W: H, the main floor furnace it not working. Here's what I know (went through details, thermostat is working, fan is blowing, other furnace is working fine, gas is flowing, no flame, circuit breaker not flipped, etc.) I've called Paul to see if he can come out. I told him it's not an emergency since we have zoned heating and it hasn't been that cold. He said he'll try to make it tomorrow (Tuesday) but he has something going on so he might not be able to make it until Wednesday morning. I also asked him to look at the hot water heater while he's here. H: Okay, well I'd like to be here when he's here, so will you let me know when he gets here? W: Sure.
Tuesday, H asked if he had made it here and I said he hadn't.
FYI: Paul is my uncle. He works in heating and cooling. H and he had a conversation at Christmas about his replacing our hot water heater. Paul is not some sort of suspicious deviant or threat.
In regards to H dropping off son, I think I take issue with the drama that H seems to always pad with his offers. He could have just offered to take son to school. But he has to pad it with his herculean effort. "If I get S to hustle..." = ride S to hurry, engage with him in unpleasant conflict, or "I have a meeting, but I might still be able to drop him off if I hurry" = I'm willing to endanger my job, and it will take significant effort, but I'll do it.
I can't begin to value his effort nearly as much as he does. I feel like I'm setting myself up for an attack, because if I agree to let him, I don't believe I will be able to reciprocate at the level he will expect me to. And he WILL expect me to.
