Prompt: Used Car Salesperson who wants to be a high school coach.

A friend and I are trying some prompt a day flash fiction.

Today's prompt was: Used Car Salesperson who wants to be a high school coach.

Title of mine: "Get Your Head in the Game!"


I called the customer again. They said they wanted a Ford Explorer, and were planning to buy this week. Straight to voice mail.

I crafted a quick text, hoping it wasn't too needy: "We received 3 more pre-owned SUVs today. Just letting you know in case you are interested in test driving them. Thanks! Martha"

I hated to badger a client, but, it was the 29th. I had sold 9 for the month. At this dealership, you only make minimum wage each month unless you reach 11 cars. Anything 10 or under, meant minimum wage. I had recently qualified for health insurance, but the monthly payment was going to come out of my minimum wage paycheck.

Two more cars in two days. That's totally doable, right?

I walked back out of the dealership, nodding at my coworkers.

"Now, don't you be stealing my clients, Martha. I know how fast you can run in those heels." Don laughed. He did have a nice laugh, but now it just grated. I really needed to make it this month. I don't think I could put off paying my full rent this month. And gas kept going up. It would be weird to bicycle to work if you work at a car dealership right? Maybe if I snuck in the back? Who was I kidding. I'm not sure I could ride that far.

I looked up. Don and Danny both were now chatting with clients, walking away. Damn it! Focus, Martha. Focus!

Focus. That's what Coach Malone always said. "Watch that ball, Martha. Focus."

I tried. Maybe I focused too hard on that ball. I got a softball scholarship, but lost it the end of freshman year. Too much focus on balls and boys or technically, on boys' balls. Of course, when you're talking about college, I should say men's balls, but the alliteration sounds better.

Boys, ball, bills! Bills, Martha. The past is the past.

``````````

December 1st

Walked in. Paula handed me my paycheck.

"Have you seen Don? I need to get him his check." Paula smiled, holding the stack of paychecks in her perfectly manicured hands.

"Nice nails," I murmured, not rushing to open my check. Unfortunately, I knew how much it was. Car number 11 had not materialized. Merry Christmas shopping season to me.

"Thanks, had to look nice for holiday party!" Paula preened. "I found a great new nail place too. Want to go together? Maybe on the 20th?"

"Uh, thanks! I would love to but um, I will going to see my parents for Christmas. Next time?" I tried to say it with conviction but, honestly, I wouldn't be going anywhere. A gel manicure is at least $40 plus a tip, and I didn't see that happening anytime soon. Not in my life.

Being December, the day was slow. People were shopping, but very few were CAR shopping. Apparently those TV ads with wives squealing over cars with big bows were not working.

I thought about Coach Malone again.

"Did I ever tell you I was going to be a softball coach?" I mentioned to Don at lunch. A sandwich in the break room but hey, a girl's gotta eat.

"You? Were you any good?" Don took a huge slurp of his coffee.

"We were state champs when I was in high school. I always thought..." I trailed off. What was the point?

I reached for Don's discarded paper. Something other than my life failures to focus on while I ate. Bad news, bad news, hey, an ad for a college. "New scholarships available" it said in huge letters.

"Ever thought of going back?" Paula's voice was close to my ear. "Ooops, sorry!" she squealed, as my coffe ran all over the newspaper, and on to the floor.

"Me? Gosh, I can't even eat lunch without a mess. Let me get a rag."

I turned to the kitchen as Don laughed. "I hope you handled a ball better than you handle coffee!"

"Whose handling your balls again, Don? Don't say that around Paula!" Danny guffawed.

Nuts. Or balls. Gosh, this job is more like a locker room every day. I might as well work in one...

``````````````````````````

"Hey, Martha .." Don entered my cube. I turned to him with eyes blazing. This customer seemed promising.

"Don't you need to leave at 4:30 today?" Don pointed at his iphone, and I started to slip my feet back into my shoes under the desk.

"Oh yeah, um, Mr. Black, Don here is the best, and I know he can answer any questions you have.." I threw over my shoulder as I ran for the door. I hated to let a possible client go, but today was important. I jumped in my demo car and hung the parking pass from the rear view mirror.

"Calhoun College
Student Pass"

It was orange, ugly, and somehow, hanging it there almost felt like slipping on a championship ring.

I didn't know if college would work this time, but I had to try. I HAD to try. Maybe life could change. Either way the years would pass, right?

I didn't think I could keep up my life without some hope of things getting better.

Coach Martha was getting back in the game.