One Stump, Three Checks, and the Economy

I have paid, three times, for one stump to be removed.

The first time, The Wild and Crasy Guys from Nordern Minnesoda offered to trim some trees, and take down another tree, and to remove the stump. After they picked up the tree branches, I paid them. They were coming right back to remove the stump. Instead, they removed themselves from the phone book.

Today, The Stump Guys came and gave me a price to remove the same stump. I hesitated, swore, damned the Wild and Crasy Guys, and agreed that the Stump Guys should remove it. "I will get you a check," I said. Then I said, "How about if I wrote a check after you remove the stump?" They agreed. When they were through, I brought them a check, for a very good job.

"Oh, no, I can't take that check," the woman said. "We don't have an account for our name, yet. Can you make it out to me?"

Of course! They had a pickup, a stump grinder, a shovel and a rake. They were trying to make a living. I tore up the second check, and wrote a third one, in her name.

I hope they made enough today to pay for their fuel, and dinner.

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