"The Tell"

     The contractor arrived soon after I contacted him, almost a year ago now. He advertised as a Veterans' Lawn and Yard Service. He himself was a veteran and also offered veteran discounts. His site had several positive reviews and he presented as a serious and knowledgeable young man. He spoke in a calm serious voice and went into detail indicating what he and his crew would do: clearing the brush from the front fence and other areas, giving the lawn a last mowing and mulching, lopping off minor low hanging branches. We agreed on a price, rather steep I thought, but, hey, it was the last of the season and he promised the yard would look really good.

   That same day, I told M. of the arrangement, which was to occur the following day. I told her that D. was certainly presentable and seemed professional and decent. But I also told her that something seemed "off" about him and I couldn't  describe what it might be. He definitely had no trace of alcohol impairment, and no indication of being under the influence of drugs, of none that I'd ever observed anyway.  Yet----there was something. I didn't know what, but something didn't sit quite right.

   Now I realize what it was. He was lying, about almost all of what he was saying.