Thursday, September 29, 2005

A Writing assignment from long ago

He could hardly believe it, an order of 150 mattresses Caden swiveled his chair around to face his secretary who was seated six feet away from him. "Joanne, where’d we get an order for 150 of our cheapest mattresses? Hotels wouldn’t pick our cheapest."
Joanne smiled at his puzzled expression and said, "There is a new orphanage called ‘Living for Hope’ that just opened in one of the northern suburbs. They already have 50 kids coming and they have room for 150."
Joanne turned back to her computer.
"How are they paying for them?" Caden asked.
"I am not sure. I think some old rich guy is buying them." Joanne replied while not taking her eyes off her computer.
"He could have upgraded to the Feather Feel, it is only 10 bucks more each than the Sleep N' Save, and they are much better."
"You know how rich people are, like to give but not too much."

30 minutes went by; suddenly there was a loud knock on the wooden door at the front of the room, causing the occupants of the room to jump. Caden looked at it with a scowl on his face. "Joanne didn’t we put a sign on that door telling people to use the other one?"
"Yes I thought we did." she said while still looking at her computer screen.

There were two doors in the office. One was more of a formal door, and led out to the lobby. The other door led to the large office and construction area and everyone used that one to come in to speak with Caden. Because it was never used boxes and a filing cabet had made their home in front of it. Another knock sounded.

Replacing the scowl with a smile Caden asked "Joanne could you get the door?"
"I really don’t think I could lift those boxes sir." She said not noticing his expression.
"Well I supposed I shall have to do it." Caden got out of his chair and after a couple seconds managed to move the boxes over, and with one great pull he opened the door.
A lady stood outside dressed in a white suit, she had a large frown on her face. Seeing the sweat glistening on her face he remembered that their lobby’s air conditioning had broke last week and it was extremely hot in there. All of the workers just went through the back door and the lobbyist moved somewhere else to avoid the temperature.
She must be roasting in that suit, he thought.
"Come in, please." He said with a sweep of the hand.
"It is excruciatingly hot in there! Don’t you people know what AC is?" She then noticed the coolness of the room and was silent.
"My secretary Joanne McFatter." He said with a sweep toward Joanne. "And I am Caden Darril."
"Nice to meet both of you, my name is Leah Frederickson. I am here regarding the Living for Hope order you have received."
"Please sit down." Caden motioned to a chair next to his desk. She sat down quickly and started.
"I would like to change that order from the Sleep N’ Save brand, to the Ultra Deluxe Pillowtop."
Caden felt as though he had never been so shocked in his life. "I hope you realize that that could mean the price could be over a hundred thousand dollars more."
"I am willing to pay." She stated firmly.
"But, but----"
"You are selling mattresses Mr. Darril?" she asked him pointedly.
"Yes, I am." he said after composing himself, "Who will be paying?"
"I am willing to write out a check right now." She got out her checkbook, after asking for the amount she wrote it down and handed it to him. He looked at it in amazement. "One hundred, fifty-two thousand." He looked up at her face as if questioning if that was real. "This is not usually how I do business." he said.
"It’s good." She said firmly sensing his doubt. "I really must go now, thank you for your time. Goodbye Joanne- Mr. Darril." With a nod she left.
Caden swiveled in his chair to look at his secretary who has a shocked face that matched his own. "Well I'll be."

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