Door to Door

Yesterday, in the afternoon, a man in a blue car drove up to the house, honked his horn, and got out. Thinking it was for our neighbor, I paid him no mind; we rarely have unannounced visitors. But he climbed down the stairs to our terrace and met me at the door. He was heavy-set white man with the look of a laborer. A slurry of words came out of his mouth. I caught just enough to understand he was selling stores - those descending aluminum shutters that we might find on a store front in the US but are used on houses here and in France métropole. He asked without reserve whether or not we were owners or renters, but his eyes wandered already having guessed the answer. He got back into his car, and I heard him barking his same introduction at the neighbor's up the road.

He had unnerved me somewhat. I thought traveling salesmen were supposed to be clean-cut, slick. This man was rather too grimy to be slick. And he had breached the steps of our terrace without having asked permission. Even the police aux frontières, whose job it is to be intrusive, stopped at the steps! But, I did not think much more of it.

Until today. When in the morning, a white delivery van drove up to the house, and honked his horn. This time, I did wait to see who it was for. I went out to him. He remained in his van and politely explained that he was in the neighborhood making a delivery. Thinking he was in need of directions, I began laying out a map in my head and prepared to give him what clumsy direction I could. But no, he was not lost. He was, in fact, delivering a mattress, and he had additional ones in his van which he was offering for sale at 50% off and was I interested. I said no, and he drove off to the neighbor’s up the road.

How strange! There have been no salesmen except for the Jehovah's Witnesses selling their God. How strange it is to have one immediately after the other. One selling stores, one selling mattresses. Not your usual door-to-door fare. I can only think that the month-long strike has delivered a horrible blow to certain businesses, not simply those related to tourism, and their owners are desperate to bring in income.

I do regret that M. was not at home when the mattress man came by. The two mattresses in the house are not very comfortable. We might have gotten a good deal on a much better mattress.

I am wondering who might show up tomorrow selling his wares. I am in need of a blender.