George's Promise

George McMahon had just started his first job as a Ford car salesman. He worked at a dealership in town that had a reputation for being fair but not as personable as some other dealerships.

The owner of the dealership, Simon, liked cars and in particular liked antique cars. In fact, he was even featured on a local TV show at antique car auctions touting the merits of various cars for sale. Simon’s specialty was restored collectible Fords.

One day, Simon bought an old Ford convertible at auction because it wasn’t selling, and he had a keen eye for undervalued automobiles. He knew this car would bring a bigger price with a small amount of restoration and he secretly wanted to work on it himself.

On his second day at the dealership, George McMahon met Mrs. Grace Easton and promised to sell her the car she had seen at auction before he talked to his boss, Simon. It was exactly what Gracie had been looking for, she said. It was the make and model and year she wanted. She said she used to own one like it.

George went to talk to Simon when he was stopped by a fellow salesman who told him that Simon never sold the cars he bought at auction. The dealership cars were his business, but the antique cars were his hobby. George immediately knew he had made a mistake. I knew better. You don’t go against the wishes of your new boss no matter where you work. I might lose this new job and future jobs because I made the mistake of not checking with my new employer before making a promise to anyone.

He tried to call Mrs. Easton but there was no answer. He thought of going past her house to talk to her, but his days were filled with learning his new job and talking to his girlfriend, and he forgot what he had done. Two days later, Mrs. Easton came in to discuss the purchase of her car. She was very happy to pick up the keys.

Feeling embarrassed, George explained the situation to her and apologized profusely for his error. He promised to look for a satisfactory new car for her. He even offered her a sizable discount (which he knew would come out of his own pocket).

But, to his dismay, she broke down in tears and told him her story. “I recognized the car as being the one that my late husband and I had saved for months to buy when we found out I was pregnant. We had great times driving in that car. We sold it years ago, and Henry passed right after that. Then our son was killed in an industrial accident a year after that. When I saw that old car at the auction on TV, I recognized it as the one my husband and I bought when we were young. The owner of your dealership bought it on the spot.”

Damn. I wish she hadn’t told me that.

She hung her head and softly said, “I was so thrilled that the car my husband and I bought, and that our son had ridden in for years, would finally come home.”

George felt terrible. He tried to explain to her that driving it now wouldn’t be the same as when she owned the car decades ago. He said, “Besides, it would probably be dangerous for you nowadays. Who knows how safe it would be to drive after all these years, and with all the social unrest lately, you might become a target for thievery or worse. Driving a smaller more modern car might be a better choice.”

George felt awful saying those things to her because he understood how she felt about owning her old family car with all its memories of her past life.

Standing there looking at Mrs. Easton and remembering his own grandmother who didn’t want to give up any of her possessions when she had to move out of her large house, George came up with an idea. He went out on a limb and said, “I have an idea and I’m going to tell Simon right now. Stay here and I’ll let him know about my idea. I’m going to propose to him that we, Mrs. E, are going to take pictures of your old car in front of your house so you can have the photos for your family album, or pictures on the wall if that’s what you would like to do. I’ll make sure you get to take as many photos as you want. I can come by tomorrow or the next day and you can have anyone you want in your photos. What do you think of that?”

Mrs. Easton nodded. What he didn’t tell her was that he had another idea but felt he wasn’t free to run it past her until he checked with his boss.

She said, “I guess you’re right, George, but maybe I could talk to Simon also? I just love that car. Our little family had such great times in it.”

George told Simon about his idea. Simon sighed and to George’s surprise he came up with his own addition to the proposal. I can’t let her have the car, but I can do something else for her. I’m going to go along with George on this one. After all, he’s new here and I don’t think he knew what he was doing selling an antique car in this dealership.

Simon called the showroom manager, John, and then told George to get together with John to work something out.

The manager understood the request from Simon and was happy to work with George on the project, especially because he liked George a lot. I can put the old convertible on display in the showroom near the small waterfall in the center of the waiting area. We can set up a small round table with three chairs near the car. Since the fountain is in the center of the customer waiting area, it will make waiting there a very relaxing experience.

Simon surprised George when he said the dealership would also send a car to pick up Mrs. Easton anytime she called, bring her to the showroom, and let her sit in or near her former car for as long as she wanted. He was a salesman after all and knew how to please customers. When she became weary, someone at the dealership would take her home.

Mrs. Grace Easton was so much fun to be with in the showroom that there was a signup sheet for employees who wanted to pick her up and return her to her home. Of course, it helped that she always rewarded her driver with homemade cookies (which they might or might not decide to share with their coworkers). Mary and Joe were two of the coworkers and they often fought over who got to pick up and return Mrs. Easton to her home.

Much to George’s but not Simon’s surprise, Gracie delighted customers with her pictures and stories of where her family had been and what trips they had taken and the surprising things they did on their road trips many years ago. She told stories like when they had picnics in the country sitting on a blanket near their car, looking at the mountains and lakes and wildlife and her husband and son ran around the car tossing balls and laughing. She mesmerized the children with her stories of squirrels who begged for food and sheep they saw in the distance with sheepdogs herding them with uncanny precision.

Some customers said they came to the showroom just to see the car and were very impressed. Then upon hearing about its family adventures from the quaint old lady sitting next to it they purchased their own car at the dealership, hoping to have similar happy memories for themselves.

Soon the car and Mrs. Easton were featured in the local newspaper and on a local antique car TV show which drew people into the dealership. Naturally, the sales volume increased, and George was given a raise. After a year, George received a promotion.

One day when his girlfriend, Victoria, came to the dealership to pick him up, she walked over to look at the old car that was garnering so much attention. She said, “This is really impressive, George. I can visualize a family riding in it and feel the good times they had.”

George replied, “Maybe it’s time for us to buy our own car and have our own adventures. What do you think? I get a discount, you know.”

Victoria lowered her eyes and smiled. “Why, George, whatever do you mean? That’s a family car.”

George lifted Victoria’s chin, looked into her brown eyes, and said, “I know.”