Cable Man

He called me twice, three times maybe. His phone calls have become more frequent, especially when he is excited about something. He called me just to chat, as he had taken a half day in order to meet the cable man. This was the source of his excitement.

"You are quiet at work, on the phone," he says.

"I don't prefer everyone hearing my conversations," I reply quietly, in an almost whisper.

"What shall I do while I wait for the cable man?" he asks earnestly.

I give him five different suggestions: watch the television, touch up the blue paint, start loosening up the soil in the backyard, move some boxes into the house, or clean. He chooses option number three. "I better get back to work," I say.

An hour later, he calls once more. The cable man is not there yet and he's afraid to work in the yard for fear that he won't hear the doorbell ring. I have no solution for this problem, so he asks what else he can do while he waits. I give him four suggestions now: watch the television, touch up the blue paint, move some boxes into the house, or clean. He chooses the last and final option. "I better get back to work," I say.

Another hour passes and it is nearing the end of my workday. He calls and informs me that he's figured out how to work in the yard. "I've left the garage door open and the door from the garage to the yard open as well. I'll be able to see him when he comes."

"Brillant!" I say with a hint of sarcasm in my voice, "You are a genious!"

He agrees and is quiet proud of his problem solving abilities. He asks when I will be home. "An hour," I say.

My workday ends, my afternoon commute comes to a close. I enter the house expecting to find the cable man connecting each room to the satellite dish so we can enjoy the comforts of recording live television. I expect to see him standing, watching the cable man, with a goofy smile plastered on his face. I expect to see the excitement oozing out of him as the cable man makes our house a maze of wires and tools.

There is no cable man.
Where is the cable man?

I go out back to survey his progress and inform him that his problem solving did him no good. "Did you hear me drive up?" I ask.

"No," he replies, "But I wasn't listening for you, I am listening for the cable man!"

He smiles and laughs at his own nonsense and then politely asks me to wait in the house for the doorbell to ring. "He'll be here soon," he says.

Two hours later, the cable man comes.

Sure enough, the goofy smile and the oozing excitement comes too.