Red and Rover by Brian Basset for December 18, 2021

Solid business plan, Red.

Red doesn’t seem to be the best paper delivery person, but then again who wants to get up before dawn and ride a bike in all weather for a job that wrings your arm out? I admire his spirit, if not the result. Good to have Rover there for quality assurance.

Red is diabolical clever!

Come on, Red. On time, in the same spot, dry and readable condition. Take pride in your work.

Ah the perils of being self-employed. I do respect the fact that he is out there working. He is working and not be an entitled spoiled brat ( welcome to 2021). Hmmm, maybe a mentor to fine tune his business model. Rover would an excellent asset for door to door subscriptions. I would sign up just to see the dog and if I would actually get the paper. Ha!

When I delivered papers as a kid, I had numerous customers who would try their darndest to not pay me each month.

When I had a paper route people demanded their paper go in exactly one spot, which meant going up to their front door/porch. Really slowed delivery down, even in good weather.

Back in the day, on rainy days, our paperboy would put the paper in the mailbox.

Illegal now…I think. Maybe back then too but nobody complained.

I had a guy that wanted the paper to hit his metal screen door. When he heard the bang, it was time to get out of bed.

Some people are so critical. One of my childhood customers told me he preferred his paper on the front porch and not the roof!

I haven’t seen a paperboy in many years. It’s all cars now, driving on the wrong side of side streets, with their flashers on, barely watching where they are driving at dawn. I dodge them with my dog most mornings. I suppose babysitting is still somewhat available for the underaged who wish to earn some cash? Snow shoveling? Mowing grass? It seems so many of the jobs for teenagers are now down by adults who have trucks, tractors, etc, that can cover a lot more homes for better pay.

(First time I remember Red delivering papers.)My favorite paper boy story – a dachshund used to chase & bark at me every time I passed by. (A driveway delivery.) One sunny morning he was snoozing next to the garage door, I flung the paper as hard as a skinny 13 year old could at the door. It made a satisfying MAD-magazine thump, door springs vibrated and all. When I stopped at the end of the driveway on my return trip, he came trotting up, tail wagging – we were friends after that. Go figure!(Never had collection issue, the paper billed customers, thankfully. )

Can’t argue with that logic.