Samantha had a bad leak in her bathroom. It seemed to her to be getting worse. Her boyfriend usually fixed these things, but he's been called up and gone on deployment to Iraq. She'd remembered seeing a handyman visit the woman across the road several times, and wondered if he was around that day. Peering out the window and, sure enough his vehicle was parked outside. She noted down the mobile phone number on the side and rang it. It was answered after a couple of rings.
Samantha explained the plight she was in, how she noted the van from her window, and where she lived. The guy on the other end said he would call in about an hour's time.
It was just over an hour later when her doorbell rang and an oldish guy stood there in overalls he must have been about 50 years old.
The guy stood there and said "You rang me? So you've got a problem with a leak?
Relieved Samantha nodded and beckoned him in. She showed him where the leak was happening.
"Can you fix it?" she asked hopefully.
"No problem."
"How much would that cost me?" she enquired.
"For ladies like you, I don't raise a charge."
"You don't?" she echoed with surprise, "I want a proper job doing."
"Lady, I always do a proper job, it will be the best."
"And I get that for free?" she asked just checking.
"I said no charge, I didn't say free" he replied, smiling.
"I don't understand" she said quizzically.
"I do the work, you don't pay me, but we fuck."
Samantha was taken aback.
"You gotta be joking... aren't you?" she said a little shaken.
"Lady, I don't joke about things like that," he replied.
"You can forget it," she said with some disdain, "I'll get someone else."
"That's your choice lady," he replied, as he turned to leave, "but I warn you that's only going to get worse. See how quickly you can get someone else. Here," he dropped his card on the table. "Here's my card. Call me when you have made up your mind."
He turned and left the flat. Samantha was relieved that the man had gone. She examined the leak, It did seem to be getting worse. She flipped through the phone book looking for plumbers. Sam found about a dozen or so and dialled each and every one, but no-one was available. The nearest she got was a man promising to take a look but not till Friday. That was two days away.
She looked back in the bathroom and the leak was worse. The floor was now covered in water from it. She had to mop up the mess. She looked at her watch. She must have spent well over an hour just ringing round for someone to come and fix the damn leak. Now What was she going to do? There was no way she would give in to that bastard.
The leak got worse. Evening arrived and the leak was larger. She had to mop the floor several times. Each time she glanced at the card on the table. What choice did she really have? Leave it till Friday and let the other Plumber take a look at it, but that would mean she's spending most of her time mopping the dammed floor, so she picked it up the card and played with it for a few minutes. She realised she had to play his game. She finally rang and spoke to him.
"I've finished for the day," he told her gruffly.
"Please," she begged, "the leak, It's getting worse."
"And what about the other thing," he demanded.
"It looks like I have no choice but to agree to your terms."
