Builder’s Diary – Part 4
May 12, 1995 – 12:56
Phone rings. Who the hell calls at this hour? I'm supposed to be "rushing" to a job.
Well… kinda. Not like I promised to finish it today anyway.
Fine, I pick up. Some young guy. I'm already thinking - hang up, must be another damn telemarketer - but then he says he’s calling about work. And get this: he’s Helenka’s nephew.
Helenka!? Wait… THE Helenka? The one who ran off to America years ago?
Oh man... what if she comes with him?
Uhhhh, I wouldn’t mind doing a little “remodeling” with her again.
Ahem. Brings back memories – now that was a woman. Flexible in all the best ways.
So I tell the kid to come over. No point wasting time!
May 12, 1995 – 13:45
I’m sitting in the client’s armchair, waiting for the kid. Got bored. So I had a sip. Then another... Then a few more… until the bottle said we were done.
I close my eyes just for a second, and suddenly some guy’s shaking me awake. Says his name’s Maciek. Says he called earlier about the job.
Damn. No Helenka. What the hell am I supposed to do with just him?
Thought he’d just get in the way, mess things up… But then again, I’m not exactly Mr. Precision myself - and this armchair? Damn comfortable.
Ah, screw it. I give him a shot.
Hand him a brush and say, “Go paint”. And what does he do? He starts painting. No questions. No contract. For free. Can you believe it?
I doze off again, open my eyes - and of course - paint all over the floor. Typical.
But whatever - I toss him a rag and tell him to clean it up. After that, we’ll call it even. Heh.
May 12, 1995 – 14:13
He starts scrubbing like a madman. I had to stop him before he scrubbed the floor down to the basement.
But hey - the kid’s got energy. Might come in handy. Every proper builder needs a sidekick, right?
I sent him out to the car to grab something important. Can't work without it.
He said he’d be right back, so I figured I’d sit here and write this down.
You know what, diary? Maciek’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he listens. You tell him - he does it. Doesn’t ask why. That’s rare these days.
If he handles this highly technical mission, maybe I’ll show him how to do some wiring today.
Yeah! Let him see how a real pro gets it done.
Then later - as part of his “training” - he’ll finish the rest while I go back to my well-earned break.
Honestly, diary...
If this kid’s got even half a brain, I could be looking at a pretty sweet setup. He works, I supervise.
What could possibly go wrong?
