The Move

by Storm

"Come on, Lee, it won't be that bad."

"No? Remember what happened the last time you moved? The phone company was five days late, so you had to reschedule everything that required a working phone line - like the security company. Then your computer monitor died - and so did your satellite receiver. They had to come out twice before you had a working TV again. And how long did it take to get the replacement PC working right? Weeks? And three tries to get a new washing machine that worked only to discover - the hard way - that the sewer had a clog? For which, I might add, management left it up to you to call a plumber to get it fixed. And do you also recall how Riley dropped the couch on his foot? He limped for a week."

"That was a fluke," protested Chip, as he scowled at his friend. "It couldn't be that bad again."

"Did I also mention the fact that the water company sent you two final bills, one to each address, plus made you put up a new deposit, and that the rest of your mail disappeared for two weeks?"

"Sheesh, Lee. Okay, so the last move didn't go smoothly. That's why this one can't help but go better."

Lee rolled his eyes at his friend. "Chip, old pal, you are the eternal optimist. But the answer is still no. Hire some professionals this time."

"Do you have any idea how expensive that is?" Chip looked askance at Lee.

"They're worth it," stated Lee firmly.

"You didn't use them when you moved out here from New London."

"That's because I didn't even try to bring the furniture," Lee answered. "I shipped my books and other small belongings UPS and just brought what I could pack in the car - which wasn't much. I sold what I had there or donated it to Goodwill and then replaced the furniture when I got here and found a place to live."

"Come on, Lee! I just moved across the apartment complex last time. Hiring movers would have been ridiculous."

"This time you're moving across town. Chip, for all our sakes, hire some movers. Professionals. Don't even think about drafting any of the crew this time."

"Humph," muttered Chip as he gave Lee one of his looks. "Some friend you are."

"Chip," said Lee patiently, "It's because I'm your friend I'm telling you this. It just isn't worth the trouble to do it ourselves. We were lucky nobody got seriously hurt the last time. Let's not risk it. After all, this time you'll be on the third floor. Can you imagine the disaster it could be?"

"The place has elevators," retorted Chip.

"Have you measured them to see if your furniture will fit?"

Chip paused, suddenly uncertain. "Er, no," he finally admitted.

"I rest my case."

Having recently moved, many of the events mentioned herein actually happened to me. Trust me, it was an experience I would not care to repeat any time soon. And I really did move one time using UPS. :-)