I was way up on a ladder when she jogged by so I couldn't see much but I did notice that she turned around at the end of the cul-de-sac and then headed back into her driveway, which was directly across the street from the house I was painting. So they next day I made sure I was near the road when she made her return trip. Early 40's, fit from the morning jogs, and then she noticed me looking and instead of the sneer reserved for rude construction workers she smiled and sort of waved. I waved back of course and that started our daily ritualistic greetings in the early a. m. Around 9 every morning a sedan left with a man inside, which I was sure was her hubby. Someone had to fund the Mc Mansion they lived in.
Sometimes I tried to make small talk about the weather, but she never slowed her pace much in making some courteous reply. She always smiled, though, so I always managed to be off the ladder and near the road when she jogged by.
After a week and a half of this I was nearly done painting the house across the street from hers and instead of cruising past she slowed to a walk and said, "It looks like you're about done."
"Yeah," I replied. "One more finish coat one the fascia and that'll do it. How does it look?"
"Nice," she said, stopping completely and studying my work. Then she pointed at a part of the house near the roof line. "But I think you missed a spot."
I looked where I thought she was pointing and didn't see what she meant so I stood closer by her side to find it. Then I noticed her grin and smiled also. "Oh that," I said. "I always leave one spot untouched so they'll call me back soon to fix it. Job security you know."
She took a half second to study me before laughing. "Good plan. I'll be sure to call someone else when our house needs to be painted.
I looked at her brick home and said, " I don't paint bricks. But if you have any other work, here's my card."
She took it from me and read. "Nice to meet you, Ben. I'm Helen."