So I says, “How come we don’t do that right off the bat? Talk to somebody what comes recommended and cut a deal? I mean, you must know plenty of contractors you worked with before. Why can’t we just sit down and talk to one of them?”

“Human nature,” Bikas says, fixing me with this look like he telling me how whatever else I’m going to learn from this house we’re going to build together, here comes the most important lesson. “You go to keep people honest.”

He looks me over and decides he’s got to fill that out a little bit.

“Also you got to help people stay honest. You got to keep temptation away fomr them if you can. You understand what I’m saying?”

I nod my head.

“Even honest people go bad around money,” Bikas says.