ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Culture
‘IT’S A HAMMER NOT A HAIRBRUSH’
19 year-old Jackson Ellis has become the subject of endless amusement for his more seasoned colleagues on an Auckland central building site recently.
Joining the team late last year, Jackson comes across as eager to learn but hopelessly unaware of what he’s doing.
“Every time he touches something, it’s a full-blown comedy show,” said experienced builder Mick, 41.
The most infamous moment so far came during a routine tool run when Mick asked Jackson to fetch a “left-handed screwdriver,” and not to come back with another right-handed one. Jackson, thinking it was some sort of specialised tool he had somehow missed in his orientation, scurried around the site in a frantic search.
Gavin, who has been with the building company over a decade, said he gets his amusement when Jackson picks up the hammer.
“I yelled at him. It’s a hammer not a hairbrush. Use it with authority! He was picking it up and looking at it like it was some sort of foreign object.
“Sure, he’s a walking disaster sometimes,” Gavin says, “but the kid’s trying. He’s not afraid to ask questions, and at least he’s got a sense of humour about it. Plus, he actually nailed a couple of things together the other day without asking for a tutorial, so maybe he’s getting the hang of it albeit quite slowly.”
More to come.
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