Deal of the Week

What isn't boring makes you stronger

"...Okay! Great! So, this next part is recorded for quality assurance, okay?"

Priscilla was having a pretty good day. A customer service representative for the BOSS (Buyout Surplus Stock) channel, she usually spent her days processing endless orders for $9.95 plus shipping and handling. Complex orders like this one were an interesting change of pace— far more interesting than setting up C.O.D. on one item that was $9.95.

"...okay..." The voice on the other end cracked uncertainly. Priscilla guessed it was an older woman. She smiled; she liked helping people get what they wanted.

"...annnd...—there we go! Okay, Mrs. Miller, you've chosen to receive your promotional offer of ten first-edition hard-bound books by Harvey Upton at the reduced price of $26.99 per book. You're saving $115.10—excellent! You've also selected... okay, I see you've also selected the signed bookmark—good choice, it's beautiful.

"You've also purchased two of the Nunnery Chamber lamps, $26.50 each, the miniature Herzog bowl for $34.99, and...the Stevens Civil War pewter bookends for $15.75 apiece.

"So that's... $389.39 for the books, lamps, bookends, and bowl. You're in Indiana, so sales tax is...$27.26. And...oh, nice! Shipping cost is only $42.73.

"Your total order today, ma'am, will be $459.38. Would you like to pay by credit card over the phone, or will this be C.O.D.?"

Priscilla waited.

"Ma'am...?"

"I...I'm sorry, honey, I think my hearing aid must be on the fritz again. I didn't understand a word of that; could you say it again, please...?"

Priscilla looked over in the programming booth and raised her hand. The technician, looked out at her and raised his fist with the thumb down. No recording.

Priscilla sighed and reminded herself of that old Chinese curse about living in interesting times.

"Okay, ma'am, let's go over that again for you, okay...?"

(Word Count: 300)