My friend Joe B. grew up in South Philadelphia and was very street wise. After working with me for several years he left to rescue a family member who was losing money on a ARCO gas station on the north side of the city. Working twelve hour days and with his people skills he put the business on its feet. He even attracted commercial clients - one we will call Atkins Home Decorating - who brought in their van for service. Later they brought in a second van and soon ran up a mid-three digit bill - and then they stopped coming in. Phone calls to resolve went unanswered. The debt was high enough to hurt but not enough for legal action - so Joe was ready to write it off. Then one night he went home to New Jersey and his wife announced that a man visited that day and gave an estimate on new drapes. The letterhead read "Atkins Home Decorating". She said she liked the drapes and Joe said get them installed, give him a check and call me at the station. When all this was done Joe called his bank and stopped payment on the check - and waited. Several nights later his phone rang - the caller identified himself as "Atkins" and said there seemed to be a problem with the check Joe's wife gave him. Joe said "Do you know who I am?"
There was a long pause - then Atkins said - "Oops, you got me" Joe said "I guess we're even." Atkins said -"I hope you like the drapes." This whole scenario recalled the famous Bogart line in CASABLANCA - "With all the gin joints in the world, she had to walk into mine." Or - with the thousands of homes in New Jersey, he happened to walk into that one. God is good.
tjs
Next - The Altar Boy (Mon.)
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