I recently heard about a home-seller who was a Sikh. As some of you may know (I didn't), male Sikh's believe in allowing their hair to grow uncut, as a sign of respect for God's perfect creation. The also allow their beards to grow very long and uncut. They comb their hair twice a day with a small comb, and knot it on the top of their heads, and wrap it in a turban.
The washing and knotting of this long hair is a very private event, and they will do so typically only in the privacy of their own home. This is the story of one of those Sikhs, who also happened to be a seller.
This seller was home, conducting his weekly hair-washing, and reknotting. His hair was very long and reached down below his knees. As part of his routine, he had just washed his hair and beard, and was allowing them to air-dry, wearing only underwear, when he heard the key to his front door rattle, and realized that a Realtor was preparing to enter and show his home. In a panic, as he didn't want to be seen in this condition... he made an ill-fated decision, and quickly & quietly ran up the stairs to the unfinished attic, hoping to be out of the way so the showing could take place.
Up in the attic, he seated himself cross-legged in the middle of the attic floor, figuring the attic heat would assist in his air-drying and he returned to combing his hair and beard. Staying very quiet, he heard the Realtor walk the buyer through the first floor of the house... and heard as they made their way to the second floor. He heard them go from room to room, and overheard the Realtor tell her client: "One of the nice features of this home is that they have a large unfinished attic which could easily be finished to become a wonderful master suite". To his horror he heard the door guarding the attic stairs creak open.
His heart beating fast, he wondered what he should do... should he try to hide?... should he make a run for the stairs?.... should he call out?... what? Before he could decide what to do, the Realtor and her client appeared in front of him, and stopped as they spotted him, seated cross-legged on the floor, his hair flowing around his shoulders, wearing only his underwear. As he sat on the floor in his all-together... the personification of a 1960's maharishi, all he could manage was to whisper a meek "Hello."
The Realtor quickly excused herself and her client, and just as quickly, left the house. She did contact the listing agent to let her know that some weird homeless man was living in the attic. The buyer did not buy the house...
I love this job. You learn something new every day.
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