The Orkin Man

The doorbell rang around 9 PM the other evening. I answered the door thinking it was a neighbor because I couldn't fathom a solicitor being out that late. I was mistaken. John, the Orkin Man, greeted me. Actually, he was more like the Orkin Boy. He was pretty young and I wondered if this was his summer job, going door-to-door to drum up business. He seemed nervous, but was extremely friendly.

John told me horrific tales of ant and spider infestations in the neighborhood and then queried about the status of my household insects. "Oh, I find one here and there every now and then," I said vaguely. He was rather disappointed by this news and seeking to extend his stay, complimented me on my baseball cap and insisted on discussing the sport. We talked for a few minutes until I found a way to politely conclude the conversation and send him away, lest he miss curfew. He didn't make a sale, but I did give him an update on the Athletics and Giants games.

Perusing yesterday's baseball scoreboard, the Giants won their fourth game in a row. With last night's victory over the Dodgers, they've snuck into first place and lead by half a game. Edgardo Alfonzo, San Francisco's third baseman, has been the key to their recent success. Over the last four games, he knocked in thirteen runs. On Sunday, Jason Schmidt pitched against Boston and threw his second one-hitter of the season. The Giants ace quietly ranks in the top three in wins, strikeouts and ERA along with the likes of Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson. Let's see if S.F. can sweep L.A. and give themselves a nice cushion in first place.