Isaac guides the old Chevy into the car dealership. I had figured since Stacy took my credit cards this morning and went shopping with her brother what was happening, that the two had planned on getting all the things they had wanted but I would never buy for them. All the boxes and bags from their earlier shopping trip were from the Mall. A place that I only shopped for them at Christmas and birthdays. I tended to be very conservative although I had the means to give my children a very different life. Apparently, with my son and daughter in control of me, and thus the money, they were going to change that as well.
Isaac had been pestering me for years to buy a new car. The old Chevy, my husband's car before he died, was paid off. Yes, it did require a bit of maintenance here and there, but it was cheaper than buying a new car. The paint was faded, but all in all, it was still very dependable. It didn't surprise me that Isaac and Stacy would take this chance to replace the old car.
We walked down the rows of cars, looking at different models. I would walk with them and stand in front of each car as they look over each one. What really began to shock me was how my young daughter of 21 was in total control of, well, of everything. At one point a salesman approached offering me his hand, which Stacy interceding and took on my behalf. She even controlled this man, a stranger that she had never met.
"Hi, folks. I'm Mark. Can I interest you in a car today? What is it your looking for?" he asks holding out his hand to me.
Stacy moves to take his hand and then his mind. "Mark, give me your card," she says before looking him up and down. A move that is usually reserved for men when they mentally undress a woman standing before them. With card in hand she continues. "Mark we are going to make a purchase today, but for now, we don't want your help. When we are ready, I will come looking for you. I know how this has to work. You will make your deals, and I will make some too. I think in the end though we will all be very, how should I say, satisfied. Now be a good little man and run back to your office and wait for us."
"Yes, Ma'am," Mark replies to the back of Stacy's head as she turns and walks away from him.
Stacy and Isaac separate looking at different cars. By some unspoken understanding, I stayed with my daughter. After about thirty minutes of looking, we go find Isaac. He shows Stacy a truck he likes and she looks at the truck carefully, taking note of the options and sticker price. Stacy then guides us back to the showroom, where she asks for Mark.
Mark arrives and leads us towards one of those partitioned cubicles, before Stacy takes control again.
"You know Mark. I would be much more comfortable in a separate room. Maybe a conference room. A place with a little bit more privacy. I like to pace when I negotiate a deal. That, and there are some things in my counter offer that I just don't need the whole sales staff hearing."
"Yes, Ma'am. Right this way then," Mark says escorting us to a small but pleasant conference room.
"So did you find what you were looking for?" Mark asks.
"No we didn't, Mark. Actually, I'm quite disappointed. I have seen all your TV and newspaper ads and to be honest, your selection is quite limited. You have mostly the same car in a bunch of different colors," she tells him.
"Well we can search for anything you want and get it here in a couple of days, that's not a problem."
"Yes, it is a problem, Mark," Stacy says his name in a very condescending tone, "You see we came to buy a car today. I do not have time to fuck around looking and dealing. Either I walk out of here within one hour with what I want, or you will lose the sale of a lifetime," she declares.
"Well, okay. So did you find a car you are willing to deal on then?" he asks puzzled and apparently disoriented that he was the one getting the high pressure sales tactics.
"Yes, these two," she says giving him the stock numbers from memory.
"Great, no problem let me get the files and I'll tell you what the price is," Mark says feeling back in control. But only for a fleeting second.
"No, Mark. Sit down. Here is what I am willing to pay for the vehicles," she says giving him the figures while Mark scratched out some notes. Stacy even included our old car, quoting the blue book value, actual value, how much she wanted for the car, and how much he could re-sell it for.
"Now, Mark, no offense, but you're basically just a paper processing flunky. I know that all deals will go through the sales manager. You show him what I have given you and then bring him back to me. It's up to you, to convince him to take this deal. Now go little boy."
And go he did. I sat in awe at my precious little girl. Pushing around this 30 something year old guy as if he were a six-year-old. Soon enough, Mark walks back in and introduces the sales manager.
"Hi, I'm Harry. Mark has told me of your offer, but I just don't think we can make that kind of deal right now. I don't assume you would be willing to listen to our offer?" he asks having seen this type of customer before.
"No not at all, but as I told Mark, the clock is ticking," Stacy levelly replies not showing an ounce of concern.
Harry lays out a deal for the vehicles in front of Stacy. She never even looks at the page. When he finishes, Harry asks her what she thinks of the deal. Big mistake.
