When an entitled couple tried to stiff my dad, a hardworking plumber, they thought they were being clever. But their plan backfired, leaving them with a bathroom full of regret. Here’s how my dad turned the tables.
Hey, I’m Phoebe, but you can call me Pippi—Dad does. Let me tell you about Pete, my dad: 55, rugged, and my superhero. He’s a plumber who treats every job like his own home, even redoing entire bathrooms if a tile’s off. Unfortunately, some folks take advantage.
A few months ago, Dad was on the patio laughing when I stopped by. He told me about a job with the Carlyles—he called them the “Pinchpennies.” They’d picked every detail of their bathroom remodel, but when it came time to pay, they only offered half of what they owed.
After trying to reason with them, Dad had an idea. He finished the job, but instead of water for the grout, he mixed in sugar and honey. The next few weeks were a disaster for the Carlyles. Ants, then cockroaches, and eventually every bug imaginable showed up. They spent a fortune on pest control, but nothing worked. The best part? They blamed the sprays for ruining the grout.
Dad explained, “They tried to cheat me out of hard-earned money. I had to teach them a lesson.” Eventually, the Carlyles redid the bathroom, but the bugs kept coming back. The sugar residue was still there, and last I heard, they were considering selling the house.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s genius, Dad.”
He smiled. “Sometimes, you gotta teach people a lesson they’ll never forget.”
And now, every time Johnny updates him, Dad gets a good laugh.