7 Ways to Stay Sharp in Sales ... or how to catch your first monkey

This week new, incoming rep Jon Corpe receives his first sales book. It is a simple 140 page spiral bound affair, entitled "7 things you can do now to stay sharp in sales", and cost him £32 of hard earned cash. Jon started thinking about his first week after the week began.

“What to wear, what to wear” Jon asked himself as he faced his row of suits. He knew he was going to be meeting people he knew, potential customers in fact. He selected the plainest pair.

“Can I ask for a cup of coffee please” asked one door who was handing him a cup of coffee from a thermoses that had several creamers in it.

“The coffee is fine, thank you” he said.

“That is fine with me, that is the last one. Really nice to meet you” said the door.

“I have to say, I never thought I'd end up handing out cups of coffee indoors” Jon replied. This was also the first time he had ever been inside an Edwardian house; the door had been built in 1914.

“I know, right?” the door said. “This is a bit of a posh estate if you ask me.”

“It is rather nice” said Jon, “I often come here, it's very peaceful”.

Jon had had a horrible day; he had damaged one of his new shoes. It was a bit of a bad day all round actually, he got pulled over by the traffic cops, and his car's back door lock had broken. He thought it was a strange day when he told the door.

“Oh, my door” said the door, “I know your door, it is a nice one.”

Jon just smiled, thinking what a friendly door this must be in a very nice house seeing as it has opened it to him.

After handing out the cups, Jon was ready to leave. He had an hour's wait for the train that would take him to his destination, a meeting with a potential client. He decided to use the hour to practice a couple of sales techniques and also to drink his coffee.

“This is rather nice coffee” he said to himself, as he began reading the book, trying to recall all the locations he was going to visit.

Jon sat down on the edge of the polished wooden coffee table. It was his first day on the job and one of the first things he had noticed about the house was the coffee. He tried a sip of coffee, and it was perfect.

“This is lovely, is there anything else you want?” he asked.

“It is nice of you to offer, actually. It is just that ... you'll be going off at some point” said the door, “and I was hoping that you ... well, that you might provide some companionship.”

“Oh, is that right” said Jon, not believing what he heard.

“It doesn't have to be sex” said the door quite calmly, “just ... companionship.”

“Look I don't think I can do that” said Jon.

“Come on” said the door, “just hear me out, stay for a co ...”

“I think I will be moving on, the train is in about an hour” he said, excusing himself.

“But don't you want one more cup of coffee?” asked the door.

“No” he replied, “thanks though”.

“Do you really think you can resist me?” asked the door.

“I don't know” he replied. “I'm sorry.”

“One more cup” asked the door.

“No, if you don't mind” he replied.

“All right, fair enough. Have a nice life then” said the door.

Jon stayed for quite a while and thought of what had happened.

Conclusion

What do you think what is going to happen next? What do you think will happen to Jon and the door? Will Jon be able to say 'no' when the door asks him if he would like more coffee? What if it didn't end there? What if the door calls Jon again, or takes more drastic action?

The author's interpretation.

The moral of the story: Perhaps you should be careful who you open doors to.

This is like a Choose Your Own Adventure (700 word limit).