"How's the wee one?"
"Good, good. She's feeding like crazy. Sally hardly gets any time to do anything else. Feeding, changing, trying to catch up on some sleep. Sometimes a shower when there is time."
"That's the way it is, my friend."
"I know that, Tom, but how would you? You've never been around a woman longer than you need to get her knickers off."
"Now, now. If it weren't for our long lasting friendship I'd have to offer you a couple of smacks around the ears, Mister."
Frank the bartender shook his head. Every time Tom and Harvey were in to have a 'wee drink' they talked to each other in their own comedic way. Not that they allowed anybody else to partake in their banter, lest it turn serious. Somebody could get hurt getting a friendly smack from Harvey or Tom. Both were burly men, the daily wielding of chain saws and walking up and down steep hill sides having left their marks in the form of oversized arm and leg muscles.
For all those long years that Frank had known Harvey and Tom they had logged as a team. One picking up the contract under the condition that the other would be part of the the crew. The arrival of Harvey's daughter six months earlier had seen an end to this well rehearsed practise.
"So, how was the contract up north?"
"Well, a round of beers could see me telling you a mighty queer story."
"Ah, how a bout an appetiser to help me make up my mind?"
"So, all good then, if that's how you want to play it. Now, where to start. Well. So. Anyway, as you well know I got a call couple of weeks back. So this chap wanted me to get my gear together and trek around in his woods. Apparently his neighbours had caught the borer and his woods were looking a bit worse for it. Well, parts of it.
So, when I arrived after a blimmin two hour drive, no idea how he got my number and why he couldn't get anybody local, but anyway. I knocked on his door and asked him what he needed doing. Had a chat over the phone, but he was a bit short, so I wanted to hear it in full and write out a bit of a contract.
Anyhow, this fella was in his 60s, looked like he hadn't seen a day's hard labour in his life. Started asking me if I could get horses to pull the trees out, since he was a great believer in organic use of the land. So I told him that I could poop on the stumps if he wanted it organic.
Well, he wasn't happy about that one."
"Tom, get to it, will you?"
"Get the beers and you can hear the rest of the story."
"So far it's all just palaver, you twit. Give me something juicy, you old hound."
"Beers first."
When Harvey had returned with the beers Tom picked up his tale, clearly revelling in the fact that his friend was glued to his every word.
"Where was I? Ah, yeah, pooping on the stumps. Well, the old fella didn't find it funny, but his lady sure did, judging by the hand she clapped over her mouth.
Well, you know how it is with me and hippies. I told him how I work, that I don't like making more of a mess than necessary and all that malarkey. But no way in hell was I gonna get some horses. What a tit, probably seen that on History Channel.
Anyway. I made my way into his woods. Nice woods they were, too. Some trees had the rot and some had the worm, so I did an estimate and wandered back to the house. Good half hour trek from one end of the property to the other.
When I let them know the price the two seemed quite happy. And now it gets juicy Harv, you'll love this. Sorry, I know you and Sally are in lurv, but ..."