old farts!

and the lingering hole

Did you tell the city that you were digging back here? Halifax water has a policy about drainage.

Oh no.

A Joe-I-Know

Digging the hole drew in a crowd.

The crowd had the local handy dude, some nosey parkers (which included a Joe-I-Know) and even one of the real guys.

The real guy?

He was great.

He told me what to do, what to get and the best way to solve my basement water problem

I’ve been diggin’ like this up in Toronto for twenty years.

His authority was clear.

Get some tar onto it after you’ve parged. Then, put on a layer of poly

The local handyman was deferential and merely echoed the real guy - almost like a church choir. He was like Teller to Penn Gillette. Happy. Hopeful. Nodding to the authority of the dude who knows.

This whole hole thing?

It’s a status game.

The Real Guy?

He wins by default.

Between years of experience and clear knowledge of what to do, his imposing of himself, his establishing of his authority?

All aggressive, all dominant.

All readily accepted.

He knows best.

Aggressive?

Ye…