A Favor
By: Paul Daak
Copyright 2011 Paul Daak
Smashwords Edition
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Ring --- Ring --- Ring
S: Hullo?
N: Hey Sven, it's Norm.
S: Oh, hey Norm. How ya doin'?
N: Oh, real good. Kind o' tired though.
S: Oh ya?
N: Ya. Our flight back from Cancun was delayed so we got home late last night.
S: That happens sometimes. Hey I hear ya got yourself a raise.
N: Ya. All of us over at City Hall just got a pay increase. We was over due for it.
S: Well good for you.
N: So how's it goin' with ya?
S: Oh pretty good I guess, under the circumstances.
N: Ya. I heard you sold your snowmobile.
S: Ya I did, finally. I only got half what it's worth don't ya know.
N: Geeze! Too bad ya couldn't get more. It sure was a beauty, for bein' a '95 model.
S: Ya. It ran real good. I took real good care of it. Still got the trailer though.
N: Ya?
S: Ya. The buyer had one o' his own, so he didn't want mine.
N: Still got your pickup?
S: You betcha. It needs an overhaul though. Got over two hundred thousand on it now.
N: Wow. That's a lotta miles.
S: Ya. It's been a real reliable workhorse.
N: Ya. Them Chevy's are good pickups.
S: Lena's usin' it to go to work now since her car broke down. At least she's still got a job.
N: Any luck on your job search?
S: Nah. Nothin' yet. I guess I'm just too old for most jobs these days.
N: Don't say that Sven. You got lots o' good years ahead. An' you're a hard worker.
S: Tell that to them employers.
N: Well I'd hire you if I was them. Ya gotta lotta skills.
S: Maybe I'm too good. I'd do better than those younger bosses out there.
N: Ya sure. Ya prob'ly would.
S: So Norm, what's up?
N: Huh?
S: Did ya just call to chat or was there something' on your mind?
N: Oh yeah. Say, you still got all your tools?
S: Ya. I own 'um. It was a job requirement. Why?
N: Well, me and Becky were thinkin' 'bout convertin' one section of our four-car garage into a rec room.
S: Rec room?
N: Ya. We were wonderin' if ya wouldn't mind lendin' us a hand. You're a real expert with that sort of thing 'cause geeze, you been doin' it so many years.
S: Well I um…
N: Ya. We wanna put a pool table in there and maybe even a bar with a beer tap.
S: Wow. That sounds pretty cool Norm but I...
N: We just thought that seein' as how you're not working right now you'd have plenty of time to help out.
S: Well I…
N: We sorta figured with your help we could get 'er done in about a week or two.
S: Well um… I'd like to but ya see…
N: Heck, we'll even take care of your lunch every day you're here too.
S: You're like a son to me Norm, an' a good nephew to boot.
N: Nice of you to say that Sven.
S: An' ya know I'd help ya out if I could, but I can't right now.
N: Ya can't?
S: Well, no. Not right now.
N: Why not? Ya got somethin' else goin' on?
S: No. Nothin' special. Just looking for work.
N: Are ya spendin' all your time fillin' out applications and goin' to interviews?
S: Well, no. Not really.
N: So you can spend some quality time with me and Becky and help us out with the rec room project, right?
S: Well…I suppose I could if you was to pay me for my time.
N: Pay you? I thought that you could just lend us a hand and we'd get 'er done in short order.
S: Well, I really need the money right now. I got bills to pay an' I'm two months behind on rent.
N: Oh ya?
S: Ya, an' Lena's only workin' twenty hours a week at minimum wage.
N: Ya sure Sven. I understand. Okay. How 'bout I pay you?
S: Okay. How much ya think?
N: Say…maybe twenty dollars a day to help us out.
S: Hmm, thanks for the offer but that won't do.
N: Won't do? Well how much ya gotta have?
S: Well, I suppose I could do it for, say…two hundred a day.
N: Two hundred dollars? A day? Are you nuts?
S: Well ya see Norm I got bills to pay.
N: Yeah I know. Ya told me that.
S: And my last job paid me that much with benefits and all. I figure that's what my time and skills are worth now too.
N: Oh, no way! I can't pay that. That's just not gonna...
S: Sorry Norm, but that's my price.
N: Sven, you're my uncle. Aren't relatives suppose to help out relatives for nuthin'?
S: Ya, sure. But I need the money. And if I spend all my time helpin' you I might miss out on a good job opportunity. Jobs are hard to find these days, ya know.
N: Ya I know. Okay, fine. I get it. We'll do it without ya.
S: Sorry Norm. I just really need the money. No hard feelin's?
N: Sure thing. That's Okay. I understand.
S: Well, Okay then.
N: Um…can I borrow your snowmobile trailer?
S: What for?
N: We need to haul the lumber an' stuff for the project.
S: Well…I suppose I could rent it to ya.
N: Rent it?
S: You betcha.
N: You own that thing outright an' ya don't even have a snowmobile anymore.
S: Yep, that's true. But I need the money an' it cost me plenty to buy the darn thing.
N: Really? Rent it?
S: Ya. And it cost's me money to maintain it an' to pay the license fee on it too.
N: Are you serious?
S: Yep. Sure am. Unless ya want to buy it from me.
N: Buy it?
S: Ya, sure. I don't need it anymore. Then you don't hafta worry about returnin' it by a certain time neither.
N: And what would I do with it after we finish the rec room? I don't own a snowmobile.
S: Maybe you could…
N: I don’t have a place to store it. My boat and motorhome already take up all the extra space in my driveway. No. I don't want to buy it.
S: Well then you can rent it from me.
N: Geeze Sven. You're kinda bein' a jerk about this.
S: Whatever you say Norm. I just really need the money.
N: Bye Sven. I'll see ya later.
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