The Cricket

The Cricket

From April 2014

One day last week, my father-in-law, Ken, calls his oldest son, David, Brent's brother.  Keep in mind that Dad and David live 250 miles apart, about a 4 hour drive.

Dad:  You've got to call an exterminator.  There is a cricket in here and it's driving me crazy.
David:  How do you know it's a cricket?
Dad:  Don't you think I know what a  #@$&!@#$  cricket sounds like?
David:  OK Dad.  I'll see what I can do.

David makes the necessary arrangements.  Exterminator is scheduled.

Next phone call...

Dad:  Never mind.  I can't hear it anymore.  It must have left.  Did you call the exterminator?  Well cancel it.  I'm not paying for that!

Exterminator is cancelled.

Next phone call...

Dad:  You've got to call an exterminator!  There is a cricket in here and it's driving me crazy.  I couldn't sleep with all that chirping.
David:  OK Dad.  I'll see what I can do.

Exterminator is scheduled.

Next phone call...

Dad:  Never mind.  I can't hear it anymore.  Did you call the exterminator?  Well you better cancel it.  I'm not going to pay for that.

Next phone call...

Dad:  You've got to call an exterminator!  There is a cricket in here and it's driving me crazy!  I can't sleep with all that chirping.  It chirps every 30 seconds.  It's driving me crazy!

David:  OK Dad.  I'll see what I can do.  But this time, even if it stops, I am not cancelling the exterminator.

Dad:  OK.  Do what you have to do.

The exterminator, the Physical Therapist, and the Housekeeper all show up at the house about the same time.  The exterminator does his job:  Carefully spraying cracks and crevices, inside and outside and over thresholds.  The Housekeeper does her job:  Cleaning bathrooms, kitchen, and vacuuming.    The Physical Therapist does his evaluation with Dave's mom, Conna (who recently had a stroke but that's another story).
The PT promptly finds the "cricket" aka smoke alarm and removes the battery.  Problem solved!