“All finished, Mr. Hancock, how do you think it looks,” asked Steve. Bob Hancock surveyed the freshly painted walls and opined, “Great job my boy, we hadn’t had a good paint job in over ten years, and the place was pretty dreary!” “Good,” Steve replied, “I’ll just get all my equipment out of here and while I’m doing that, you can look over the bill, okay!?!”
Ten minutes later, Steve came back into the kitchen, and was surprised to see Mr. Hancock still pouring over the bill! “Any problems, sir,” Steve asked? “No, no problem at all,” the old man replied, I was just wondering……” as his voice trail off. “Sir,” asked Steve? “Your bill is for $1750.00, correct,” questioned Mr. Hancock?!? “Uh, yes,” Steve replied slowly, “that’s the price we agreed on before I started the job!!!” “And you’d like me to make out a check for that amount, am I right,” Bob asked?!? “Well, yes,” Steve replied, unsure of where this conversation was leading! “I’ve made out your check, here it is,” Bob replied, while sliding it across the kitchen table to Steve, “but before you accept it, I want you to know that I’ve made out another check!!!” “Another check,” Steve asked, now more confused than before?!? “Yes, another check, but this one for $3500.00!!!” “But why,” Steve asked, “our deal was only for $1750.00!?!” “That was for work performed, while the new check is for past work done plus new work to be agreed upon,” Bob answered!!! “Oh,” Steve sighed, “you have more painting that needs to be done?!?” “No, nothing like that at all,” Bob Hancock continued, “but I assure you that the duties required of you would be very pleasant, and only require several hours of your time!!!” Steve had a quizzical look on his face and asked then asked slowly, “You mean that you’ll pay me double for just two hours more work, what’s the catch!?!” “No catch,” the old man replied, “in two hours from right now, you can walk out of here with $3500.00, no questions asked!!!” “Okay,” Steve replied cautiously, “what do I have to do to earn an extra seventeen hundred and fifty bucks?!?”
