idioms...sayings understood by native speakers part eighteen
Rick looked up from his desk at the man known as Hal Jones, stood at attention, front and center. Rick leaned back in his chair. And simply held out his hand. The man gave him his contact book. "Go grab your chair, bring it in here and take a seat."
Hal about faced and did exactly what he was told. Rick shook his head as he perused the man's list. Crisp, printed names and addresses... Interesting, he thought as the man was now sitting very straight in his chair, awaiting further orders.
"So, Hal, tell me about yourself."
"Sir, yes, sir. I am twenty eight. I am single. I joined the military out of high school and had planned to make it a career." He paused, "But I suffered a career ending injury."
"How long has it been since you were in the military?"
"I was on medical leave for six months, so it has been a year now."
Rick nodded. "What made you decide to become a salesman for a toy company?"
"I wanted to get as far away from the military as possible. sir."
"And, is it?"
"Huh?"
"Is it far away from the military?"
The man's face fell a little. "Discipline is lacking. But the hierarchy is almost the same."
"Honest answer. But why sales? To be successful at this you have to believe in your product one hundred percent. By your lack of sales, I have to wonder about that."
"Oh, I do believe in most of our products... "
"Save what?"
"Save the military toys."
"Why is that?"
"Because it promotes war as play, not real. It desensitized boys to the realities of war."
"Those toys are our best sellers."
"I know."
"And?"
Hall just shrugged.
"You don't push them, right?"
Hal nodded.
"And so, your clients don't seem very pleased... I have one complaint that you would not sell the toys he wanted to put up in his retail store."
"Yes, sir."
"Now that is a conundrum. What are we going to do about that?" Steve watched the man squirm.
"Hal, what was your favorite toy as a kid?"
"GI Joe."
"Well, even though that is not one of ours, we will let that slide... " Steve gave a gentle smile. "Did playing with your GI Joe make it impossible for you to face the reality of war?"
"Well, um, actually, no."
"Okay, and what did playing with that toy do?"
"My friends and I played army everyday when I was a kid."
"And so the camaraderie of play, did that help you face the reality of war?"
Hal took a deep breath as a realization crossed his face. "Actually, yes. When you and your friends are faced with real bullets, all you have are each other. It is a camaraderie forged by fire."
"So... what do you think about selling military toys now?"
He looked at Rick, and gave a rueful smile. "I can do it."
Rick nodded thoughtfully. "Here are the meetings set up for today. Tell me about each one of these clients."
"Um, like what?"
"Oh, their hobbies, interests, what clientele their stores cater to...That kinda stuff."
The boy's face when blank.
"We have about two hours before going to the first meeting. Get on the net and research each of these names. Think of it as a covert mission. The more you know of your enemy, the more likely...
The boy finished with..."The mission will be successful."
Rick thought to himself , I bet you were a Ranger.
"What branch of service were you in?"
"Oh... Army of course. I was an Army Ranger, Corporal first class."
Rick just could not help himself. "Dismissed, soldier."
Hal got up and took his chair out. His walk had a crisper step than before.
---
The miles rolled by as the vans headed for the state capital that held both the deaf and blind schools. Talk about how girlfriends, wives, and parents were blown away by the suddenness of this rode trip scattered through the vans... Lynn closed her eyes and was soon fast asleep.
---
Rick pulled out the standard sample case that each salesman carried and rearraged it. Luckily, Hal's assigned territory was his old stomping grounds when he was a salesman some ten years ago. The meetings were going to be with some of his old clients... although a few of the names were new to him. But one never forgets how to ride a bke, he thought as he looked up hearing Hal knock, "Come in, you can tell what you found out on the road." As he gathered his keys, case and strode out of the office.
---
Grandfather Matthews left the CO's office on the top floor with a smirk on his face. He certainly would not be the one that would mess with Carl's girl or Ricks' girl for that matter, that is what sons are for... he smiled at how wise he had become in his old age, as his chauffeur pushed him out to his car.
"Watson?"
"Yes."
"I would like a drink. I think that there is a new pub that just opened, called "The Watering Hole".
Watson nodded, as he helped the old man into the limo.
"The Watering Hole" it is sir."
---
Jenny sat on the barstool surveying the mirror. Larry continued to nonchallantly dry his glasses while also continuing to watch. Their waiter, Joey, requested IDs from a group of giggling girls, that were soon discovered to be underage. He pointed to the door and told them to leave. When they started to get louder. Jenny walked over to them and whispered. "Leave now, or I will call everyone of your parents." The girls scattered. She yawned and smiled to herself. As she turned she noticed an old man in a wheelchair with a chauffuer pushing him, slide up to a table. Jenny turned and saw Sal who was sitting up and leaning forward on his elbows. "And so it begins.." she muttered as she signaled for Joey to wait on that table. The man complied, but returned quickly.
"Jenny?"
"Yes."
"He wants to speak with you."
Jenny nodded and glanced up at Larry who jumped as the glass he was cleaning broke from the sudden pressure from his hand. She grabbed Joey and pulled him closer as her back was turned from the wheel chair man. "Tell Larry to chill. I have got this."
Jenny with a bright smile plastered on her face sautered over to the old man. Thinking to herself, according to the history books, General Patton said a good offense is the best defence, as she extended her hand to the old man, unfortunately, I am out of ammunition. "Hi, I am Jenny Lundstrum. I hear you wish to speak to me, Mr. er...?"
---
Steve and Hal were driving across town to their first meeting. Steve smiled as he sat at the light and read his text. "Lynn, do your best. You always do. As far as my first day, that remains to be seen."
to be continued.
