JJ, Benny and I notice this box on the morning walk. I look around but there is not another soul on the street. There is no “free” sign on the box and looking at the parts I don’t think “free” is a good deal for them. Now why would you leave a small box of parts on the parking strip?
Ok, so Arnie and Connie live in the house to which the parking strip belongs. Its Friday night at 6pm and the sink begins to leak. Connie yells at Arnie to fix it, but he is not mechanically inclined.
Arnie says “I can’t fix it and we can’t get a plumber at 6pm on Friday. Well…..maybe we can but I’m not spending that kind of money.”
To which Connie replies “So, do we have a bucket? You can get one of those on a Friday night. Or we can call your Uncle Ernie.”
Arnie retorts, “Yeah, so I’m cheap. I’ll call Uncle Ernie. We haven’t talked to the old geezer lately anyway. “
Ernie diagnoses the problem in a few minutes. He may be old but he’s still handy. Ernie says “This cheap crap they use nowadays don’t last too long. We need to go to the hardware store and if we hurry we’ll make it to Ace before they close. ” An hour later, the sink is no longer leaking. Connie is very happy. Arnie isn’t but will be as soon as he sits down with a beer. Ernie is content as he carries the parts he removed out to the car. Ernie is greeted by his old friend Joe, out for his evening walk. Uncle Ernie sits the box of parts on the parking strip as he catches up with Joe.
And there they sit, forgotten by Uncle Ernie.
Will Uncle Ernie remember where he left them? Will Arnie finally get his beer?
Life and Befuddlement 
my theory: a plumber’s girlfriend has caught him ‘cleaning’ mrs. dinkleman’s pipes, and has thrown him out on the street, along with all of his ‘tools of the trade.’
Oooh, that’s an excellent theory. I like it!