to pay for the I-Phone the other week, so why should I lend you rent money?"
Him: "But you own your house."
;-P
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