Page 67 - Just Deserts

TotalCare

Fresh from the International Medical Products Expo, detail man
Harry Covair reported to the president of Brimstone
Pharmaceuticals, Thomas Purdue. The impressions of Brimstone’s
representative at such conventions were usually conveyed on paper,
but Harry, an impetuous young salesman, insisted on presenting his
report in person.
Purdue, poring over Mediterranean retirement villa brochures in
his brightly-lit and aseptic executive suite, begrudged the interview.
When Covair came in, the president packed up his glossy real estate
advertisements and set them neatly stacked next to another pile of
brochures for his own product; they did not clash.
“Listen, Harry,” began Purdue, waving a pudgy hand in protest,
“it’s a beautiful morning: why must you spoil it with an account of
the goings-on at some dull convention?”
“Because my commission is at stake, that’s why!”
The clean-shaven jowls and sprightly manner of the junior account
executive were belied by his occasionally abrasive and undiplomatic
conversational style. He barely fit the profile of a successful
Brimstone Pharmaceuticals salesman, but results could not be
gainsaid; Harry Covair always met his quotas and then some. His
previous employment as clerk in a small town drug store appeared to
his supervisors to have given him a unique ability to motivate the
wholesale buyers of medication to stock up on Brimstone product
rather than that of the competition.
Tom Purdue microscopically adjusted the position of one of the
bronze-and-teak testimonial statuettes on his desk.
“Explain, if you would, Harry; but please be brief.”
Covair loosened his tie; his face had already attained a ruddier hue
than normal. “Look, I know I’m low man on the totem pole here,
and I usually get the assignments nobody else wants. Selling drugs
banned or discarded in this country to distributors in Latin America
is not easy, but I’ve done well for this company, don’t you think?”
“Certainly, my boy! Didn’t we award you a silver sample case for
selling ten million pills last year?”

66