The plumber arrived early this morning to fix the sink. One of the main pipes is clogged and the water kept rising waist deep on the user. He then takes out a bundle of floss lines and so it is now apparent that this latest mishap is my fault. So I get to pay the plumber’s fee.

MAID: “ Sir how much should we pay him? “

FLIM: “ I don’t know…how much is the usual? “

MAID2: “ Maybe 100 is enough.”

FLIM: “ 100 is good.”

MAID1: “ But he did a lot of work.”

FLIM: “ Well how do you define a lot of work? “

MAID1: “ What’s define? “

FLIM: “ ……..How did you know he did a lot of work?”

MAID1: “ He was smoking a lot of cigarettes.”

FLIM: “ THAT’S NOT WORK!”

MAID1: “ He was there for a long time working.”

FLIM: >“ YEAH SMOKING! “

MAID1:” But he did a lot of work.”

FLIM: “ How would you know? You’re not a plumber? If you were a plumber then..You’d know if it was a lot of work. AND if YOU WERE A PLUMBER then we wouldn’t need him.”

Maid 1 looks at the wad of money on the table.

FLIM: “ Didn’t you ask him, how much is his fee? “

MAID1: “ Yes sir I did. He said that it’s up to you.”

FLIM: “ THAT’S JUST GREAT! LAY THE GUILT TRIP ON ME! WHY CAN’T THEY JUST COME UP WITH A FLAT FEE!”?

MAID 2: “ Give him 150.”

FLIM: “ That’s a little too high.”

MAID1:” I think sir it’s just right.”

FLIM: “ We’ll find out now, wont we.”

She goes over to the plumber who’s currently smoking his bad smelling ciggies outside the garden. He gets the money.

PLUMBER: “ THANK YOU SIR! THANK YOU! “

He then leaves.

FLIM: “ You paid him a lot! Should have stuck to the 100.”

MAID 1: “ How can you tell sir? “

FLIM: “ He said “ Thank you” two times! That’s a lot! He’s happy! If we paid him just about right he would have just taken the money and left without a word or a backward glance. Now if we paid him a little he would have thrown down the bad smelling ciggie and demanded that it’s not enough.”

MAID1 and 2 nods as it sink into them. I hate dealing with domestic stuff.