Ace In The Hole

A fun read...

ACE IN THE HOLE

Never the handy type, I recently found myself at Shell Lumber. I had a GFI switch to return, and some W-40 to buy to dislodge the particularly stubborn dead bolt in my back door.
Quickly locating the aerosol can version of W-40, with a skinny red applicator Scotch taped to its side, I enquired of a particularly friendly salesperson who also served as the greeter at the door: is this the only form of W-40 available. Distinctly remembering a tiny canister from years gone by, I defiantly informed her, no. I won’t use the applicator. The oil will spread everywhere, she informed me. So it will, I retorted. Go ask the salespeople in the key department about other products, she suggested.
Obtaining my credit for the GFI switch and purchasing the W-40, I thought to myself: Shell Lumber is known for its friendly, hands on staff; for its fresh hot popcorn; and for its coffee. At the moment, the personal touch would do. So I approached the peppy young woman again. Go; go get a second opinion in the key department, she repeated.
So off to the key department I went. Two older, but very nice, salesmen awaited me. No, you don’t have to use the applicator, but it’s useful to let the oil seep through into the tiny spaces in and around a lock, said one. It’s a lubricant, said the other.
Finally convinced, I thanked the men and the friendly door girl. On the way out, it dawned on me: Shell Lumber’s the name of this privately owned hardware store, but it’s a member of the Ace Hardware network. All this stubborn, defiant lock needed was a little Ace in the Hole.