Story time

[Clyde Hollinger]

Friends,

"Well," she said, "No one will be home when you come to tune the piano,
but I'll just leave the front door unlocked."

I arrived as scheduled and found a car parked in the middle of the
double-width driveway.  I mused that maybe someone is home after all,
since that is not the way people usually park their cars.  I went to the
front door and rang the doorbell.  Nothing.  Rang again, knocked.
Nothing.  I guess there's no one here after all.  So I tried the door.
It was locked.  Did I misunderstand which door?  So I walked around the
house and tried all the doors, because I know these people well.  The
woman of the house works where my wife is a manager.  Fine people.

Everything is locked up tight, so I get my cell phone out and call my
wife at work.  She calls the client to the phone.

Client:  Oooh, this *is* the day you were coming, isn't it?

Me:  Yes, but I noticed a car in the driveway, so I thought maybe
someone was home, but no one came to the door when I rang.

Client:  Oh!  Well, then, my daughter must be there!  I'll call her and
tell her to let you in.

One minute later I was in and tuned the piano.  But the daughter told
her mother, "Mom, this man had me scared out of my wits.  I thought we
weren't expecting anybody, so I didn't answer the door, and he went
around the house trying to get in.  I was about to call 9-1-1!"  Poor
thing!  But by evening they were able to joke about it.

Now if some of you want to tell me why you think I am a fool to make
such arrangements with my clients, it's your choice.  But rightly or
wrongly, it probably won't change how I do things.  I can't see that I
did anything wrong here, nor am I accused of such.  It's just one of
those things that can happen, and it did.

Regards,
Clyde Hollinger, RPT
Lititz, PA  USA