"Why not?" I replied, grinning.

"Last time he came Dad went bananas!" said Gena.

"I remember," I said, "Fifty dollars just for changing a tap!"

"He might be more reasonable this time," said Gena.

We went to the washhouse and stood at the door, while the plumber dragged the washing machine out from the wall. While he was busy looking at the outlet pipes, Gena let a drop of chocolate flavoured truth land on his neck. He slapped the place with his big, wrinkled hand and looked at the ceiling.

"Where'd that come from?" he said. "What's wrong with the washing-machine?" I asked, trying to distract him from thinking about the wet spot on his skin.

"Nothing much!" said the man, "Its just a seal here at the back that's slipped, but I'm not going to let anyone know that. What I'll do is spend half an hour pretending to take the machine apart, then I'll take another twenty minutes having my afternoon tea, and when I go I'll charge for an hour's labour, plus travelling time, plus parts. Help! I can't stop saying this!"

"That's OK," said Gena, "We like to hear the truth."

"But I don't want to tell you what a crook I am!"

"Mum!" called Gena, "Will you come here?"

"What is it?" said Mum.

"The plumber was going to charge you heaps for doing nothing."

"Really?" said Mum.

"That's right," said me plumber, "I make thousands of dollars a year that way. Its money for jam! Only this morning I ripped an old pensioner off. I told her she needed a new clothes-drier, so I could sell her one from my shop. There was nothing wrong with her old drier of course, but I told her it was nearly finished. She was so gullible!"

"That old pensioner," said Mum really crossly, "Didn't by any chance live at number 34, did she?"

"That's the one!" said the plumber trying to stop his mouth. He was really frightened now.

"My mother!" said Mum, "You cheated my mother!"