“Teach a man to fish” or “Never give a sucker an even break”…

  A few years ago I was at home and I head a knock at the door. It was a young black man that was dressed shabby but he didn’t look homeless or anything. He asked if he could mow my yard. I said sure we agreed on a price and he asked if I had a mower he could use. We chatted a bit and he got to work.

  SO… I let him use my mower, he was noticeably disappointed when he saw it was a push mower. But he didn’t say anything and did the deed and I paid him.

  Next week he came back and we made the same deal. But this time he said he would trim the yard for a few extra bucks, and of course he ask to buyer my trimmer and an extension cord to plug it in.   When he was done we chatted a little bit and that was that.

  A few weeks later he was back for more of the same. And when he finished he asked if he could borrow my trimmer to use at a neighbors house. He said she offered him a few dollars to trim for her and I didn’t want him to miss out on the money so I said sure,  no problem.

  Never saw him again…

 

  A couple of days ago two little kids, maybe 10yo came knocking on the door and asked if they could shovel the side walk. It had snowed a lot the day before and I am lazy so of course I said yes. $10 was the negotiated price and they asked if they could use my shovel, sure why not. I asked them if they were planning to shovel more houses in the neighborhood, they said yes. SO… of course I told them they could use my shovel. I told them just to leave it in the yard when they were done with it. I gave them the $10 and let them at it.

  Well, first I noticed the sidewalk was not shoveled, then I noticed I no longer have a snow shovel.

  Needless to say, Julie was disappointed with the situation. I figure 3rd times the charm right?