Curb Appeal

Curb Appeal

“That was not necessary,”said Mr. Griggs from behind her.

Fiona Innis turned so quickly she spattered bright scarlet paint from the brush in her hand all over the owner of the house she was standing in front of. As he stood there dripping, she had to fight to keep a straight face.

“It’s part of the curb appeal you hired me to do,” Fiona said as she swiped at the paint. Her efforts made it worse.

“I’ll have to deduct from your fee, the cost for new clothes. This stuff will never come out completely. Besides, that door was brand new this week.”

The owner of Innis Staging and Exteriors flinched at his statement. The chocolate brown door had done nothing for the house, so she had decided to spruce it up. Having already done the gardens, trees and lawns, this was to have been a finishing touch.

“Are you finished? Can I call my realtor and put the place on the market?”

Fiona, forgetting about the loaded paintbrush, wiped her brow with the same hand. A broad streak of red on her forehead resulted. She put down the brush and answered:

“Yes, I’m done once the paint dries.”

“You mean you painted other things? Are they all red?”

“The rest are repainted in the original colors.”

“Shall we go in and I’ll make you out a cheque, minus the cost of my clothes.”

Fiona followed Griggs into his study. He sat at his desk and cut her a cheque. The total still took her breath away. She thanked him and left.

She got in her vintage VW and chugged merrily away.

“Hope he likes the design I painted on the living room floor. Three coats of sealer will make it hard to remove it he doesn’t!”