Featured, Writer's Showcase
She Works Hard for the Money…
Mar
Kyle Katz sent me a story to share with y’all and I laughed my ass off all the way through it. And, in the back of my mind, I heard Donna Summer singing, ‘She Works Hard for the Money!”. It’s one of those stories where the protag (Kyle) keeps getting deeper and deeper in dodo trying to put together a real estate deal. I’ve known a lot of real estate agents in my years but I’ve never known one that would go to the extremes Kyle did to close the deal. And – the best part is…… Well, I’m not going to tell you how it all comes out. I was laughing so hard by the end of the story that when I got to the end, I just let out a HUGE explosive ‘F’ word and laughed harder.
So, don’t read the end first. You won’t understand it. Here’s Kyle Katz and her hugely funny story;
I didn’t do anything illegal. Just stupid. Or was it? My boss said I put everyone in danger. As a reprimand he demanded a polished presentation for new recruits of “WHAT NOT TO DO?”
HERE IT IS!
Private Realtor
by Kyle Katz
There are 9 million stories about realtors in the naked city…terrible stories giving us a bad name, most of them true!
This is one of them.
Good morning new recruits and fellow realtors.
It was 2:15 pm. when I met with the 2 Portuguese fishermen to list their duplex investment property on Luna Street. Luna was an appropriate name. It had to do with full moons and crazy people. I’m not going to pull any punches; I was dealing with real pigs (exhibit a). (Pictures of pigs in the mud)
I was warned, partner 2 had lost it. Fished off the edge a little too much. He was an alleged drug dealer and a wife beater, according to partner 1. Sure, I was disgusted, but a girl’s gotta make a living. I had a mouth to feed. Exhibit b (picture of a homeless shelter and kids begging for food)
Later on in the day I found out there was a $60,000 bail bond against the property. All the work I did I felt like a jackass (exhibit c). after numerous phone calls and investigations, the lien was finally removed.
I then questioned all parties involved to make sure there weren’t any more surprises. There was–it had been in foreclosure, but a cashier’s check was produced to verify that everything was current.
The next day in my office, partner 2 warned me that partner 1 lied and was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I had to hurry to get this deal closed, so I pulled a couple of all nighters. (Exhibit c, dancing at the clubs with friends) The Luna property went into escrow.
Partner 2, the alleged drug dealer sent the paper work back and signed in the wrong place. Time was of the essence. That’s when I volunteered to pick up all the paper work and point to where it had to be signed
I rarely found the partner 2 husband and wife together. When they were it was a screaming match. Only one signature…I had to go back, that evening.
My silver cutlass supreme rolled up to the front, I turned off the engine and heard voices in the garage. Upon entering the premises everyone scurried, bags of white powder everywhere, and partner 2 trying to stash the goods.(exhibit d a family baking cookies. White flour worked best) It was obvious he was a dealer demon from hell. And my Saturday night special wasn’t enough so I started packing my home protection policy.
I left immediately! (Exhibit e)(A picture of my cutlass and it’s burgundy interior) sweet!!
The next day back at the office I received a call from partner !. He was upset and said the property was in foreclosure again. I called the bank and they said we had three months to sell Luna. Needless to say, things were tense between the partners.
I called partner 1 and told him about the foreclosure. He said he didn’t know about it. His wife took care of the business and I’d have to talk to her.
I met with her the next day. Her eye was black and her face bruised. She talked my ears off for hours with her problems. She told me her husband was spending all the money on drugs. I told her where she could get help but to get the deal closed was the objective. She agreed.
I was scared the deal might never close (back to exhibit b). (the homeless shelter picture)
Partner 1 called the next day and told me he was leaving for a fishing trip for four days and I should handle things–I said thanks.”
He told me don’t believe anything partner 2’s wife says–she’s a drug addict–I said “thanks a lot.”
3 days before escrow was to close I asked the wife about a document she didn’t sign. If we didn’t get the document, escrow wouldn’t close. She said she was sorry but their house was broken into twice and her husband bought a gun so things were ok. I could pick the papers up that night; they’d be in the mailbox.
I pulled up to the residence a 10pm. I knew partner 2 was packing a piece so I had my home protection plan ready–just in case. I approached the house, it was dark, I could hear my heart pounding, and I even asked the big guy in the sky for help. I opened the mailbox and to my surprise– I found nothing. I jumped in my car and burned rubber, mad as hell.
My fingers went numb dialing their number over and over. The suspects(I mean clients) were nowhere to be found. Finally my sources revealed that partner 2 was in jail again. I’d have to thump downtown to the jail to get his signature. My sources warned me that partner 2 would use the property as bail and screw up the deal once and for all. When I got to the jail I found he’d already been released.
I wore out my shoes beating a trail over to their house trying to find partner 2 or his wife, who had since got wise and now had the power of attorney. But nobody was ever home.
Finally the day before escrow was supposed to close, the wife called. She said she was sorry but her husband had been shot and killed. She’d meet me at the office to sign the documents. I was nervous as hell. They’re was a quiet calm about her, and in her Portuguese eyes were the sweet release of a captured, wounded animal.
“I’m sorry to hear about your husband.”
I’m not. She said sweetly, she locked eyes with mine. I was chilled.
“Now where should I sign?”
I got a standing ovation!
*For five years after this event. I represented the Portuguese fisherman and their families until the industry died.
My Broker bragged about me for years.
Well, if I ever have the funds (exhibit a, an under-employed writer/editor/educator) to purchase a foreclosure property (exhibit b, a palatial estate with an ocean view in Pt. Loma), I will contact the Katzenator! (exhibit c, awesome real estate photo of Katz herself!).
What a tale! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for reading one of my many escapades. I’m surprised sometimes I made it this far, by the grace of God and humor. (exhibit d, Kyle staying out of trouble, downward dog.)
LOL!
Terrie attempting to be invisible (exhibit e, Monkey surveying kingdom)
I don’t know Terrie, these exhibit themes, could formulate somehow into a contest of some sort. I just can’t get the vision out of my head. You, the monkey surveying my downward dog. In your kingdom, I mean Thorn’s Kingdom? I wonder if anyone can come up with Exhibit F!
I believe that you just defined the definition of ‘persistence’ in all its glory. That is an adventure that could be made into a movie – in fact it fits with the Stephanie Plum in the back door got my client now I get paid the money realm. I laughed at this one my dear. I think there is a reason the Universe has kept us apart – we could cause so much trouble by just being in the same space together. LOL Fantastic writing.
Persistance…working on commission…single mom…Type A…
Come on Diane, this universe has brought us together on the same energy field. We can just keep laughing. I actually found this one in the archives decades ago. Added just a little so the reader could follow. Glad it made you chuckle! I’ve had some adventures…some I can’t tale. Thanks for your time in reading this.
Oh, the stories we could tell! Such room for speculation there.
Kyle, I was kompletely taken in by your hilarious tale. You definitely have the Komedic gift!
Thanks Sal. I used to make many people spit out their food…of course I was never a good cook!(exhibit f, pepto bismo shooters)
I do so enjoy your structure, I mean your story…I mean your story’s structure. When ever I recognise Kyle’s signature within the writing I get this warm feeling one gets when they trust the author, and I curl up with my jammies on and hot tea, knowing that this evening’s reading will be as it should always be. This little number is no exception. Through one after another I giggled my way to the end.
Thanks Michael. You always manage to find the best in others, and say it differently every time.
I’m trying to decide if this is comedic horror or wild urban comedy. I loved the image of your telling of this escapade at a meeting of real estate agents, complete with Power Point slides, in a modest business suit with practical pumps. If you were a Canadian Mountie, you would definitely get your man.
Diana, thanks for dropping in on this one. I wasn’t sure at the time, what I felt. Only till afterwards did it sink in.
Was your hindsight reaction, “What was I thinking???” I need to drop by more.
Diana,I thought I could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. But My word and the contract that I signed, meant to me, I was going to get the job done for these families.The fisherman ended up putting their assests in Black Angus cows up north and made a fortune, keeping me busy for a while. They ended up being a really nice group of lovely families to work with. Brought me fresh fish, shrimp, lobster. I did have to sign a confidentiality agreement.
Will we have a story from you, Diana? The colorful, insighful woman you are, love to hear your bent on the world.
I am afraid to try it. I have such overwhelming deadlines on this script right now I feel like I shouldn’t be taking time out for a shower, let alone other writing. I am so far in the hole, I can’t remember anything funny that ever happened to me. There must be SOMEthing, right?