Takeover
Today, I helped Robby and Matthew install a stockade fence in Weston at Polly’s house. I never would have taken the job without them; I’m so far beyond digging in New England soil, and this fence needed eight holes, each better than a foot and half deep. The first hole, Matthew’s introduction to what the glacier left behind, took an hour to dig.
With Matt grumbling, and temps in the nineties, I decided an incentive was needed. I offered ten dollars an hour, but only if the job was finished today. I remembered it took Bill and me almost a day to install half the number of sections at Henry’s. I also knew Polly had already bought spruce instead of cedar, and wouldn’t want to pay us for another partial day.
That prompted Matthew to ask, “So dad, if you can pay us that much, how much are you making for this job?” I half lied, “I don’t know yet, I haven’t billed Polly.”
I drove to Home Depot to hide from the heat and to buy concrete to fill our holes and when I returned, the boys were digging furiously. Four holes complete and another four well into the strata of rocks. That’s when Matt greeted me with, “Dad, we’ve decided to cut you out.”
There you have it. The blue collar workers with white collar instincts, passed right by forming a union, straight to a hostile takeover.
Boys drenched with sweat. For a better view of their excellent creation click on the photo.
It would seem if you are going to see any profit from this job, you will have to bill the boys for transportation, use of tools, and so on. Best of luck.
Comment by Auntiesue — June 25, 2003 @ 8:28 pm
And Greenspan’s worried about deflation…….
Comment by nontrepeneur — June 25, 2003 @ 9:57 pm
Matthew, bravo! There is a reason Cesar Chavez is now on a stamp. You will too one day if you continue your revolt. Your father forces you into sweatshop conditions for $10 an hour, it’s just not right. (You couldn’t pay me that to walk from my car with groceries in this weather). I applaud you cutting off the man. (Great job on the fence by the way). I think you should also start charging for every image of you posted on this website. The times they are a changing.
Comment by Chris — June 25, 2003 @ 10:11 pm
Memo to self: remove Chris from distro list.
Comment by Michael — June 26, 2003 @ 5:38 am
Before an unknown graduate student in a far corner of the Widener exposes me, the hostile takeover comment was supplied by Dan.
Comment by Michael — June 26, 2003 @ 6:01 am
Chris knows!
Comment by Auntiesue — June 26, 2003 @ 9:47 am
Could we have a hard copy of that picture?
Comment by the Mom — June 26, 2003 @ 9:59 am
Spare the rod…
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