Introducing My Plumber Dad

Hey there, folks! Phoebe here, but you can call me Pippi — that’s what my Dad does. Speaking of which, let me introduce you to Pete: 55 years old, ruggedly handsome with a white beard, and hands like a roadmap of hard work. He’s your friendly neighborhood plumber and my superhero without the cape.

The Start of the Carlyle Job

Dad’s the kind of guy who treats every job like it’s his own home, redoing entire bathrooms if a single tile is off. But some folks see that dedication and think they can take advantage. That’s exactly what a pair of entitled homeowners tried to do. It all started a few months back when I swung by Dad’s place. I found him on the patio, puffing away on his cigar and laughing like he’d just heard the world’s funniest joke.

The Dispute Over Payment

“What’s got you in such a good mood, old man?” I asked, plopping down next to him. Dad’s eyes twinkled as he said, “Oh, Pippi, you’re not gonna believe what just happened. It’s a doozy!” He leaned in, still chuckling. “Remember that bathroom remodel I was working on? Well, let me tell you about the Carlyles, or as I like to call ’em, the Pinchpennies.”

The Unfair Accusation

“These folks, they wanted the works. New tiles, fancy fixtures, you name it. They picked out every little detail themselves… even down to where they wanted the toilet paper holder.” “Sounds like a dream job,” I said. Dad snorted. “Oh, it started that way alright. But then…” His face darkened, and I knew we were getting to the good part. “What happened, Dad?” I asked.

Refusal to Pay Full Amount

“Well, Pippi, on the last day, just as I’m finishing up the grouting, they’re sitting on this couch, ready to pull a real fast one on me.” Dad’s voice took on a mocking tone as he imitated Mrs. Carlyle. “‘Oh, Pete, this isn’t what we wanted at all! These tiles are all wrong!’” I gasped. “But didn’t they pick everything out themselves?”

The Confrontation

“Exactly!” Dad exclaimed, throwing his hands up. “And get this — they had the nerve to tell me they were only gonna pay half of what they owed me. HALF!” My jaw dropped. “HALF?? After two weeks of busting your hump to get their dream bathroom done. No way! What did you do?” Dad’s eyes glinted mischievously. “Well, I tried to reason with ’em at first. But they weren’t having any of it. Mr. Carlyle, he gets all puffed up and says, ‘Just finish the job and GET LOST, Pete. We’re not paying a penny more.’”

The Ingenious Plan

I could feel my blood boiling. “That’s not fair! You worked so hard!” Dad patted my hand. “Now, now, Pippi. Don’t you worry! Your old man had a trick up his sleeve.” “What did you do?” I leaned in, eager to hear more. Dad’s grin widened. “Oh, I finished the job alright. But instead of using water for the grout…” “…I mixed it with sugar and honey,” Dad finished, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

The Aftermath Begins

I blinked, trying to process what I’d just heard. “Sugar and honey? In the grout? But why?” Dad leaned back, taking a long drag on his cigar. “Just you wait and see, Pippi. Just you wait and see.” He went on to explain how he’d packed up his tools, pocketed half the pay, and left with a smile, knowing full well what was coming next.

The Infestation

“But Dad,” I interrupted, “wouldn’t they notice something was off with the grout?” He shook his head, chuckling. “Nah, not right away. It looked just fine when it dried. But a few weeks later…” I leaned in, hanging on his every word. “What happened a few weeks later?” Dad’s grin widened. “That’s when the real fun began.”

The Creepy Crawlies Invade

“Picture this,” Dad said, gesturing with his cigar. “The Pinchpennies are sitting pretty, thinking they’ve pulled a fast one on old Pete. Then one day, Mrs. Carlyle goes to take a shower, and what does she see?” I shrugged, totally engrossed in the story. “Ants!” Dad exclaimed. “Dozens of ’em, marching along the grout lines like it’s their own personal highway!” I couldn’t help but laugh. “No way!”

The Pests Keep Coming

“Oh, it gets better,” Dad continued. “Next day, it’s cockroaches. Then every creepy-crawly within spittin’ distance shows up for the party.” I shook my head in disbelief. “That’s crazy! But how do you know all this?” Dad winked. “Remember Johnny? My old pal? He’s their next-door neighbor and has been keeping me updated.” “And the Carlyles?” I asked. “What did they do?”

Failed Attempts to Fix It

Dad’s eyes sparkled with glee. “Oh, Pippi, they tried everything. Spent a fortune on pest control, but nothing worked. You wanna know the best part?” I nodded eagerly. “They blamed the pest control sprays for ruining the grout! Can you believe it?” Dad burst into laughter.

The Consequences of Their Actions

As Dad’s laughter died down, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the Carlyles. “But Dad, don’t you think that was a bit… harsh?” Dad’s expression softened. “Pippi, you gotta understand. These people tried to cheat me out of my hard-earned money. Two weeks of backbreaking work, and they wanted to pay me half?”

The Lesson Learned

I nodded slowly. “I get it, but still…” “Look,” Dad said, leaning forward. “In this line of work, your reputation is everything. If word got out that I let clients walk all over me, I’d be out of business faster than you can say ‘leaky faucet.’” I had to admit, he had a point. “So what happened after that?” Dad grinned. “Well, according to Johnny, they ended up redoing the whole bathroom about a year later.”

A Lasting Reminder

My eyes widened. “Did that solve the problem?” Dad shook his head, chuckling. “Nope. The sugar residue was still there, lurking beneath the surface. The bugs just kept on coming back.” “And the Carlyles?” I asked. “Did they ever figure it out?” Dad’s eyes twinkled. “Not a clue. Last I heard, they were planning to redo the entire bathroom… again.”

The Moral of the Story

I sat back, taking it all in. “Wow, Dad. That’s… something else. But didn’t you feel bad at all?” Dad sighed, his expression turning serious. “Pippi, let me tell you something. In all my years of plumbing, I’ve never done anything like this before. And I hope I never have to again. But these Carlyles, they weren’t just trying to cheat me. They were insulting my work, my pride.”

Conclusion: Karma Comes Around

I nodded, understanding dawning. “They thought they could walk all over you.” “Exactly,” Dad said, pointing his cigar at me. “And in this business, word gets around. If I let them get away with it, who knows how many other folks might try the same thing?” “I guess I see your point,” I admitted. “But still, bugs in the bathroom? That’s pretty gross, Dad.” He chuckled. “Well, I never said it was a pretty revenge. But it was effective.”

So, next time you think about shortchanging a hardworking professional, remember the Carlyles and their bug-infested bathroom. Karma, as they say, has a way of crawling back.