There was once a man who lived in a house, not unlike anything you’ve lived in before. A simple old-fashioned thing, designed in the 60s housing boom - no fuss, fashionable brown-glass windows and a spacious backyard. Some would argue the building was outdated in 2021, but John was not fussed. In today’s economy, a house was indeed a house, and he couldn’t complain.
One fine morning, John was working from home, eyes glued to the laptop in his small office. His noise-cancelling headphones lay next to the computer; he’d need them soon when the builders started their work on the house renovations. They were a noisy bunch, but getting the job done efficiently, which he was happy with.
Suddenly, there was a sharp knock on the door.
“Come in,” John responded, glancing up from his paperwork.
The door opened, and in walked a tradesman in saggy pants, bearing a hard helmet tucked under one arm.
“Morning mate. I’m Todd, one of the guys subcontracting on the roof. My boys are ready when you are - anything you want us to know?”
“John.” John smiled back at him, standing from his seat and stretching a large hand to shake Todd’s. “Pleased to meet you.”
Todd smiled, nervously. John was an imposing figure, whose intimidating voice boomed over others. He twitched, as John suddenly clapped him on the shoulder, directing him out the door.
“Soon as you and your boys have your harnesses on, we’ll be ready to go.”
Todd glanced across to John. “Oh, we don’t bother with those things. We’ve got the helmets here, they’ll do the job.”
John abruptly stopped moving. “Todd. I’m a reasonable man. But I can’t have your boys not wearing the correct gear.”
Todd frowned. “They’re a bit of a waste of time. We’ve never bothered with them. We stay well clear of the edge.”
Sighing, John sat back down in his chair. He felt like he was ageing by the minute with this nonsense. “Todd, I’ll say it one more time: I need you to follow the rules.”
Todd tried to disguise his eye roll. “Look John, mate, I’ve been working in this industry for more than two decades now. I know what I’m doing. We’ve never had any issues, we’ll be fine - “
“Enough!” Todd’s rambling response was interrupted by a fuming John. “This won’t work for me. If you want to keep working on this job, you need to go to Bunnings right now and buy your harnesses.”
He paused, inhaling. “Otherwise, I’ll have no choice. You can’t complete the job until you’re in the correct gear.”
Todd stalled and stared at John, slightly horrified. “You’re serious.”
John shook his head firmly. “I’m afraid so. That’s your choice, Todd. Get the gear or get out of here.”
Todd sighed and hung his head in finality. “I guess I’ll have to get them then.”
“It's for your own good.”
2 years later.
Two years had passed, and John was working at his desk.
A sharp rap on his front door startled him. John lumbered up from his desk, crossed the house and opened the front door. Standing there was Todd; that roofing contractor he barely remembered from 2 years ago.
"John, it's Todd. I don't know if you remember me."
"Yes. Yes. Sort of! Come in."
Todd entered the room, dipping his chin slightly. There was a solemn change in his expression, the only sign that two years had passed. The merry twinkle in his eye had dulled somewhat.
“Todd. Long time, no see. How can I help you, lad?”
Todd strode forward in two, quick steps, before collapsing into the chair in front of John’s desk. “I have to tell you, John, I owe you,” he said, wiping a hand over his brow. “You remember our conversation years ago. I thought you were PC gone mad when you made us buy those harnesses.”
John chuckled. “Yes.”
“Well,” Todd continued. “I owe my younger son’s life to you. Ever since that day, we’ve been using harnesses, and John - yesterday that same harness saved his life.”
John tried to respond but there was a lump in his throat.
“John, if it wasn’t for you, I would be burying my own son.” Todd said, earnestly.
"I can’t thank you enough", he continued.
Both men stood, in mutual respect and admiration; and, without a moment’s pause, John gave Todd a brotherly hug.