FIRST JOB

FIRST JOB

The lot looked full of nice, new and used vehicles as the lady walked around to admire them. She had only had one car in her life, a Ford. She wasn't sure what to buy but knew she had to get something soon as people in town were tired of her hitch-hiking.

Why, even this morning a nice policeman whom she knew from when he was a lad, stopped to ask her to please keep her thumb to herself as he kindly gave her a ride to the dealership.

Last Sunday, it took three different rides to get her to and from church and she got all wet from the rain. So she MUST get something today!

"Yes, M'am, how may we help you today?"

"Do I look like I need 'help'?" she asked the young gentleman who had walked outside when he saw a prospective customer. He wasn't keen on old ladies but he was tired of playing card games on the office computer.

"Oh. I'm sorry, M'am," he smiled "I meant to say "how may I assist you?"

"Well, that's better. My oh my, don't they teach you anything these days?"

"Are you looking to buy or just looking today?"

"That depends, Mr..........I didn't get your name, young man. Do you have one?"

"Ooops, sorry. I assumed YOU knew. My name's David; David Grimshaw".

"Hello, David; my name is Ethel Gulliver". They shook hands. "And yes, I am looking to buy a car today. What would you suggest for a lady such as myself?"

They walked around the lot together and he offered his idea of what he thought she could afford. He noticed that she had no pocketbook. He figured she probably had a small amount of cash stuffed in her corset somewhere. He grinned to himself. This one shouldn't take long; a piece of cake!

"How about a test drive in this older model car? It has still got a few years left in her and........."

"Her?? Why do you call a car a she?"

"Well, er, I dunno, I guess....."

"You don't know? Well, I hope that you will find out and when you do, please let me know."

"Sure, but I ain't the boss and...."

"Ain't? Ain't? Where did you attend school, David? I thought I had come to the right place to buy my new vehicle but I guess...."

"New? Did you say "new"?

"Of course! Why would you assume otherwise?"

"Well, I'm sorry but I thought you wanted an older car; how about we take this baby for a spin?"

"How much does this "baby" cost?"

"Well, just for today and just for you...."

"Cut the crap, Mister. I wasn't born yesterday! I just want straight answers, ok? I may be 79 but I'm not senile."

They drove a few cars but she wasn't pleased with any of them. The young salesman was getting anxious and realized three hours had passed and other customers were being taken care of and driving away. He was just about ready to tell her to take her business elsewhere; crazy old woman.

He hadn't sold anything except two old, used cars this whole month and he was sure that the General Manager was going to let him go at the end of the month. Now it was his misfortune to waste over three hours walking around with this old broad. She was as crazy as a loon, always correcting him and making him feel like "just a used car salesman."

"I'd like to buy five of those new Cadilacs, please."

"What? Did you say five?? You want to buy five new cars???"

"Are you deaf or something? I want one in black, one in white and three in silver. And I want them delivered with a full tank of gas, tomorrow at noon."

He smiled at her sense of humour and laughed aloud. Suddenly, the old lady whipped out her checkbook and began to write........God, was she serious? He suddenly began to hyperventilate!

He led her into his small cubicle and pulled up the necessary information on his computer. Yes, they were in stock and available! He ran to get his boss but she was nowhere in sight. He felt faint!

"David, I'd like a glass of iced tea, please; while I'm waiting for you to come down out of the clouds."

"Oh; yes, of course; hold on...."

And so it was that David sold five cadilacs on a lazy Saturday afternoon, to the same person. As soon as the check cleared, the cadilacs were driven to her home. The young salesman was overcome with joy and remained so for several weeks.

He loved to tell this story to his sons when they were selling cars to pay for their way through college. There is no job that isn't honourable and successful as long as one applies him/herself and perseveres.

'Course, having a wealthy grandmother who bought all four of her grandsons a new car for Christmas, doesn't hurt either. Just ask David; he was as surprised as the others were on that Saturday when his grandma hitch-hiked to his part-time first real job.

Thanks, Grannie!