About a month ago I noticed the weeds in our front yard were getting thicker and taller. The weeds were thicker and higher than these when I cleaned up the yard few more months before. Now I wonder how or when I can do it again. The thought has been lingering for days when I noticed that a portion of the right side of the yard was weeded out. Who on Earth would have done that? I was sure that my nephews wouldn't have done it because I did not tell them to do so. Yes, sometimes my housemates will not extend a hand unless they are told to. I didn't also think someone from my tenants will do that. But that is more likely...
Few days later, the whole of right side and a portion on the left were cleaned. That time, one of the tenants was standing by outside so I asked her.
"Who cleaned the weeds up?"
"The long-hair guy from the second floor. The one occupying the unit at the end of the hall on the left. I don't know his name."
I wanted to ask "You've been here for months and you don't know your housemates?" I thought about my time renting spaces while at work in Metro Manila. I thought I got to know all my housemates, fellow tenants, but then I realized I did not care much about those staying in different floor from where I stayed. So instead of questioning her, I smiled and mentioned the guy's name.
"Ah, is that his name?"
"I wonder what has come to his mind. Maybe he got nothing more to do." I said while laughing. The guy's wife and son were with him for more than a year until the first quarter this year. The wife and the son went back to their province where the wife had their second child. The guy is left with his work in our place.
"I don't know. I just saw him cleaning up and then he continued after few days."
Few more days later, I looked down one morning from the terrace and there he was, continuing the job on the left side of the yard. I was amazed when I learned that one of my tenants took the initiative to do the job. Now, it is more amazing to see with my own eyes the job being done . And, take note, I did not tell him to do so. It was just awesome!
He did not finish everything that morning. I noticed when I got out later that day that there was still a small portion with weeds.
Maybe he got sleepy already and was not able to finish everything. He works at the vegetable trading post which he once said that they have to intercept trucks of vegetables from farmers as early as two in the morning. He comes back home at around nine or ten to go back to sleep.
The yard was totally cleaned of the weeds after few more days. He really kept it to himself that such job was his.
With his schedule, I haven't had a chance to thank him. He added me as his FB friend but personal appreciation would be more appropriate. Besides, I would like to personally tell him about his reward.
While he did not verbally ask for a wage in doing the job, I need to do something about it. It took me less than half a day straight to finish the weeding months ago. Giving him the wage for half a day sounds only fair and more beneficial to him as I know he also finds ways to augment his earnings.
Sometime in 2Q this year, he learned that I want some of the units, including his, be repainted with minor repairs. He volunteered and asked if I would allow him for half days every day. That is, he goes to his work at dawn, come back and sleep for few hours from mid-morning then work for me in the afternoon. He is neither a painter nor a construction worker but I myself could do the minor jobs. How much more with a guy? Besides, he has the discipline to present himself for an opportunity even if it is not his line. That means he was willing to learn. This is the type of worker that you would want to hire and grow.
I agreed with his request. He later told me to deduct his rent from his wage. That left me with no collection from him and I still owed him the remainder of his wage after deducting the rent. That was a very clever way to earn extra income on part-time basis!
This morning, he came to pay for his rent. I wrote the official receipt and handed it to him. He handed to me the bills of different denominations. Without counting the whole amount, I counted 300 pesos and handed back to him as I thanked him for cleaning our front yard. The state mandated minimum daily wage is 400 pesos. The 300 for half day should be fine. He also thanked me while accepting the money without hesitation. He was not even surprised that I was paying him. I guess it was an unwritten and unspoken understanding. After all, I know he needed the money.
This guy's mindset is what I look for from everyone at work or in personal life: just do what is right without waiting to be told. Rewards will come in different forms.
