Cuatro promesas de un fontanero Four promises from a plumber

Hace un mes el lavabo del baño empezó a perder agua. El señor Navarro me dijo que me mandaría a Manolo, «un fontanero muy cumplidor».

A month ago the bathroom sink started leaking. Mr. Navarro told me he would send me Manolo, "a very reliable plumber."

Según él, Manolo era un manitas: fontanero, albañil, carpintero y, si hacía falta, hasta cerrajero.

According to him, Manolo was a real handyman: plumber, builder, carpenter and, if needed, even locksmith.

Promesa número uno: Manolo dijo que vendría el lunes a las nueve. No vino, y por la tarde me escribió que la furgoneta lo había dejado tirado.

Promise number one: Manolo said he would come on Monday at nine. He didn't come, and in the afternoon he texted me that his van had left him stranded.

Vino el jueves. Midió la pared, taladró, quitó cuatro azulejos y dejó un agujero enorme detrás del lavabo.

He came on Thursday. He measured the wall, drilled, took off four tiles and left a huge hole behind the sink.

Promesa número dos: dijo que iba a por una pieza de metal y que volvería en media hora. Esa media hora duró más de dos semanas.

Promise number two: he said he was going to get a metal part and would be back in half an hour. That half hour lasted more than two weeks.

Mientras tanto yo me lavaba los dientes en la bañera, y había polvo de yeso hasta en el váter.

Meanwhile I was brushing my teeth in the bathtub, and there was plaster dust even in the toilet.

Lo llamé. Me explicó que la pared era un muro de ladrillo muy duro, que el tubo de hierro estaba muy viejo y que habría que cambiarlo entero.

I called him. He explained that the wall was a very hard brick wall, that the iron pipe was very old and that it would have to be replaced completely.

Promesa número tres: juró que el lunes a primera hora estaría en mi casa. «Palabra de honor», dijo.

Promise number three: he swore he would be at my place first thing on Monday. "Word of honor," he said.

El lunes los obreros de la obra de enfrente llegaron a las ocho en punto, como cada día. Manolo, no.

On Monday the workers at the construction site across the street arrived at eight sharp, like every day. Manolo didn't.

Llamé al señor Navarro. Tan despreocupado como siempre, me pidió que tuviera paciencia y prometió que hablaría con Manolo.

I called Mr. Navarro. As laid-back as ever, he asked me to be patient and promised he would talk to Manolo.

Promesa número cuatro: Manolo me aseguró que el viernes lo dejaría todo terminado. El viernes ni siquiera contestó al teléfono.

Promise number four: Manolo assured me he would have everything finished on Friday. On Friday he didn't even answer the phone.

Esa noche le escribí que estaba harta de que me diera largas: si no venía el sábado, lo anulaba todo y llamaba a otro fontanero.

That night I wrote to him that I was fed up with him putting me off: if he didn't come on Saturday, I'd cancel everything and call another plumber (woman speaking).

No me gusta amenazar a nadie. Después de enviar el mensaje pensé que me había pasado.

I don't like threatening anyone. After sending the message, I thought I'd gone too far.

El sábado a las ocho sonó el timbre: era Manolo, con el tubo nuevo, cemento y una caja de azulejos. «Ya era hora», le dije.

On Saturday at eight the doorbell rang: it was Manolo, with the new pipe, cement and a box of tiles. "About time," I told him.

Yo esperaba una chapuza. Pero trabajó cuatro horas sin parar y no fue nada chapucero: ya no se ve dónde estaba el agujero.

I was expecting a botched job. But he worked for four hours straight and wasn't sloppy at all: you can't see where the hole was anymore.

Quién lo diría: el lavabo ya no pierde ni una gota. Además cambió una baldosa rota del suelo sin cobrar la mano de obra: «Por lo que has esperado», dijo.

Who would have thought: the sink doesn't leak a single drop anymore. He also replaced a broken floor tile without charging for labor: "For all the waiting you've done," he said.

Solo faltaba pintar. Manolo dijo que el lunes me mandaría a un pintor.

All that was left was the painting. Manolo said he would send me a painter on Monday.

Esta vez no esperé: compré una brocha y di dos capas de pintura yo misma. Con cuatro promesas ya tenía bastante.

This time I didn't wait: I bought a paintbrush and put on two coats of paint myself. Four promises were enough for me (woman speaking).