My guesses were not too wrong.

4 min read.

A few weeks back, unlike the dismal weather for months, the BBC made the forecast that the high pressure would be in-charge. In consequence, it was a balmy 22C at noon on a Sunday. I was ensconced in a chair in the front garden and my wife was loitering around. Suddenly we saw a gentleman passing through, who looked to be in his mid-fifties. He greeted us, and in return I said:

“Good afternoon”.

I told my wife:

“We’ve been living in this area for the last nearly twenty-one years, but strangely enough, there are some faces which we still don’t recognise. I never saw this gentleman before. He might be a new mover.”

A couple of minutes later, I saw Margaret pulling her two giant dogs. She lives in one of the houses in a side street further down. We know her very well for the last few years, a single mother with two children in their late teens.

 We exchanged greetings, and I realised that the gentleman must be her partner. I had heard from the village gossipers that she had a partner but did not see him before.

Next day, I received a text message from Margaret about something. After the reply, I added:

“I saw the gentleman yesterday a few paces ahead of you. He must be your partner. I bet that he belonged to a profession which involved discipline. He might be an ex-army officer”.

Guess, what she said in her return text message!

“He is a retired army major.”

Our drainage was blocked. I looked at the local weekly newspaper and searched for a drainage man’s contact number. I found one and rang the number. He said that he would be coming to our house after the lunch break.

He was a tall man, in his mid- fifties, bald-pated with completely grey moustaches, and stubble beard. He courteously told me that he would charge £90 plus VAT, and it should not take long to finish the job satisfactorily. He further informed me that he comes to our town from a place about thirty miles away because there was more work here and people pay generously.

His assistant did the work while he was giving him directions.

The job was finished in about thirty minutes. Before I made the payment and received the receipt, I asked him:

“If you don’t mind, I like to ask something”.

“Not at all”, he replied gently.

I enquired:

“From your appearance and conversation, you don’t appear to be a drainage man. You look a person belonging to a profession involving brain rather than manual work. Though I never met your family, but they seem to be educated as well.”

“Doctor, you could not be more right,” he answered.

Guess, what was his profession!

He informed me:

“I’m a qualified Barrister. I worked for the government and for some years rubbed along quite well. Then I’d some issues with them and on principle, I resigned. I set up this business. I’ve other people working for me as well. At the end of the day, I earn, after paying the workers’ wages and other outgoings, far more than what I’s getting from the government”.

About his family, he told me that his both the sons were studying medicine at the universities and his wife was a teacher.

 We decided to redecorate our house and were looking for someone with good reference. Unlike the Prime Minister’s latest wife, who aspired to have an an extremely expensive decoration of their flat at 11 Downing Street, which according to her standards was probably pigsty, we intended to do it moderately. Though, the PM was in straitened circumstances, the wife was likely to move heaven and earth to achieve her goal. [See post dated 14th March 2021]. She even put her husband’s job in jeopardy. The fact is that in 10 Downing Street in general, and in the couple’s household in particular, she rules the roost.

We found the decorator and the price was agreed. He was in his early forties, slightly obese, soft-spoken with London accent.

Before he could leave, I said:

“Can I ask you one personal question, if you don’t mind?”

“I don’t mind”, he replied in a well-bred manner.

I suggested:

“From your appearance and conversation, you look to be a civil servant, not a decorator”.

Guess, what he said nonchalantly!

“No doctor, I’m not. But I was born and grew up in a family where my father was a senior civil servant”.

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Ps: Part 2 of the story about some other guesses will be posted at 11 am on Sunday July 11, 2021.