Door-to-door salespeople

It’s 2009, yet apparently, door-to-door salespeople still exist. How do I know? Because I just had an encounter with one.

I had only been home for about 15 minutes and was ravenously hungry – as was Banchi. Fed her first, then scooped  her poop out of the kitty litter, then washed my hands and began preparing a simple dinner. Cranked up some music and washed my hands again, and just at that moment the doorbell rang. Blast! I turned down the music again, exited my apartment, flinging the door shut behind me, and clattered down the stairs.

A blond girl greeted me on the front step. She started rattling on about some promotional deal where she would take care of something for me, although what, I didn’t fully understand. Would I like to try it out right now?

“Too busy,” I said. “You’ll have to come back some other time.”

But she insisted that I had to take advantage of this great deal today because it was only valid, like, today! She flashed a flyer in my face and I quickly ascertained that it was spa service and massage that she was touting.

“This is a bad time,” I said. “I’m cooking. I’m very busy. Do you have a card?”

No, she insisted. This offer would only be valid today. The hard sell never dies. Up the stairs, behind the closed door, Banchi was meowing furiously, and I imaged my dinner burning. My French somewhat abandoned me. I turned back to the girl.

“It’s not a good time,” I reiterated. “I’m cooking, and… and my kitten is angry.”

That seemed to clinch it for her.

With a bemused expression on her face she said, “OK, Well, have a good night.”

Not meowing furiously, but probably experiencing an animal emotion of some kind.