Monday, August 14, 2017

In A Fix

So, my wife has decided we need to replace the carpet in our house. And, as you can imagine, “we” means me. Which is fine. She does help when I need something, but I’m quite content to do the work.

What I’m having trouble with is the “replacing” aspect—especially since she wants to replace our carpet with simulated hardwood vinyl flooring. I don’t mind the simulated or vinyl part necessarily; I would just prefer to have carpet. I like carpet. It’s warm and cozy, and a little quieter to walk on. And to me, carpet looks better.

Actually, if it were up to me, I’d probably just leave the carpet we have. Less work that way. And why replace perfectly good carpet? However, since my wife also lives in the house, I shall defer to her and not only replace the carpet but replace it with vinyl.

And that’s how I came to spend my Saturday night ripping out carpet and prepping the floor. And in doing so, realized my wife may have been on to something with this replacing the carpet idea. Not that I had much of an argument against it; after 18 years it was starting to wear a bit. Or a lot. The kids, grandkids, and dogs, not to mention me with my muddy boots tracking dirt in, have all taken their toll. Even I had to admit it was well beyond time for a new floor—and that vinyl plank flooring might not be so bad.

However, convincing my three-year-old grandson is another matter. Apparently, he’s a little like his grandfather and not a big advocate of change. When he came into the house on Sunday, he was almost distraught at the thought of “his” carpet going away. “Put it back,” he told me. We explained the carpet was old, dirty, and needed replacing. He finally agreed that we could replace the carpet but he wanted new carpet NOT something else. “You can get a new floor without CHANGING it,” he says.

After a little more discussion, we thought the matter was settled. But a few hours later, after finishing our Sunday dinner at a restaurant, he wasn’t too thrilled with the idea of going back to our house. “Is the carpet going to be back?” he wanted to know.

I said no and told him it was outside in my pickup, ready to get hauled away. He seemed mollified at that—since there was still time to make his case, I assume. The kid will probably grow up to be a lawyer because he is great at presenting a well-reasoned argument for just about anything.

So, I think I’ve found my wife’s role in this undertaking—she gets to negotiate with the grandkid. Perhaps she can work out a deal—or a plea bargain. As for me, I’ll be busy working on the floor. ~

Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, The Lana Denae Mysteries, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook at www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS and paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. Bruce A. Borders is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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