With a rag in his hand, Joe sat at the bottom step of the porch and toiled away at cleaning the undercarriage of his bike.
Baker, sitting in a rocker on the porch just looked at Joe in bewilderment.
“It’s just going to get dirty again Joe.”
Joe smiled as he looked up toward Baker, “So why do you shower, Baker? You’re just going to get dirty again.”
Baker smiled, licked his index finger and swiped an air-mark of 1. “Joe one, Baker… zero. Good comeback, Joe”
Mulling over Joe’s question, and not one to ever not try and have the last word, Baker committed to reply… “I shower because I feel good and truth is… women like me better when I’m clean. You might say it adds to my status.”
“Your status? What status is that of which you speak?” Joe smiled.
Baker got quiet and Joe took notice.
“Cat got your tongue, Baker?”
Waiting for a reply, when none came, Joe went to sit in the rocker next to Baker’s.
“I keep my bike clean because it is a part of my life that allows me to travel easier and costs me nothing but a tube or tire here and there. If this bike were a car or, as in your case, a truck, I would keep it cleaned inside and out on a weekly basis, or as needed because… whether one wants to acknowledge it or not, a clean vehicle is a communication of the order in one’s life… a part of one’s status.”
“I can understand that, but my truck is a work truck. If it comes all cleaned and polished to a potential job site, maybe clients will think I have to much time on my hands, and it means I have time to clean a truck because I don’t have enough work… which means I’m not very good at my work.”
“Wow! You know me… not one to criticize, but that is an awful excuse. Have you ever noticed the busiest people have the nicest kept properties and the people who have a lot of time available have some of the worst kept properties? Not always, but more often than not. It is said that the cobbler’s shoes are always the worst, but that is a good problem… he can always repair or purchase new shoes because his status of being so busy allows him that option. Besides… no one wears their Sunday best when physically working. Do you wear your best clothes to work in, or do you wear clean work clothes that you know may get ruined?”
“Or do I drive a dirty truck thinking I impress clients? I see your point. I’m presenting an image of not caring, so my status could be seen as someone who doesn’t take the time to care about the job at hand.”
“There are many levels and types of status, Baker. Status is not just a measure of rich or poor, high or low. Real status comes first when people see you. They subconsciously break you down into bite size pieces they can understand. How does he or she walk? How does he or she talk? How is his or her posture… weak or strong? That’s just the intro. Your presentation while out and about in society is a direct communication into your mind.”
“Don’t you mean their mind? The one’s who are looking at you?” Baker quipped.
“The presentation communicates what is happening in your mind. If you are sloppily dressed… and I don’t mean you have to be dressed to the nines, but if sloppy, you are communicating that your presentation to others doesn’t matter… your communication is weak. You’re not going to get the respect you may deserve.”
“Why should I care what others think, Joe?”
Smiling… “It’s not about caring what others think… it’s about what you are telling others to think about you. You are telling them how they can treat you… with respect, or a lack thereof.” Pausing a moment, then… “In my 30+ years of riding around the world, never having a home, not one person has ever disrespected me or got in my face. Look at my bike. You can’t tell that it is 10 years old. Look at my clothes. I’m wearing gym shorts and a nice tee. You can’t tell if I am homeless. I’m healthy, wealthy and wise. On occasion, if I roll up to a hotel to get a room for a night… allowing me to use laundry, get a good shower and a bed for the night, I am never questioned as to my status… I precede any questions by how I walk, talk and present myself.”
“How would you suggest I raise my status?”
“Well, Baker, you learned and are now conquering your list of issues. You’re on the right track. That pile of dishes you did when cleaning up the house… now extend that same energy into cleaning up the life around you… and keep it clean. Learn to clean as you go. If you take short cuts… you’re telling everyone what your status is… short, cutting corners.”
“No one saves time taking short cuts.”
“Exactly. When you respect yourself, and carry yourself with a respectful posture, and speak in a respectful tone of strength … people can’t help but to show you respect. You have told them how to treat you… without telling them how to treat you.”
“I’m starting to see another pattern here, Joe. When I dealt with my personal integrity and I cleaned up my reasons for lying or making excuses, I felt better about myself. I admit, I have faltered a couple of times, but I got right back on track and confronted myself when compromising integrity. You’ve seen me… I bought a few beers after swearing off beers for at least two months. What did I do? I poured them out without drinking them. I kept a promise to myself and felt good about it. I kept my personal integrity in-tact.”
“Yes you did, and that is great… and I should tell you, on a very slight grade… that is the beginning development of greatness. Respecting yourself and your personal promises. It is difficult for a lot of people to keep a commitment… especially to themselves… though they could if they cleaned up the lies they’ve agreed to over and over. Baker… self-respect is a big step toward personal greatness and an even bigger step to having an incredibly great status… one that people can’t break down into bite size pieces… because their status is too small to try.”
The End
____________
Solving one’s issues or day-to-day problems is really as simple as in the story. Follow along as Baker and Joe handle more of life and keep moving Baker to a stronger and more stable position.
The character, Joe, can be found in a few of Author Jeff Scott’s books, such as, Who Will Be My Judas?, and a cameo in The Palendrone.
Get the latest short stories, blogs, books and forthcoming podcasts, as well as, other entertaining value by joining AJS’s newsletter.
Subscribe to keep current with Baker’s story…