Last summer I worked as a troubleshooter for a lawn-and-garden equipment sales center.

I was responsible for the assembly of equipment after it was delivered to the customer.

A couple of weeks ago, we delivered a riding lawnmower to a couple living in a rural area. After we left, we got a service call. The husband — a white-collar type — couldn’t figure out how to assemble it. I went back out to help them.

The next day, I got another call from the wife, Christie, about the mower. I drove out there to check it out, only this time I was the one being checked out. Christie promptly informed me that her husband was away for a week on business. She took me into the garage, explained the problem she was having with the mower, and went inside.

I got the mower started just as... Read More