Closing the Chair

As she looked in the mirror, she would fold her hair between her index finger and thumb as she always did, imagining how she would look with short hair.  Kamie was never happy with her look, always critical of her appearance, downgrading her stock in the world of other women.  At 32, never married and no children, she did her research into what would be an exhaustive evaluation of whether or not she should get married, if the prospect would ever arise again.  No one was ever good enough, that was always the answer, blaming men's intentions but not her own. Yet sometimes she would think of  the mistakes on why or how it could of worked.  It wasn't important now, her heart was beyond reconciliation.  

   Brought up as a Methodist, she never liked to go to church, it just seemed pointless.  Why couldn't she pray on her own terms, when she wanted to, when she was ready.  But this didn't preoccupy her mind, she wouldn't let it.  What precisely did rent the thoughts were actually more rampant tangents, always changing direction, liking then disliking.  nothing ever evolved out of her relationships, even the animals would dis-connect with her.  One time she had a bird, purchased out of impulse. cage, food, toys, all the accessories to welcome the cockatiel into her home. 

 "these birds are great pets, and trainable too" the salesgirl says.

Like an authority on the species. knowing full well she probably just started the job last week after her parents thought she need a job after graduating out of high school.  Kamie was going to buy it anyway, she had made up her mind.  But after the bird bit her and didn't respond with the love and cooing that she envisioned, she thumped the small animal with her middle finger and "tippy" as she called him, would never be the same.

     The hours were long and tough at the Fairview Ford dealership, turn over was so high one time that one couldn't tell if one was a new salesperson or a customer.  Kamie had worked there for 3 years, and she knew that it was coming to the point of making it a career and committing or pursue other interest that better suited her major at college, therapeutic recreation.  Working and helping the handicapped through games.  It was a easy course of action for her studies in school, the subject seemed simple.  But she was tired of the constant sales meeting with the staff, and she especially hated the cold calls that the manager insisted on.  "pure invasion of privacy" she would remark to her sales associates, but they had to document the calls on a log.  "It works" said Thompson, her sales manager. Just when she would have herself convinced that she was right, a salesperson would deliver a vehicle sale based on a cold call effort. "damn" she would think to herself, I'm going to be on the telephone all day.    

   At 5 foot 2, 175, she never liked to think of herself as overweight, she saw perfectly good looking men with women that were bigger than her.  blond hair, brown eyes, fair skin, she felt most men wanted to date her but they would never ask her out. "their loss" she would rationalize, they don't have a clue what their missing.  She would never date anyone at work again, not after that "idiot" Aaron , she thought they had a understanding and the relationship was evolving, but after she found out that he was lying about being engaged to another woman, she figured all salesmen were nothing but that, liars.  It was ten o'clock and the sales meeting was over, the typical "cold call" message had been delivered, sales were down, and they were going to have a fire sale, someone was going to lose their job.  Kamie goes to her desk, pulls the drawer out, gets her emergency perfume, gives herself a quick shot, then heads out doors so she can catch the next customer, glancing at the curb when they pull in.  

  She is barely out of the doors when a dark brown van breaks the turn into the stocked lot, this was normally a good sign for sales people.  Anyone shopping this early wants a car and they're ready to buy.  kamie heads off the aggressive new guy Bill, he tried to cut her off before she tells him "that's the customer i was waiting on, from my cold calls" bill stalls and whips out a cigarette, "good luck" he says, "I guess i better get to my desk and work the phone". "Yes" she says smartly, "they work for me all the time", she breaks stride with a smile towards the van that has yet to open the doors. 'darn, cold feet already'.  just then the side door starts a mechanical motor to open the door.  'uh oh, its a handicapped person'. the ramp starts its extension with the mechanical precision until it lands lightly on the pavement.  the overcast day and dark interior makes it difficult for her to see inside, she didn't want to get too close as to pounce on the new customer.  'ill give him some breathing room'.  slowly the chair starts to roll out of the large van unto the ramp.  

 "Hi", he says with a smile, "I'm Jared", rolling out until he clears the bridge, just then it starts its dissent back into the van. 

 J-red, was his nick name, raised on soccer all his life in Europe. raised by his father, a broker in the European exchange, a currency trader. Jared Livingston lived the gifted life, always a winner without trying.  when he was ten there was a discovery moment on the soccer field as he could play the ball as if he had a spell on it.  moving down the field without  a problem, he was one of the most popular players on the circuit.  Coach Dan, as he called him, said he "was a natural talent" and would soon dominate the circuit wherever he went.  born in the Netherlands, raised mainly in Spain, he was bi-lingual in Spanish, English, and German.  his father traveled extensively, dealing with denominations that affected the world.  a success that he was, he never had a stable relationship with the mother of his child, but that didn't bother him as he travelned the globe not for romance, but financial dominance.  he had it all, and his son was the crown jewell. 

     Jared was sent to the finest schools and had the best tutors, spare no expense.  Livingston never thought of himself as buying time for his child, or paying off to compensate for the lack of family, rather he understood the importance of education and traveling the world, he was a professional at it.  sending his son to all the top rated camps was a easy option, not so much that he was being occupied, but rather that he was given the best and finest opportunity in the world.  

   At 17 years old, Jared never had a negative response to his game, always promoted, never neglected.  it was the final stage in his athletic career when his father sent him to the finest soccer school in brazil, only the best need apply, Jared was a shoe in. taking the soccer field one day during practice, he was running like the wind, flying high as the ball was under his command.  others never saw him coming, a true talent, natural like any athlete should be.  Self disciplined, gifted with the ball, and willing to learn.  It was the practice play that got him, a routine set that had him play near the goal.  Head ball was his speciality, Hitting the ball with his fore head was like hitting with his left foot. like a driver on the fairway, full swing as in a full head twirl.  when Jared butt the ball with his head, it was like his neck was on a swivel, a coaches dream.  

   13;45 into the game, a time Livingston would never forget. Jared was on a right wing advance towards the goal when the set up player passed him the ball for his signature head butt into the net play, it would be his last, the angle of the ball changing direction into the goal had all the elements of success, but his timed neck turn was just too much to handle.  Jared later recalled that when he made the play he saw a flash of light  like a lightning bold in his head.  He fell to the ground like a lifeless puppet, never to move again.  his face embedded in the ground, the medical personnel rushed to him thinking that he had been knocked out. that would of been too easy.  Maybe it was the sudden turn of his neck by the medic to let him get some air, it didn't matter.  He snapped the neck, severing his spine and making his lower body go numb.  Life would never be the same.  13;45, the time of a new beginning, dependence, no more sports, life as he knew it was over, so early and with the promise of life that never came.  

"Well, what did you have in mind?" Kamie asks.  She pulls her pen out and the small note pad.

"I'm thinking a 2 door sports sedan, I've always wanted one and I'm tired of seeing into peoples cars"

 Kamie laughs as she starts the customary stroll thru the dealerships inventory.  Jared pulls along side, he's got the manual chair today.  Dad had purchased the mechanical one soon after his accident, but Jared always preferred the self push, it made him feel more in command, independent.

Fairview Ford was well stocked, it carried all the latest models from the sports car mustang to trucks and suv's.  

"I'"m a car person myself| says karrie, trying to form a common ground. Thompson always said 'make friends with the customer, build a relationship, then get their butts in the office, test drive, sell, them slam them on the back end with creative financing.'

"We have the new 500 sedan, big, roomy, and plenty of power."

"I like that model"

"What's your favorite color?"

"Black"

"Mine too!" she says in sincerity, although he could of said purple and she would of agreed.

"Do you have any children?"

"No, I've never been married, you?"

Kamie answers as if not sure, "no, never have."

Jared grins as if he was glad to hear that, traveling the world never gave into relationships, he always concentrated on his soccer, Livingston made sure of that, "concentrate on your education and sports, the women will come later", but they never did.  The short list of women in Brazil soon left disinterested after the accident.  Jared never had relations with a woman.  But it never affected his maturity, it just never happened and with his condition, the prospects were dim.  The positive outlook was that Jared would never want for material things, Livingston took good care of him providing all the comforts, the specialized home, hired help to clean, cook, and bathe and look out for him.  It was the best of a bad situation.  

"What about that one?"

"That’s' a 2011 Flex fuel escort, top of the line, it comes in 5 speed and automatic"

"I prefer automatic."

Kamie turns red as Jared enjoys the exchange, they both giggle as Kamie runs her hand thru her shoulder length hair, correcting it as the wind whisks slightly. Then she starts to think about what Thompson says, "get the keys to their trade-in, have them select a car, get them in the sales office, sit them down,  then close them out!", Then wondering about the handicap access, plus he's already sitting, does that count?. 

"When are you going to be ready to make a decision?"

"I'm really just looking right now, this was my first stop."

Kamie's shoulders slump, she can't stand that answer, "just looking", like kissing a handsome man but he's your brother, or shopping for clothes, on line.  This was not going to be an easy sale.  She starts to thing about Bill, already thru his first half of pack of smokes, smiling and exchanging jokes, about her, with other salesmen. 

"Well our sales manager put out this morning that the end of the month is near and I  can make you a great deal today!"

"Oh really, and what about tomorrow?"

Laughs again.  It was just then, for a second, maybe less, that a tiny spark ignited.  Jared was already smitten, but Kamie, poor Kamie, the college educated saleswoman, never married with no prospects, saw a slight angle, "He's kind of cute", thought Kamie, and I bet he was hot in a soccer uniform, but he's in a chair, probably can't have sex, no children, needs taken care of, I would have to push him around, some places we can't go, we could never go camping, hiking, bicycling, running.  What kind of life would that be? And then as soon as the speculation started it ended.  Just sell him the damn car, don't get involved.  

Jared was a handsome man, even in his chair he was a looker.  Strangely, he didn't have a issue with attracting women, they actually gravitated to him, sometimes making the fit males jealous.  His masculine hands, lips designed for kissing, clean cut hair with a slight tan that he gets whenever Lisa the caregiver would put him out in the patio for sun.  The dark drown hair with silver strands that mixed perfectly, he could of been handicap model of the year.  "So...., did you see anything you like?"

"Yes", Jared say's quickly, her knowing that he wasn't talking about cars.   "Well, I appreciate your time, I have a lunch appointment and I don't like to be late."

Just for a moment, Kamie felt jealous, "I ."wonder who he's got a date with, I'm hungry too."

"Well wait, can I get some information from you, here is my card with my mobile number and if i could get yours too in case we get a awesome trade in and I can call you about"

"Sure......and if I should call you about something besides a car?"

'Of course", Kamie said, what could she say, there was no other answer.  

Just then they arrive back at the van, Jared hits the remote, the van starts up, the door slowly opens, the ramp extends. Jared wheels the chair onto the onto the lift and with his smiling eyes and dimpled smile, gently enters the van and with a slight wave of his hand disappears behind the darkly tinted windows.  

Kamie waves as she is not sure if he is looking, driving away at a snails pace off into the busy streets of Charleston South Carolina.  

Kamie walks back to the showroom only to be greeted by Bill and Thompson.;  

"Well did you tell him he was at the wrong car lot?" Thompson  says with a chuckle

"No I didn't, he's a buyer in the market"

"Oh really?" says Bill

"Yes, and i have his contact information"

"Whatever"

"I am going to sell that man a car." says Kamie

"Well see, I hope its before the end of the month which is two days away." Thompson says with a grunt.  

"No problem."  Just then Kamie gets a text.

  "thank you for showing me around, I look forward to meeting you again."

Now normally, Kamie would just hit the delete button, but she didn't, instead she pressed reply and sent a simile face.  What's' wrong with me she wonders, do i like this guy?  Ten minutes go by and no reply from Jared.  I guess his lunch date is going well.  I better log him in as a customer in the books, tha way I can get credit for talking to somebody and I don't get blasted in the sales meeting in the morning.  

The rest of the day seemed to glide for Kamie, taking sales calls, a couple of test drives, a reluctant customer with buyers remorse that wanted his trade in back and the smart harmless remarks from chain smoker Bill, "Did you tell him about the golf carts?"

She knew she had it coming, Car sales was typically a man's world.  Quick money, fast cars, quick deals, padded financing.  The jeers for the hot female customers.  She was tough to endure, but having stood her ground, 'never give up' her mom would say.  

The next day was the sales call meeting, "From now on move the customer trades in the back out of view, I'm tired of pissed off customers wanting their cars back, tell them we already sold them to a wholesaler and its going to the auction", Kamie was speculating if the statement was directed to her.  What's next?,  "Ok going down the list, Bill, did you call that customer back yet, we had them on the 2009 Ram extend, let me know cause I got to get that lemon out of here, I don't think the miles are right and you didn't do that car fax on that piece of crap, it got T boned two years ago."

"They did a hell of a job matching that paint" Bill remarks, "It looks brand new" 

"call your wife and sell it to her, we better get the trade in figure out of it, I put top dollar in it to make the deal go and if we get jammed your going to get a charge back on that deal" Thompson was on a roll, he obviously didn't have any good deals working and at the end of the month, he's worried about small crap.

"Kamie, did you get in contact with your customer, I need to hear something today."

"Got it."

Preston went around the table questioning each of the seven sales personnel, yours truly Karrie, Larry, Bill, Alex, Paulson, Lamar, and T.J., short for Terry Jackson, a two year professional from the NFL. T.J. always says "NFL meant not for long", as he started for the Cleveland Browns.  "It was not a glorious career, we lost all the time and I stayed on injured reserve with a groin pull. That and a turf toe was the torn in my side."

"Guys, the lot is a mess too, you know I like to keep the cars in line, when you test drive a car, make sure you put it back like you found it, and I don't want to go thru the missing key issue again. Put them on the board and don't go on break with the keys in your pocket.  Everyone stay on the lot for lunch, I'm buying Chinese today from Chef Lee's, we got to get 5 out today, and im laying a bonus for the over 180 day inventories, 250 a pop."

Kamie starting to think 'I guess a lunch date with Jared is out of the question, not like he's going to ask me out anyway.'

The meeting breaks and they start moving inventory around and more jokes from Bill.  Larry never says anything, he's kind of the confident for Kamie, a older gentlemen, married for 32 years, just rolls eyes at the comments.  Larry came over from Starlight Chevy, he's been in the business for 40 years.  "Slinging steel" is what he called it, and he's made a fine living.  He never had to catch the curb for new customers, his old ones' kept him busy.  He gets referrals all day, from the old customers that would trade in and send them their children, and theirs children's children.  He had no room for salesman of the year plaques, he was in the Dealer recognition class.  Guys like Larry Perrys never had much to do with the likes of Bill Patrova, Bill was like a traveling salesman, he was the kind of guy that by the time he got his business cards back from the print shop, he was already gone to another dealership. He had a knack for blackening out names on business cards from other guys like him that left the job he's in.  

Born from immigrant parents, his father was polish and mother from Scotland.  Bill had been selling at more dealerships than a baby changes diapers.  After he finished high school he went straight into the marines.  "Everyone should serve at least three years."  Bill did five, basic at Paris island, then assigned to the 5th infantry group as a defense analysis.  "My favorite setup was a coordinated ambush.  You get the enemy in a simple fire zone, have then run the other way from the rounds flying, then into a kill zone were you chop them in half with a 50. Cal, pure bliss."  He never served  in the combat zone, he didn't have to.  "We were studying Ivan and the soviet offensive, then the Berlin wall fell down." as he looks with disappointment.  "Those freaking commies just gave up all that crap about nerve gas and BMP formations, it was all a waste of time.  We never got to use any of the tactics except on the overhead with a classroom full of pent up marines waiting to pull the trigger."  He starts to shake his head in disbelief, "I never saw Ahab the Arab coming over the dune, we should of nuked'em and turned the desert into glass."

Bill's last sales position was at a buy here pay here lot.  "I just like to work those lots during the tax refund season, I made over 10 grand in March, but I lost about 7 on the college basketball playoffs.  Bills' only feather in his hat was the fact that he has been faithfully married with three children for the last 30 years.  He met Ginger right after boot camp, and she never left his side.  

Kamie was finishing up in the bathroom trying to decide if she wanted to go home after she ate her lunch that she bought from the house.   Her cooking was suspect, and the leftovers were risky.  She was always trying to save money, especially when sales was slow.  But she knew Thompson wouldn't like it, its near the end of the month when sales figures had to be brought in, and the lot felt desperate for sales.  'Maybe I could fall down in front of a customer with Thompson looking, he would have to send me home.'

"What's wrong Kamie?" said Jill, the customer service secretary.  "You don't look so good."

"I don't feel too good right now, I want to go home."

"I've got some Pepto Bismol in my desk, it works wonders."

"I might try it in a little if my stomach doesn't settle."

"Ok, its in my right top drawer."

Kamie managed a smile and walked to her cubicle, trying not to eye the lot hoping no customer would hail her. She sat down and put her head in her hands, looking down when she noticed a written note pad message of a missed call.  It was Jared, he called and asked her to call back asap.  'Why didn't he use my cell phone' she thought.  'Last thing I need is gossip with the idiots I work with.'  She then reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out the phone.  It was off, she tried to power it up but it was dead.  'Darn it' she thought, I wonder how many calls did I miss, it could of been a sales call...or maybe Jared' 

     Jared was up early as usual, 0600, just like when he was in training.  First a 12oz glass of water, with a power bar, stretches, dress, more stretches, then a slow run for one mile, stretches, more water, dribble exercises for two hours, swimming for one hour, afternoon lunch, two hours of soccer, then a two mile run. Everyday.  'I used to try to stay at the top of my game, practice leads to perfection, performance and professionalism."  The three P's.  "I had that written in my daily log, some people call it a diary.'  Jared could tell you exactly what he did on any particular day, what he did, ate and drank.  'Seven hours a day sleep, not over 8 and not less than 6.'

"Lisa, where is my North Carolina Tar heel hat?"

"Its in the laundry room, I had to wash it."

"Which you probably messed it up." Jared replys.

"It's just like new, you ready?"

"Yes"

Jared pulled to his spot at the table and Lisa served him two slices bacon, one polish sausage, two eggs over easy on dry toast, uncut with mayonnaise.  Coffee with powder cream, two sugars. 

"It's good" 

Lisa smiles, "So what do you have planned for today?"

"Oh, still car shopping."

"Your wasting your time, the van is perfect for you."

"I know but I just can't stand the van any longer."

Jared reaches for the paper and pulls the classified.

"I guess I can go back to the ford place."

"Oh, to see that girl?"

"Oh my gosh Lisa, I told you we were just friends."

Lisa rolls her eyes, "Uh-Huh, a special needs person buying a sports car, how diligent."  Trying to be politically correct, "you going to ask her out?"

"No" says Jared

"Why?"

"Cause I have a crush on you."

Both laugh, but its not far from the truth.  Lisa Morales, 28, a naturalized citizen from illegal parents, was the kind of girl that had the most gentle origin.  Light tanned skin, black shoulder length hair, 110 pounds.  She had the goal of going into nursing but settled on home special needs care.  'When I was growing up in Galveston, my mother always encouraged me to study and professionally develop myself, I guess I did ok'

"Can I have one more slice dry toast?"

"You want jelly?"

"No, butter."

"It's fattening, you want to stay hot for the women."

"Whatever"

"I'm serious, you think no one wants you, your wrong, I know plenty of women that would like to have a man like you."

"OK, where?"

Lisa smirks "That's not my problem."

"You started it."

"Here's your toast."

Jared takes it and eats it dry without butter."

"Why you eat it dry?" 
"Well, its customary that when you put butter from the freezer its hard as a rock."

"I know, I'll thaw it out."

Jared sighs, "I am going to the ford place."

"Ok, i hear you" lLsa says

"I need to look for a car"

"Uh-huh"

"And ask her out."

They both laugh.  

    Kamie was putting the finishing touches on a walk in lay down.  "I love it when this happens",  A customer walks in off the street, he looks like he barely has bus fare and all the sales personnel run for the break room.  "I've got to hit the head" exclaims Bill.  The others are thinking 'I'm not wasting my time with this bum', how about a 2011 Ford Expedition with all the whistles and bells, full list, 7's credit, 10k down and the extended warranty agreement.  Add the 250 bonus from Thompson and I'm looking at a 2800 profit sale.