The Salesman - by Louder
Elderly Mrs. Hartley sat with her hair under the dryer. Sally Miller, a 45 year old mother of two, sat patiently reading a magazine. 30 year old Kathi Wurtz was sitting in the styling chair as 26 year old beautician Carly Yates worked on her hair.
It was a typical afternoon at Carly's own little business, Carly's Hair and Beauty. It wasn't a catchy name but it got the point across. She'd been in town for about a year and had established a moderate clientele. In this time she'd learned her customers by name and probably knew more about them and their family than she really needed. But she felt that helped her business. She knew not to schedule Sally when school was letting out because she would be picking up her kids. She knew the best time to schedule Mrs Hartley was on a Monday when she made her trip into town for banking and groceries. Kathi liked to sleep late and afternoons were best for her. These were the type of things that the hair salons in the mall couldn't be bothered with. On the other hand, her clients didn't really know much about Carly. She liked to keep her personal life to herself. Her customers respected that and allowed her the space.
Carly herself looked a little tired. Having 3 clients in the shop at one time wasn't anything unusual even though she only had the one chair. She wanted to keep the business as brisk as possible. She wondered at times if this was all worth it but she kept telling herself it would be.
The women looked up when the bells above the door jingled and a man entered. He was dressed nicely even though it was an obvious cheap suit. He looked around 30 years of age and no one seemed to recognize.
"'Afternoon ladies" he said politely "Allow me to introduce myself"
Carly saw his briefcase and cut him off "I'm sorry... no salesmen during business hours. It's store policy. Appointment only. You can leave a card and a catalog if you wish"
"Mam, shouldn't you hear what products I offer first? I'm sure my card would get lost amongst all those others" he said as he motioned to a Mason jar full of cards.
"Sorry... store policy... I really need to get back to work"
"But perhaps this is something that would interest you and also these other lovely ladies here today. I'd hate to leave without at least telling you a little about my products. You might not ever have this opportunity again"
"Uh huh" Carly replied in an unimpressed tone "I really don't have time and neither do...."
The man didn't wait for Carly to finish "Time! That's really the answer isn't it? That's really why this place exists isn't it?"
Carly squinted and frowned. The others in the shop also looked at the man and tried to figure out his point.
"Carly's Hair and Beauty, don't you get it? Don't you understand what I am saying? Beauty... time? They go hand in hand. Time, youth, beauty. A triangle. A perfect triangle. As time grows longer the triangle loses its perfect shape. That's what I am talking about!"
He had the women's attention although far from their understanding. He sighed and opened his briefcase. It was filled with small crystal vials. He smiled as he displayed the velvet lined briefcase and its contents to the women.
"Five minutes" Carly told him "And don't expect that to mean I am buying anything"
The man began speaking again "I understand why you are here. I really do. That's why I am coming to places like this. Small shops. What I am offering shouldn't be made available on a mass scale. It's too rare. Too many people would want it and the product would become so expensive that only the richest of the rich could afford it. I'm offering something that before today you would've thought unattainable. Youth! These vials contain waters with the magical and mystical qualities of the Fountain of Youth!"
Carly shook her head "You have to be joking! I give you five minutes to peddle you wares and you give us that drivel?"
"Please, hear me out. Wait... Although the product might sound incredible and the price might seem expensive I feel a demonstration is in order. While a price of 1000 dollars per year might at first shock you, I think a sample would show you that it is instead a bargain of immense proportions!"
"A THOUSAND DOLLARS... per year??? Assuming this was even remotely serious, you mean it would cost 10,000.00 to get 10 years younger?" Carly asked "I've heard of snake oil salesmen but I've never met one until now. And a crazy one at that!"
The man smiled and pulled a vial from the briefcase. "A demonstration" he said as he scanned the room and saw the questioning faces of Carly's customers.
He walked toward Carly "This is free of charge. An example to everyone here"
"I'm not drinking that!" Carly told him.
"You don't have to drink it. Just sprinkle it on your skin. Let me see your wrist, please"
Carly slowly extended her hand to the man. He gently took her hand and turned it over exposing her palm. He lightly sprinkled the contents of the crystal on the underside of her wrist. The other women watched anxiously but with apprehension.
"Now what?" she asked sarcastically.
"Now we wait" he answered.
"And so I'm going to get a year younger... a thousand dollars worth, huh?" Carly asked as she shook her head.
"No, I don't want anyone to think this is a trick of light or that their imagination is playing tricks on them. That was a vial with a concentration designed to remove 20 years"
"20 years? Ok.. I've played along far too long already. I need to get back to work and you need to...." Carly stopped talking and stumbled backwards. She wiped her brow and sat her glasses down on the counter. She tugged on her smock.
The man smiled. All the women stared intently at Carly's face. Did she look younger?
Carly loosened her hair and took a deep breath "I felt dizzy for a moment"
"That's understandable. 20 years is a long time."
"Oh, Please. Gimme a break! ... That's....." Carly staggered back again. This time she had to catch herself on the counter to keep from falling. The women gasped but kept their eyes on Carly. With her glasses off and her hair down loose she did look younger.
The man put his arm around her "Let me help you" he said "We'll get you a cold cloth in the back"
Carly walked along with the man to the back. The other women listened intently. They heard water running and then they heard the man speaking "There's nothing to worry about. Don't fight the rejuvenation. It's absolutely harmless. Just stay seated"
"This can't be really happening... it's impossible... My clothes... they look like they are getting bigger!"
The women looked at each other. Did Carly's voice sound younger? Did she say her clothes look like they are getting bigger? Anticipation started to build. Mrs Hartley had long before now turned the hair dryer off to listen intently to the happenings.
"There, do you feel better now?" they heard the man ask.
The women couldn't believe what they heard next. A little girl's voice slowly replied "Yeah, mister"
Out from the back came the man with little Carly holding his hand. She was struggling to walk in her adult shoes and he skirt was nothing more than a trip hazard that she held up as best she could with her free hand. Her blouse hung to her knees anyway.
"You made me little.. I have to cut hair!" she exclaimed and grabbed her scissors. Kathi jumped up before letting this child near her head with the scissors.
"Carly, I don't think that's a good idea right now" Kathi said.
Mrs Hartley spoke up "This is incredible. It's worth every bit of what you are asking but what about Carly? She's just a child now..."
"How's come I'm not a grownup anymore?" she asked.
"Is that such a bad thing?" the man replied as he answered both.
"Are my friends still all big?" little Carly asked.
"I'm afraid they are, sweetie. But you can make new friends" the man told her.
"All of my friends are big?" Carly asked "Don't they want to be little so they can play and have fun like me?"
The man started explaining "You see, Carly was the perfect example of someone who would enjoy a second chance at childhood. She hadn't grown weary with life yet but she was on her way. Overworked. Barely getting by. Don't feel sorry for her. It was a gift. I'm just sorry I can't afford the same gift to all of you"
The women pondered what the man was telling them. It did make sense. Little Carly did seem to be adjusting to childhood well. The rejuvenation seemed to rejuvenate her mind as well.
"Meggy!" Little Carly exclaimed and went running towards the door shedding shoes and oversized clothing along the way.
They looked outside to see Carly pad up to a little girl riding a bike in front of the shop. The little girl stopped and at first Carly looked disappointed but then both girls faces brightened. The salesman walked to the door and opened it for Carly to re-enter the shop.
"I thought this was Meggy. Meggy's my best friend... well... she used to be my bestest friend in school. But this is Amber. She says Meggy is her MOMMY!"
"Did you really used to be my mommy's best friend when she was a little girl?" Amber asked.
"Uh huh!" little Carly answered "We played together all the time"
"You wanna be my friend?" Amber asked.
"Yeah! Yay!" Carly answered as the two girls squealed.
"Why don't you girls go play in the park while I talk business with these ladies?" the man said as he handed little Carly her discarded skirt and sandals.
The two children happily left together as the salesman turned to the ladies "So, are you interested?"
The women had already been talking amongst themselves. "Yes" Mrs Hartley replied "We've talked and we are interested. What do we need to do?"
"You simply bring me the payment for the amount of years you'd like erased and I will give you each a vial. I wish it could be less expensive but I am sure you understand" he explained "Also, it must be cash. People cheating me with bad checks is an unfortunate risk I just cannot take".
"I understand" Mrs Hartley answered "We've talked amongst ourselves and I'm willing to help these other women with the money. What we've witnessed is incredible. We'll return shortly"
The women left for the local bank and the man awaited their return, watching the clock intently. He looked up as the bells above the door jingled.
"Welcome back, ladies!" he said cheerfully and reopened his briefcase.
"I'll take 20 years" Sally Miller said as she handed over 20,000 dollars "My oldest daughter is 18. I considered being 20 again but I felt I needed more space between our ages. 25 is a good age"
"Certainly" the man replied as he sat a vial aside "And you?"
Kathi stepped forward and handed him 10,000 dollars and then sheepishly handed him another 30, 000.
The man looked up and raised his eyebrows in a questioning fashion "You can't be over 30 years old?"
Kathi looked around as if to make sure no one new had entered the room "The 10,000.00 is for me. The 30,000.00 is for my husband. It's a fantasy of his and I am going to surprise him"
The man smiled and sat two vials aside.
Finally, Mrs Hartley stepped forward "Here is $55,000.00. That's a small price to pay to rejuvenate these tired old bones, this old wrinkled skin, and this graying hair"
"You'll be but a child, won't you?" the salesman asked.
"I'll be 16 years old. I have no problems about being younger than my own daughter, son, or granddaughter"
The man smiled knowingly and then checked the bills to make sure everything appeared to be there. He then handed the women their vials. "It's been a pleasure doing business with you ladies" he said as he walked backwards out of the shop.
-
The women chattered away as they nervously clutched their vials. They debated on whether to use them now or later. Should they tell their family before or after they use the mystical waters?
-
The salesman turned and walked down the alley where an SUV with a trailer was waiting on him.
"Did I do good, daddy?" a little blond girl asked as she was changing out of her oversized clothes.
Another little girl was putting her bike in the trailer "Can I be mommy, next time?" she asked in a whine.
"You both did wonderful. You're going to be famous actresses one of these days!" he replied.
The window rolled down on the SUV and Carly stuck her head out of the window "All of you, get in and let's get a move on. We need to get on the interstate before rush hour. We may not be really able to sell time but right now we need to MAKE time!"
-The End