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Holidays in Tool Rental

 Twas’ a month before Christmas, with bargains galore. Customers were scurrying, expecting to score, Load-n-Go’s, combo kits, and holiday yard decor.

Santa was visiting, with kiddies, at that.

Little did they know, the most fun they would have, was to visit Tool Rental, to Pressure Wash their Cat®.

We start the morning, with contractors my friend, Vince pounding the computer, it has no end.

The register, it’s finicky, let's not pretend.

Call I.T. help? “No, call Jim instead.”

The alarm goes off, oh - what a racket, a contractor barks out, “I need that bracket.”

A line starts to form, patience is nill’. “I want a jackhammer, that suits the bill.”

“Rent me a Hilti. Serve me first, I'll do more than blabber. Your VOC score will fall off the ladder.”

Bob slips in, and checks repairs. Get them done early, and no annoying errors.

With Amber and Jeff all dressed in red, Joe customer enters with a cap on his head.

“I have a repair,” the customer says. “It's Christmas lights, all green and in red. They don't blink, they seem to be dead.”

Bob jumps from his den, ruhgh, ruhgh, ruhgh,” growls Bob, as he shakes his head, “We don’t repair electrical! What a bonehead.”

Rentals are steady, thank God we have Eddie, a fine gentleman, he’s always pressed and ready.

We can't forget Joey, there’s scaffolding due in,  he Loves to offload it, to an attendant within.

While Patrick sweeps the hall, he takes a call. Hello? Tool Rental - Yes? We have the right whatchamacallit’s for all.

Merry Christmas to all!

Updated November 2018.

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