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Sci- fi story of a travelling salesman


Cold Call



The morning had not gone well at all. Old man Obershaw had been in a foul
mood, as was normal. But today was worse than usual. It had allways seemed
strange to Rol that the most successfull salesman Hroover Particle Cleaners
had ever employed was so disliked by management. Of course he knew the (real)
reason. The system was not designed for success. Hroover's normal SOP resulted
in a constant employee turnover. When a new salesman hired on he was promised a
straight commission on his sales. The company would (to help the salesman out
until his big sales started rolling in) pay a weekly salary, what the company
called a "draw" on future sales. New employees were also required to purchase
their starter kits, containing a new Hroover Cleaner and attendant attachments,
at the "company" rate of course. The cost of the kits were to be deducted from
their future commissions as well. On paper this appeared all peaches and cream
to the young unemployed worker. The company recruiters made it sound like taking
candy from a baby. Reality was much different. As anyone who has ever tried
portal to portal sales can attest it is one rough way to make a living. It was
a rare person indeed that lasted more than a few weeks. When the disheartened
salesman crawled back to the office and quit, the company (being good hearted
and understanding of course) agreed to buy back his starter kit, with natural
deductions for deprecation (well it wasn't new anymore was it) and draws on
commission. The poor chap was lucky if he didn't owe the company when all was
said and done. In essence the company had free labor.

But Rol Medina was different. He was blessed with a natural talent that
enabled him to read a prospect. He could determine in a matter of moments if the
sale would be made. It was a blessing that could not be taught, either a person
had it or they didn't. And Rol had it, he could pick the buyers from the time
wasters like seperating the grain from the chaff. And that burned Old man
Obershaw. Rol could see the veins in Obe's neck tighten every time he had to
pay the commission. They had tried everything they knew to get rid of him.
Everything failed. Once when they tried cheating Rol on his comission checks
he said nothing, but sold twice as much the next week. That finally put an
end to their efforts, he hoped.

"At least the day cant be all bad" Rol thought to himself. He had taken
possession of the companys newest cleaner, the Mark 100. The Mark 100 was the
biggest breakthrough in cubicle cleaning since molecular attraction had replaced
vacuum induction. The princapal involved was not really new, but rather a
quantum leap ahead for the present technology. The theory behind all the current
cleaners in production was very simple. Every substance known to man had a
molecular structure all to its self. The cleaners circutry was programmed to
attract the structure of the most common forms dirt and debries found in the
average home. The cubbywife would turn on the cleaner and move it around the
cubby as the dirt was attracted up its transfer tube and into the
holding tray. Now the Mark 100 would change all that. While the old style
cleaners were passive, you had to take them to the dirt, the 100 was active
bringing the debris to it. It was really a thrill just to watch it work. When
activated its sensors scanned the area finding foriegn matter. It then
emitted a multihued beam of light that converted the matter and transported it
back to a waste tray. The cubbywife could relax watching her favorite
soap opera on holovision as the 100 went about its business.

The transport out to the suburbubble was a smooth one with the vast majority
of commuters transporting the other direction, towards the innersphere and work.
The mornings calls had been uneventfull. Most often getting outright refusals.
"Ohh no thank you" the middleaged cubbywife had said "I am sure your new cleaner
is just wonderfull but we just bought one last year" One young lady refused
saying "Why dont you come back when my husband is home, I dont know a thing
about that technical stuff" He did run across a few lookie loos who just wanted
to watch the new cleaner work, as well as getting the cubicle cleaned in the
process. But Rols special talent alerted him to the fact and he cut their
sales pitch short.

It was nearing midday and his stomach was telling him it was time for a
protein break. Remembering a fast protien stand on one of the upper levels, he
decided to break right after his next call. After all it was the last
residential cubby on this level. Rol pressed the portalbell and the face of
an aged woman appeared. "Good morning!" he began " My name is Rol Medina and
I represent the Hroover Partical Cleaner company...I was hoping to take just
a few moments of your valuable time to show you the biggest breakthrough in the
history of cleaning!" Make it sound improtant, the companys training had
stressed. The first hurdle to overcome is getting the foot in the portal.
The portal quickly hissed open "Come right in young man" she said "If your new
gizmo is that improtant you better just tell me all about it" As Rol stepped
into the small cubby a small brown Chewawaron whizzed from under a couch wrapped
itself around his ankle. "Brieee brieee" went its high pitched whine as it
attacked his leg with its sharp little suction plates and then darted off under
a chair. While not actually dangerous they are reguarded as one royal pain in
ass by salesman. "What a nice little pet you have, you know I have one that
looks almost like it at home." Rol said trying to establish some common ground,
in fact he detested the little vermin often comparing them to overly large sewer
rodons. "Ohhh don't mind Baby, she just gets a little overexcited when we have
visitors. You know we dont often have guests anymore" the old woman replied.
Looking around the room Rol relalized why. The entire cubby was crammed full of
boxes, packages, and containers of all kinds. There were stacks of old
Newssheets that must have dated back years. He often wondered why so many old
people became such pack rodons.

It did not take Rol long to establish this was a clinker, a no sale. This one
was a talker. Old and alone she craved for some company, any company. So she
welcomed the intrusion of the portal to portal salesman as on opportunity to
talk. He was just about to make his exit when the woman said "I was just about
to fix myself a sandwich for lunch would you care to join me, I think I may
even have soupcube somewhere too." Rol hadn't had any solid food in months as
the price was getting to be outragous. He decided it was well worth spending
a little of his time with the old bird in exchange for the food. The thought
also crossed his mind that if she had enough credits stashed away to afford
solids then she might be put together in a large purchase. "I would be honored,
if your sure you have enough" he replied "While your fixing lunch Ill turn on
our new Mark 100 cleaner and show you how easy it really is!"

As the woman walked into the foodprep station Rol set up and activated
the new cleaner. The 100 swiftly started its duties and Rol began his speil
through the open portal at the old woman. Ever so often he would be interupted
by comments such as "well Ill be, you dont say, and well I never". "So much for
a sale" he thought. The only sounds the Mark 100 made as it worked was a
barely audible snap as the cleaning beams were transmitted followed by a slight
smell of ozone. Looking around the room he noticed the Chewawaron cowering
behind a large chair, cringing each time a beam shot out. A smile came to his
face, being well pleased at the pets reaction. As he watched the unit work
he became aware that something was wrong. The room was now clean but the
100 continued to function. He watched for a few seconds with amusement as
the beams flashed about dissolving the collected junk around the room.
"Fssst" a stack of Newsheets were gone! Fssst a pile of yellowing boxs
dissapared. "This thing must be smarter than we first thought, it really does
know what is trash" he thought to himself. With the old woman soon to return he
didn't want to upset her before he had his meal so he walked over and hit the
disengage switch. Nothing happened. He hit it again and again but to no avail
as the new wonder cleaner continued to work. Now he was getting frantic. The
Mark 100 had finished off the refuse and started beaming the ceramic gee gaws
and doo dads off the little shelves around the room. Rol was madly flipping
through the pages of the operating manual in search of some way to turn it off.
The walls were now bare, knicknacks, shelves, pictures, and even the light
fixtures gone in a Fssst. Not knowing what else to do he ran over and started
pounding on the machine with his fists. Wham wham wham, Fssst Fssst Fssst, wham
wham wham, Fssst fssst fssst and the cleaner went merrily about devouring the
room. There wasnt much left when she came back into the room. As the last piece
of furniture vanished exposing the horrified little Chewawa she screamed and
dropped the lunch tray she was carrying "MY GOD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY HOME"
Now the little beast being uncovered began to howl and run around the room
"BRIEEEEEEEEE BRIEEEEEEEEE BRIEEEEEEummmpphh" as it evaporated into the bowels
of the machine. "MY BABY! MY BABY!" the old bag screamed as she picked up a
butter knife from the floor and lunged. As smooth as can be the 100 went
"Fsssst" and she was gone. Rol in panic grabbed the possessed creation and
hurled it out the open ventilation hatch to the street below.

Atti Crazz, Obershaws personal secratary looked up from her desk with her
ever present tobacco stick smoldering from her lower lip as Rol burst through
the portal. "HEY! you cant go in there. Mr Obershaw is in private conferance
and cant be disturbed" she howled. Pushing past her he broke into the
inner cubby. Obershaw was sitting with his feet on the desk watching "As the
Planatiod Spins". Wha..Wha..What are you doing here? he gasped as Rol deposited
the remains of the smashed cleaner on his desk. Realizing Rol had defeated him
once again Obe's anger swelled. "What have you done with the Mark 100?" his
voice raised. Calmly Rol replied "Well this unit seem to be defective sir"
Now screaming, Obe persisted "You had better expain exactly what
you were doing with this unit or your ass is MINE!" Removing the waste tray
and cooley dumping its contents in front of Obershaw Rol said " Well boss, I
was just *picking up* another customer" At that he turned and moved for the
portal, stopping before leaving and saying "See you in the morning"

DOWNLOAD complete.

Press <return> for more Downloaded from Just Say Yes. 2 lines, More than 1500 files online!
Do you write? Give us a call! 415-922-2008 CASFA



 
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