I get a call from a desperate customer in Sherman Oaks (cue in scary suspenseful music!). He explains to me that he has a pool party today and that a dead animal carcass is in the pool.

I get the address, give him a window of time that I should be arriving and I’m on my way. I told him from where I was coming, it would take at least an hour. He called me every minute after that hour until I arrived. Dealing with traffic I rushed there as soon as I possibly could. I arrived to a group of cheers. I guessed that some party goers might have arrived a little early. I also was asked frequently if it is safe to go into a pool where a dead animal was. Not knowing the situation totally, I give the pool a good look. The animal was in the deepest end of the pool at the bottom.

I didn’t have an instrument long enough to snare it, so I put on the board shorts and take off my shirt. I jump in and didn’t want to leave the pool. It was definitely in the high 90’s that day. I go under and get a good look and as I get closer, I see that this dead skunk is a sweater. Great, I came out here to remove a drowned sweater. I dry off and hand them the sweater. They embarrassingly apologize and thank me at the same time. “No problem, guys. It happens all the time.” They kept trying to give me money and I just couldn’t take it. If I did, I would’ve thought about it all week and felt worse. I told them “I should pay you for letting me jump in the pool.” Everything worked out fine. Removed whatever was in the pool, the party went on and I got to jump in a pool on a long, hot day. All in all, it wasn’t a bad day. They were happy so I was happy and even if it was a sweater, I got it. The worst part of the job was that I had to take my shirt off!

Until next time folks!

Trapper Vic