One day I had to make a delivery from the street to a house that had the fill pipe in the back left corner.
The oil trucks were equipped with heavy rubber hoses that were 150 feet long. I knew the location of the fill pipe for this home meant I had to use the entire 150 feet of hose. Once I started to pull the hose I did not stop until I reached the fill pipe regardless of how far the fill pipe was from the truck.
I wanted to keep my momentum strong. I got out of the truck and put the customer’s ticket in the meter. I began to pull the hose. About halfway to the fill pipe I wondered why it was so much more difficult this time pulling the heavy hose than usual.
I thought the hose might be tangled on the wheel in the truck used to roll up the hose after deliveries. However, I kept pulling until I reached the fill pipe. When I turned around and looked toward the truck I was very surprised.
Three little kids were riding the hose. The children were laughing and having a grand adventure. I laughed heartily at the sight.
Kevin Synnott is a lecturer of Management and Marketing at Eastern Connecticut State University
