Moose Conquering Fear

… As the man listened, so George relaxed enough to pour out the troubles they were in at that time, which was the reason that any additional investment or policies were a pipe dream away. ‘Well,’ the visitor’s tone was upbeat and encouraging, ‘there’s always room for more chaps like you. You could come to work for us. Not to replace your current occupation naturally, but as a second evening job.’ he added considerately. ‘Have a think about it. Don’t decide right now. Talk it through and if you want to take me up on the offer, you have my number. We can organise a day’s training back at HQ and you can be up and running the day after.’ The offer struck a chord with George. He was still young and had the energy to do another job. There wasn’t much to come home to. No committed conversations were being had, so he knew he would not be missed. Mel agreed with the proposal without having to think too long. ‘It’s a necessity as far as I’m concerned if we’re ever to get out of this rut.’ George didn’t prolong that topic exploration, for fear that they would be talking about different ruts. It was settled. Off he packed to Croydon one early September Saturday. The sky was pleasantly bright on the journey there with a few clouds gathering in the afternoon to darken the utilitarian classroom he had been shown into for the second time that day. He had taken copious notes, felt semi-prepared but his mind was racing anxiously. He seriously wondered if he would have the nerve to knock on people’s doors of an evening, when they might be sitting down to tea or have come back late from work dog-tired or had some disaster at their progeny’s school which demanded their immediate attention, rather than open their door to a complete stranger and take him into their confidence. Nothing seemed more unlikely that he would make a single policy sale. ‘Time to dig deep and find that extrovert’, he surmised to himself on the way back. He found himself looking at the houses at the side of the road, imagining himself on the threshold and rehearsing the lines which would hopefully open a helpful and productive conversation. The benefits it must be said had been slightly over-egged by the representative the week before. ‘After the first few policies are underway – so long as they’re happy and you maintain contact with them to do that – the premiums continue to be paid by them on which you earn commission every month. It’s not hard to see that after only a few months or years in this job,’ the tight suit said persuasively,’ you can earn a thousand pounds a month without getting out of bed!’ …