The Handyman

I hate to admit it, but I live at home. We decided to get some painting done, so my Mom got some guy's name from a friend in the area. He's 37 and single, apparently. Blah blah blah.

I came home Friday afternoon to an unfamilar vehicle in the driveway. I guess things were getting started. He was in the basement, but I remained upstairs since clearly I had no need to speak to this man. While I was eating dinner, I got a text from an unknown number that said "Hey. It's Bill. Are you here?"

The Handyman was texting me. From my basement. And I never gave him my number - instead he got it off my e-mail signature when I confirmed receipt of the invoice he sent to me to forward onto my mom. Confused, I didn't respond. He came up a few minutes later and asked if I got his text. This should have been a red flag.

Mom and I had picked out a vanity for one of the bathrooms, but it was too large to fit in either of our sedans. I still hadn't picked out a color for my bedroom, so the Handyman asked me to go with him to Home Depot so I could finally choose some paint. I thought this was semi-normal and off we went in his gigantic pickup truck.

We made small talk in the car, but I did not go out of my way to fill the awkward silences. He talked a lot about himself and I pretended to be interested in what he was saying. We scooped up the vanity, but I still was unable to make a decision on paint. He mocked me and I told him I was very particular. Without paint, we took the 15 minute drive back. It was nearing 8 pm, and he starting whining that he was hungry.

And then he said, "Can I interest you in some dinner and drinks". Stunned, I mumbled something about having already eaten and moved on. We got back and he started talking to my mom and again, mocked lack of ability to choose a paint color. Ha. Ha.

I started moving the remainder of my stuff out of my room to prep for painting. And once I sat down to relax, I got another text from the Handyman. Asking if I'd be willing to take him up on his dinner offer at a later time. Unsure of what to do because this man would be in my house, I said it might be fun. He then tried to start a conversation and I didn't answer.

Yesterday I was out all day, and he took it upon got yet another text that his offer still stands regarding dinner. I ignored it, and when he returned to finish up ignored him as much as possible. He interrupted me while I was on the phone to ask if I liked my room, and called me by a nickname usually only used by my family. And he asked my mom if the princess was happy with her paint color. He also "surprised" me by removing my light fixture, throwing it out, and installing a new one. Without consulting my mother or me. This dude was a serious creep. He finally wrapped up, and my mom told him he was too old for me. But I can't help being really spooked out by the whole incident. Ick.