The Day My Phone Became a Hotline for Leaky Faucets
It all started innocently enough. I was at my desk, diligently trying to meet a deadline (okay, maybe scrolling through social media), when my phone rang. “Hello?” I answered, expecting it to be my best friend gossiping about the latest episode of our favorite reality show.
Instead, a gruff voice boomed, “Gary? You got those pipe fittings I ordered?”
The voice on the other end scoffed. “Don’t mess with me, Gary. You said you’d be here an hour ago!” And with that, he hung up. I sat there for a moment, bewildered. Was this some elaborate prank call?
The Never-Ending Saga: Calls for Clogged Toilets and Busted Pipes
Oh, how I wish it had been a prank call. Over the next few weeks, my phone became a hotline for all things plumbing. I received calls about:
- A burst pipe in a bakery (apparently, Gary was supposed to save the day…and the croissants).
- A clogged toilet at a yoga studio (I shuddered to imagine the details).
- A leaky faucet at a pet grooming salon (the mental image of soapy, wet dogs running amok almost made me answer “Gary’s Plumbing Services” just to redirect the chaos).
At first, I tried patiently explaining that I wasn’t Gary the Plumber. But after the tenth call about a malfunctioning garbage disposal, even my patience had sprung a leak.
Becoming “Gary”: My Foray into Fictional Plumbing
That’s when I decided to have a little fun with it. When someone called asking for Gary, I’d launch into a detailed description of the latest plumbing tools, using made-up technical jargon I’d gleaned from watching too many home improvement shows.
“Ah, yes, you must be calling about the Hydromatic Pressure Regulator 3000! A fine piece of equipment, if I do say so myself. Now, have you tried recalibrating the flux capacitor?”