Last night a customer stopped to check on accommodations for him and his family. He was just passing through on his way to his new home in a neighboring community. He asked me a few questions, mostly the expected ones. Like: Is this a nice motel ? Sure, I answered, It's not a Hilton but it's clean and reasonably well appointed and we have donuts!! He didn't seem impressed by the whole donut thing, he must have been one of those health nuts or something.
But what really floored me was his next question. "Is this area safe?" he asked. IS IT SAFE? SAFE? Did he just ask me if it was safe? I was caught flat footed, I was verging on panic mode. What should I tell him?The truth wasn't going to do. Hey BEE-otch, this is Dayton the 346th most dangerous city in the U S of A. Are you safe? Well actually 346 sounds kind of wimpy doesn't it?In any case he sensed my hesitation. "Well", I paused giving my sluggish brain a Twix moment to come up an acceptably bland answer that would not unduly alarm him. "Depends on what you mean by safe?"Was the best I could stammer".
It is at this point that I must point out that we were standing not in Dayton proper but a 'burb to the north of Dayton by about 3 or 4 miles outside of Dayton. It is also at this time that I should point out that since moving to the Dayton area that both my wife and youngest daughter have robbed at gun point, I have had one car , 4 lawn mowers, 1 weed whacker, 2 car stereos , 1 car alarm, 1 television, 1 leather jacket, 2 cell phone car adapters, 1 pair of shoes and two pad locks all stolen. And I won't even mention the 7 car windows I've had broken.
So what should I tell him?Hey buddy we're safer than Cleveland! No that wouldn't do. How about: We're almost as safe as Youngstown. After stammering for a couple more seconds I gave up and said:"Sure we're safe"I said it with what I hoped was a reassuring smile. I frankly don't know if he bought it or not. I mean it wasn't a complete lie. Was it?
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