A Masterpiece

Fandango

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I lied. “Yes, I have repaired, resurfaced, and painted probably dozens of wrought iron fences like these.”

The estate’s property manager tilted his head down so he could see me clearly over his reading glasses. Then he glanced down at the written proposal I had given to him.

I needed the work. I’d been doing odd jobs ever since I got discharged from the army sixteen month earlier and some of them included repairing and painting fences. Wood fences. So it was just a little white lie.

“Check my references,” I said. All the names on the list were my army buddies who were willing to vouch for me even though I’d never done any handyman work for any of them.

“Fine,” he said. “If your references check out, you can start the day after tomorrow.”

It took me almost two weeks to complete the work, and the property manager told me that I had far exceeded his expectations. Then he told me the owner called my work “a masterpiece.”

(170 words)

Written for this week’s FFfAW challenge from Priceless Joy.

19 thoughts on “A Masterpiece”

  3. newepicauthor August 22, 2017 / 4:52 am

    If your repairing, resurfacing and painting of that fence was half as good as your writing, I am sure that it was a masterpiece.

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  4. Jelli August 22, 2017 / 5:46 am

    Giving a person a chance to succeed… that is the treasure indeed. 🙂 Loved this story.

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      • Jelli August 22, 2017 / 12:09 pm

        Yes, they do. Some just need a few more chances than others, too.

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  5. James August 22, 2017 / 7:34 am

    Glad it worked out, seeing he had no experience at that kind of work.

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  6. Priceless Joy August 22, 2017 / 8:27 am

    Thank goodness it turned out well for him especially since he didn’t have the experience. The good thing is, now he does. Great story!

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  7. Fluid Phrase August 22, 2017 / 9:54 am

    I liked the way you started. “I lied”. Gets us hooked immediately. And the surprise ending after so much of setting! Good job!

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  9. mandibelle16 August 23, 2017 / 11:41 am

    High compliments. Too bad he was doubted in the first place but such is life.

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    • Fandango August 23, 2017 / 12:54 pm

      Indeed it is. But, given a chance, we all have the opportunity to prove our worth. Hopefully, we won’t blow it.

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      • mandibelle16 August 23, 2017 / 6:39 pm

        I think sometimes we do and we learn from it and then other times what seems impossible actually happens 🙂

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