by Lisa Binion

Created on: August 28, 2007

The Salesman

Living out in the country as we do, we don't get many visitors that are strangers. So I never hesitate when there is a knock at the door. There is one time, though, that I wish I had.

I opened the door to find a salesman standing there. I'm not fond of salesmen. I realize that these people have to make a living and that they are just doing their job, but many of them refuse to take no for an answer. This salesman not only refused to take no for an answer, he wanted to come into my house.

When I answered the door, he was ready to attack with his sales pitch. "Hi! I'm selling The Big Book of Knowledge. This is a really great book to have, especially if you have any school-age children, and I can see that you do. This will book will help them with their homework and possibly answer any questions that they could have about math, history, science, literature, or grammar. Why don't I come in so that you can look through this fantastic book?"

I didn't like to be rude, but I really didn't feel like wasting my time talking to a salesman. "I'm not interested. I already own the book you are selling."

He hesitated only a moment before continuing. "I'm sure that you have an older version of it. It has been updated and rewritten recently. Why don't you let me come in so you can have a look?"

Becoming a bit frustrated, "I said that I'm not interested."

"Who sold you the one you own? Was he a better looking guy than I was?" Shocked, I casually reached down and locked the screen door. Still, he continued, "Did he turn you on, make you want him?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "That has absolutely nothing to do with it. I want you to leave now. I'm not the least bit interested in you or your book." I closed the door, but as I turned to walk away, I heard the sound of the screen door handle being turned. Alarmed, I ran back to the bedroom and grabbed the gun that was kept for just such an emergency. Never before had I had to use it, but I was prepared. I ran back into the living room and pulled open the big, wooden door. I'll never forget what I saw. The cocky, young salesman who had been so intent on entering my home, was backing off of my porch, a look of sheer terror on his face. Once he hit the yard, he kept on going backwards, as quickly as he could manage, his eyes darting to one side and then the other. He backed all the way to his truck, which was sitting just on the edge of my road, and jumped in. He turned it on and sped away as if he was being chased by something or someone.

Relieved, I sat down on the couch. About that time, my husband and two children, Mandi and Kyle, came in. They had been underneath the house working on some water pipes while all of this was going on. Their chatter ceased when they noticed I was sitting on the couch with the gun. I related to them what had happened. They were relieved that I was alright. My husband told me all I would have had to do was jump up and down on the floor. He would have heard and come running.

Later that evening, my daughter told one of her friends what had happened. Apparently, the same salesman had been to her house. He had tried to force his way in on her mom, but was stopped by her father.

I have thought about what happened. Why did the salesman leave my home so terrified? My only explanation is that God sent his angels to surround and protect me. I believe that God opened the eyes of the salesman enough so that he could see my guardian angels protecting me. I like to picture them with flaming swords in their hands, but who knows? Only God and the cocky, young salesman know what he saw.

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