I helped him and his brother out on several occasions with passing emissions on his customers cars and I never asked for anything. Then one day I asked to borrow a tool for a valve spring swap in my car. At the time I considered Paul a decent friend. He then told me I could tow my car up and pay him to do the job.
Don't ever ask to borrow a man's horse (car), his woman, or his tools.
But - as a contradiction to this - today, as is so common, guys see my rig at the junkyard and inevitably come up asking to borrow this or that.
I usually just say no.
I'm really not into that, since I sort of think even though we're car guys - I can't save the world, it's a dog eat dog world out there, every man for himself sort of thing and if you go to the yard, ya gotta come prepared - or come back.
But, I was feeling charitable so I said ok. Especially considering he was in my 1 foot happy zone and literally staring at the tool he needed.
What do you know, next minute, I need something to get a part off that I came for and wouldn't ya know - it was back in the truck and 15 minutes to closing time. So no time.
I said to the borrower - "ya got a xxx" (mallet - yeah, no sheet - I'm deep in the jungle without my mallet!)
He does, I grab said mallet, off comes part - win / win!
Or - I could be laying under a car that has fallen on me and the same guy I refused might be two cars away and pretend he didn't see my legs flopping wildly.
I gotta lighten up on that loaning tools rule.
I still won't loan out my woman or my horse though.
Never loan out you car or your woman to another man - they throw a rod in it every time!
