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Setting my satchel down I slowly placed carpet sweeper on carpet and began sweeping over crumbs. I passed over crumbs time and again but to my horror sweeper was only picking up a small amount of crumbs. I continued to sweep over crumbs but crumbs were still there on carpet. "Uh, I'm sorry...uh, but, uh, this thing doesn't seem to be working very well," I stammered as I continued sweeping, now a little more furiously.
Her demeanor didn't change, "Okay. I buy."
Instead of being thrilled I suddenly felt awful. I couldn't sell this woman something that didn't work. "You don't really want to buy this, do you? See, it really doesn't even work very well."
"Okay. I buy."
I swept furiously some more but then stopped. "In good conscience I don't think I can sell it to you. Look at all those crumbs still on floor."
"Okay. I buy." Before I knew what was happening woman grabbed carpet sweeper out of my hand and took it with her to a table on other side of room. Setting it down, she rifled through her purse sitting upon table. Quickly, she came up with incredible introductory price and, leaving sweeper by table, she brought money over to where I was standing, "I buy."
With my jaw dropped and a look of perplexed stupidity on my face, I took her money. I didn't know what to say.
She apparently sensed my confusion and commenced to explain, "Five minute ago I am on floor on knees cleaning up mess. I think to myself, 'Boy I wish I had carpet sweeper like on TV.' The next second doorbell ring and I open door. You stand there with carpet sweeper in hand. How can I not buy?!"
With my jaw still dropped she walked me back to front door, saying, "Thank you. Come again." With front door closed behind me, I stood there for a few minutes trying to figure out what just happened. I was still too young and ignorant way back then to fully appreciate beauty of moment.
That was last house I went to. I went straight to my car and drove to my boss's house and turned in my satchel, quitting job. I didn't make much money at that job. I was quite failure. It would take me some time to realize, however, that everything I needed to learn from that job I learned in that one house call to Korean woman.
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