Just Here To Install Your Toilet, Ma’am

In February 2015 I decided to replace a toilet in my home. I used one of those internet “find a handy-man” services and chose the company I used based on their reviews. I think the day of service was two days after I clicked on the site and lined things up. The day the man came to install I was alone in my house.

Things were jovial. He was friendly. He was polite. The bathroom where the toilet was being installed is small and he was a big guy and I recall being concerned for him having to work in such a small place. I told him where to leave the old toilet and gave him some rags to mop up water- something he asked for.

After he did the work I offered him a bottle of water or a soft drink. I just happened to have those little bottles of Coca-cola. I don’t drink soda but know from folks who do that those little bottles are especially coveted- he chose the Coke. He was thankful and remarked on the deliciousness of the drink in the little glass bottle and handed me the clipboard with the paperwork to read and sign. We were standing in my kitchen.

I had just taken the clipboard from his hand when I heard him say,

“There is no place in this country for Muslims.”

I wondered what happened to make him say this. I had a Hilary Clinton magnet on my fridge but he really hadn’t stood where he could have seen it. I quickly resolved that he was probably primed to say this to me and he assumed I would concur so that we could have a rousing conversation…