A Welcome Phone Call

After hunting the first two days of the season, I traded the shotgun for a tool belt and went to work.

I told Barb I could get her sewing room enclosed in a couple of weeks. It didn’t quite happen, but the framing is done, the roof is on, and she’s off to Toronto for an authors’ conference. I’ll hunt while she’s gone, and finish up the work when she gets back.

I designed the building so that I could pretty much do it by myself. Barb helped me stand up the walls. Other than that, it was just me with hammer and saw. I even figured out how to set the 14-foot rafters solo, lifting them to the top of the 12-foot wall, then shooting each rafter out to catch the eight-foot wall.

It was a little sketchy, but it worked.

On the roof, however, I needed help with the 4x8 sheathing. It was too heavy for Barb to lift.

We were discussing who to ask for help when the phone rang. It was my friend Dallas. I told him Barb and I had just been talking about him. He asked why and I told him I could sure use his help on the roof.

Without hesitation he asked when and what could he bring.

“All you need is a hammer,” I told him. “ I have everything else."

Last Sunday he showed up with hammer in hand. Four hours later we had the lid on the sewing room.

I was more than grateful.

It was high work and Dallas has a fear of heights. I didn’t know that until he mentioned it while we were scrambling across the rafters lining up the 4x8 sheets of roofing material.

Dallas is as avid a bird hunter as I am. Along with giving up a day of hunting to lend me a hand, he was high above ground where he’s not comfortable.

I wish I could be as good a friend.

We finished the job, visited for a while, and then Dallas left for home.

It wasn’t until he was gone that I realized I’d never asked him why he called me in the first place.

The next time we talk I’ll ask him.

It’s the least I can do for a friend.

Parker Heinlein is at [email protected]