大学英语综合教程 第三册 7textA

[04:29.56]17 It took Porter four false starts before he found the courage to ring the first doorbell.
[04:36.09]The man who answered told him to go away, a pattern repeated throughout the day.
[04:42.36]18 That night Porter read through company literature and discovered the products were guaranteed.
[04:48.76]He would sell that pledge. He just needed people to listen.
[04:53.59]19 If a customer turned him down, Porter kept coming back until they heard him. And he sold.
[05:00.96]20 For several years he was Watkins'top retail salesman.
[05:06.10]Now he is the only one of the company’s 44,000 salespeople who sells door-to-door.
[05:13.16]21 The bus stops in the Transit Mall, and Porter gets off.
[05:17.81]22His body is not made for walking.Each step strains his joints.Headaches are constant visitors.His right arm is nearly useless.
[05:28.31]He can’t fully control the limb. His body tilts at the waist; he seems to be heading into a strong,
[05:36.14]steady wind that keeps him off balance. At times, he looks like a toddler taking his first steps.
[05:44.11]23 He walks 10 miles a day.
[05:47.45]24 His first stop today, like every day, is a shoeshine stand where employees tie his laces.
[05:54.32]Twice a week he pays for a shine. At a nearby hotel one of the doormen buttons
[06:01.46]Porter’s top shirt button and slips on his clip-on tie.
[06:06.00]He then walks to another bus that drops him off a mile from his territory.
[06:11.30]25 He left home nearly three hours ago.
[06:14.67]26 The wind is cold and raindrops fall. Porter stops at the first house.
[06:20.94]This is the moment he’s been preparing for since 5:45 a.m. He rings the bell.
[06:27.19]27 A woman comes to the door.
[06:29.98]28 “Hello.”
[06:31.73]29 “No, thank you, I’m just preparing to leave.”
[06:35.02]30 Porter nods.
[06:37.22]31 “May I come back later?” he asks.
[06:40.27]32 “No,” says the woman.
[06:43.04]33 She shuts the door.
[06:45.39]34 Porter’s eyes reveal nothing.
[06:48.32]35 He moves to the next house.
[06:51.09]36 The door opens.
[06:53.10]37 Then closes.
[06:55.48]38 He doesn’t get a chance to speak. Porter’s expression never changes. He stops at every home in his territory.
[07:03.68]People might not buy now. Next time. Maybe. No doesn’t mean never.
[07:09.48]Some of his best customers are people who repeatedly turned him down before buying.
[07:15.30]39 He makes his way down the street.
[07:18.33]40 “I don’t want to try it.”
[07:20.76]41 “Maybe next time.”
[07:23.30]42 “I’am sorry. I’m no the phone right now.”
[07:26.30]43 “No.”
[07:28.44]44 Ninety minutes later, Porter still has not made a sale. But there is always another home.
[07:35.08]45 He walks on.
[07:37.20]46 He knocks on a door. A woman appears from the backyard there she’s gardening.
[07:42.89]She often buys, but not today, she says, as she walks away.
[07:46.42]47 “Are you sure?” Porter asks.
[07:49.42]48 She pauses.
[07:51.75]49 “Well…”
[07:53.55]50 That’s all Porter needs. He walks as fast as he can, tailing her as she heads to the backyard.
[08:00.57]He sets his briefcase down and opens it. He puts on his glasses, removes his brochures and begins his sales talk,
[08:09.12]showing the woman pictures and describing each product.
[08:13.22]51 Spices?
[08:15.46]52 “No.”
[08:17.37]53 Jams?
[08:19.17]54 “No. Maybe nothing today, Bill.”
[08:22.70]55 Porter’s hearing is the one perfect thing his body does.
[08:27.48]Except when he gets a live one. Then the word “no” does not register.
[08:33.02]56 Pepper?
[08:34.95]57 “No.”
[08:36.99]58 Laundry soap?
[08:39.03]59 “Hmm.”
[08:41.22]60 Porter stops. He smells blood. He quickly remembers her last order.
[08:47.23]61 “Say, aren’t you about out of soap? That’s what you bought last time. You ought to be out right about now.”
[08:54.60]62 “You’re right, Bill. I’ll take one.”
[08:57.60]63 He arrives home, in a rainstorm, after 7 p.m. Today was not profitable.
[09:04.63]He tells himself not to worry. Four days left in the week.