First, who tries to sell anything to someone like me? I don’t exactly look like the friendliest person, or so I’ve been told. Not approachable is the term for it nowadays. Didn’t seem to bother this guy though.
Second, while the guy was a stranger and thus had no way of knowing, I don’t have any trees in my yard. How am I going to string up a hammock? I know, there are elaborate and expensive hammocks these days that can be mounted or affixed to a variety of locations, but in my mind, I pictured a flimsy piece of material with nylon ropes attached to the ends—the kind that is hung between two trees.
Third, although not directly stated, I assumed the merchandise was not new—or even close to new. So how much could they possibly want for a used contraption that sells for $14.99 in the store? Five bucks? Actually, that was just a guess on the price. I have no idea what a hammock sells for new because I’ve never bought one, and probably never will. I’m not really a hammock kind of person.
And that brings me to the answer I gave the man: What would I do with a hammock? The only thing they can be used for is wasting time—napping in the back yard, or somewhere. Kind of hard to get anything done like that. I like to stay busy DOING something. Besides, if I need to sleep I have a perfectly good bed.
My mild diatribe was followed by perhaps the dumbest question I’ve heard in a while, “So, you didn’t really say... do want to buy it?” Hmm, maybe the guy WAS a salesman. ~
Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, The Lana Denae Mysteries, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook at www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS and paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million.