Pop quiz

The other day I came home and the power guy was blocking the street. I looked over and there was a pint sized meter reader doing his thing. He looked to be somewhere in the 9-12 yrs old range. It was a Sunday, and clearly a tag along who wanted or needed to hang with dad for whatever reason. after remarking that it was absolutely the cutest take your kid to work day sighting ever (and being met with  the dissenting residential 11 yr old), my crew ambled in the house.

Through the open windows, I hear my neighbor exit her house to grill Mr. Mountain Electric about the status of her power and the safety of his offspring. I heard a pause (probably necessary so he could find just the right tone, although I could be projecting), and he replied that the outage would be addressed before he left and that no one was looking out for his son's safety more than he was, and furthermore, the young man was known to be a very fine helper.

I couldn't stand it. I put my shoes back on and traipsed outside. "Excuse me, Sir."

"Yes."

"I don't know what has you out on a Sunday, and I want to thank you for coming out. It's a holiday weekend and a Sunday. You and your helper have obviously gone beyond normal business hours and expected levels of service. Thank you."

He stared at me a minute, and gave me a quick nod. "Half the power's out in this unit. We're doing our best. And you're welcome."

I went back into the house, and promptly bored my family with another anecdote of ways in which my new neighbor just couldn't seem to help herself. "This is exactly how people get their food spit on in restaurants. Can't she see that?"

Fast forward. I'm sitting in a garage full of tables and people. It's a community picnic, and while I recognize a few people, we're coasting by on anonymity.

A family floats past. A man stops and looks right at me. "Hey there. Don't I know you? I think we've met. Yesterday"

Not one to turn a prospective friend away, partially because I'm busy alienating my neighbors and wayward siblings, I smile big and say, "That may be! Hello?"

And then, the kicker, " Do you live in Land Harbor?"

"I do, sort of. Sometimes. When I'm lucky." I'm stammering, trying to remember this friendly man.

I was out there yesterday, fixing the power for your neighbor. Thanks for your words."

"Oh!" I melted. "That was so. Thank you again. Do you live here? Are you enjoying the day?"

"He said, " I do, and I am. It's a fine place. You're in a good spot right here. Glad to have you."

We nodded again, and he slid past to join his family. I exhaled. There'd been a test. I'd had a hard week with a lot of hard feelings, and missed words. But that time? I got it right.  And because I was flush with success and extravagant decency, I told our houseguest they could absolutely go buy another hot dog if they were still hungry.