Honest Excuse or Huge Pile of Moldy Cow Ploppy?

Given the cynical outlook of many of my posts, you might be surprised to learn that I’m gullible with a capital G. No, this is not an invitation to the country of Nigeria to e-mail me numerous heart-wrenching requests for my account numbers, in their own unique brand of English. I’m willing to admit that I can’t always tell if someone’s being straight with me, and Dear Reader, I would like your input.

Last Friday, for example, Larry Landscaper was supposed to come by around 11ish to drop off a quote. (We are in desperate need of a landscaper. The HOA will surely start sending us nasty notes, soon. Right now, our front is dirt.) Eleven forty five rolled around, and I decided not to let it just slip out of my grasp. After weeks of experience with landscapers I have learned that they almost always have something better to do than try to get my business. So I gave Larry a call, all the while feeling guilty for bothering him.

He told me that some things came up and he would be around at about 2 p.m.

The phone rings at about 1:45 p.m., and it’s Larry. I think he’s calling to tell me he’s on his way. But when I pick up the handset, I quickly find I am mistaken:

Me: Hello?

Larry: Yeah, don’t worry about that. Put it right over there. (Yelling to someone, obviously not me.)

Me: Um…Hello?

Larry: Oh, Hello. Sarah? I’m out on Route 60, just East of Grand (like I needed exact coordinates), and I had a blowout.

Me: Oh no.

Larry: It was the darnedest thing. I bought these tires from Just Tires only two months ago. The tire blew out because there was a bubble in it. So, they’re still under warranty from Just Tires.

Unfortunately, I can’t just change it to the spare because the tire is wrapped around the axel, so my car is getting towed to Just Tires.

Me: Uh-huh.

Larry: They’re towing it straight to Big O…Just Tires. I’m going to be first in line when I get there, so I’ll still be able to make it. I’ll give you a call when I’m on my way.

Me: Ok.

It didn’t occur to me that Larry might be yanking my chain until I hung up the phone. The conversation is, based on my memory, and therefore not exact. But Larry really did say “Just Tires” about 5 times in the course of our conversation. He never did show up. And more heinously, he never did call, not even to cancel.

So did Larry concoct a story that I should have put on my tall cowboy boots for, or should I give him the benefit of the doubt?