Cold Call

Clevis O. Laverty

Note: for a time, my father sold insurance for Metorpolitan Life. This story seems to catch his feelings on his first call.

Cold Call

By Clevis O. Laverty

A small late-model automobile slowly slid up to the curb in front of the well-manicured lawn of the prosperous-looking ranch style house in the suburbs. It came to stop hesitantly and the motor idled unevenly as though sensing the driver’s reluctance to shut it off. It stopped and was silent.

Frank Brown sat for a moment in a quiet torment of indecision. Sooner or later he would have to take the bull by the horns, now is as good a time as any. Very deliberately he removed the key from the switch, opened the door, placed a foot outside, and then frantically jammed the key back in the ignition and groped for the starter. But wait, suppose he had been seen by the people in the house. They would speculate about such unorthodox actions. He began to feel about as conspicuous as a tail on a rabbit. The shiny new brief case on the soft blue upholstery beside him caught his eye, reminded him he had a job to do, mouths to feed, car payments to meet.

As he started up the walk with the key safely in his pocket the bright yellow sun warmed him. The sun shone on Casey and the Mudville Nine too. The long thorns on the briar hedge menaced him, a threat to any intruder. He looked hopefully ahead at the door. Two long narrow windows on either side scowled at him and the letter slit in the door frowned. He clutched the shiny new brief case tighter with its brand new rate book and collection of visual aids that the home office had guaranteed would sell insurance. The home office ought to be here. He couldn’t even compare himself to Daniel going into the lion’s den; Daniel had no doubts. Perhaps there isn’t anyone home, but the car is in the driveway. They will surely sense his newness, his insecurity; scoff at his inexperience and send him packing. At least there wouldn’t be any physical violence, still about now he would welcome that.

Abruptly his steps brought him to the forbidding door and with an apology framed on his lips he let the knocker fall with a sepulchral thud. The door was opened by a lovely young woman in whom surprise and pleasure were mirrored in her eyes and echoed in her voice as she said:

“Why Frank, how nice. We had heard that you had gone with acme Life and we are so happy for you. Only the other night Tom and me were saying that we ought to get our insurance untangled. You are just the man we want to see. Please come in.”