– That customer is mine, – James said to his colleagues when he saw a strange-looking man trying to enter the store from the exit.
Automatic doors refused to let the future buyer in, no matter how many times he came close to them, crouched and jumped.
Finally, someone came out, and a man with a mustache, round glasses, dressed in a checkered shirt, which he tucked into oversized pants, entered the store.
-Good afternoon, are you looking for something in particular? -James appeared in front of him straight from the variety of washing machines.
-Yes. Good afternoon, – the man answered a little uncertainly and adjusted his glasses, which he almost lost from the sudden appearance of the hall manager, – I need batteries for the remote control. Do you sell them?
-Of course, – James said and illuminated the trading floor with his snow-white smile, – let’s go.
James led the buyer in special ways, conducting a tour of the discounted goods. But the man did not like neither the washing vacuum cleaner, nor the refrigerator with two doors, in which you can store an incredible amount of everything, nor even the coffee machine that brews coffee by voice command.
It was just a warm-up.
-Here are great batteries! – James demonstrated the package.
-But they cost like a whole car battery… – the man adjusted his glasses.
-But they are reliable! At least put a battery instead of this one, – the seller insisted.
-Are there any cheaper ones?
-You’re smart! -James praised him. -I have what you need! Look, these batteries can be charged by yourself and you won’t have to go to the store for new ones anymore!
-I can charge them myself? – the man was interested.
-Yes, you just need to buy a special charger. This one, – James pointed to the device, and the man whistled at the price.
-On the other hand, you are right. Once bought and forever. Saving money. Thank you very much!” The man took the batteries and charger and was on his way to the cash register.
-Wait! – James did not let him go, feeling that this was just the beginning.
-Do you have ordinary sockets at home?
-Yes.
-Then I’m sorry to disappoint you, -James sighed heavily, -the charger won’t work with regular ones, you need a special surge protector with a fuse. Sorry for making you happy in vain, – the seller made a pitiful expression.
The man thought about it and asked to give him a couple of surge protectors.
James insisted that it was better to put filters in all rooms, especially in the kitchen, so that everything was under reliable protection.
I had to take a basket. The man made another attempt to go to the checkout, but the manager had already led him to the new TVs.
-“Thanks, my old one is enough for me,” the buyer smiled as if apologizing.
-But just look at its diagonal! At the image quality! The thickness!” James pronounced these words with such admiration, as if he was reading poems to his beloved.
The man nodded.
-And now imagine: you can take your wife to the cinema every day! You don’t need to go anywhere, the cinema is already at your home! Free of charge!
-But I’m not ready for such expenses… – the man tried to politely refuse.
-Do you like football?
The man nodded again.
-So do I! I love it! A real fan!” James was sly. He himself could not stand football. -You will have the feeling that you are at the stadium! The neighbors will be licking their lips, looking in your window.
-I live on the ninth floor.
-Believe me, with such a screen you can watch the broadcast while walking in your yard! And even without glasses!
The man took off his glasses and wiped them on his shirt sleeve. It was obvious that he was in doubt.
James knew there wasn’t much left.
-You can take it in installments, no interest.
-I have the money. But my daughter is getting married in a week, and I wanted to give her this money. I’ve been saving it for a long time.
-Great, congratulations! But think about it, with such a TV your daughter and her future husband will be frequent guests in your house, isn’t it wonderful? They will also be able to go to the free cinema and you will enjoy communication!
-Great… – the man was still hesitating.
He came to the box office with an uncertain but wide smile. And James’ smile was even wider and brighter than before. It seemed to be able to guide ships in the sea.
At the checkout, the man added energy-saving bulbs and a car charger to complete the set. He withdrew all the money from his card and even borrowed some from a neighbor.
James earned a small bonus to his salary and hurried to tell his beloved about such success.
-“You should have seen me today! I made so much money that I will definitely get a couple of thousand to my bonus!” he sang a smug song of a winner in life into the phone.
-I’m proud of you!” – I said in response. – Just don’t be late today, my mom organized a whole banquet to celebrate your acquaintance, and my dad has prepared some grandiose surprise. I’m so nervous, I want everything to go well!
-Don’t worry, I’ll be on time! I’ll tell them about my success at work today. They will love me for sure.
In the evening James bought flowers, candy and everything, arrived by taxi at the specified address, took the elevator to the ninth floor. In the corridor there was noise from the broadcast of a football match. Residents of one of the apartments were watching football very loudly.
James rang the doorbell for half a minute. Finally, his future bride opened the door. Her face was very upset…
The guy went inside and saw his future mother-in-law sitting at the table with a similar expression.
-Can you imagine, dad sold a bunch of junk and an expensive TV in the store today, – the girl whispered from the threshold. – Mom says she does not know where he got the money. But dad swears that he did not take any loans.
The guy took off his shoes and went to the table. There he met a sad mother-in-law, who did not even want to get up, she was so upset.
They sat down at the table, and the daughter called her father during the break of the match.
When James saw the familiar glasses and mustache, he felt uncomfortable.
-I want you to meet. Dad, this is James, my fiancé, James, this is my dad.
The father extended his hand and, to his daughter’s surprise, said that they had already met this morning.
-Well, James! Since it’s like this, let’s go to watch football, why be sad at the table, I know that you are a real fan!” – the man suggested. He looked satisfied, like a well-fed cat. He was obviously delighted with the purchase.
In the middle of the room, illuminated by brand new energy-saving lamps, where a surge protruded from each socket, a huge TV set, costing about the price of a wedding banquet for fifty people, or a trip abroad for two weeks, solemnly shone.
-You can come to visit us every day now, – the man said happily, – especially now the championship starts! So, James, don’t be shy. Count, I made a gift to all of us, right?” – the man winked at his future son-in-law.
The game began…
