Paul was automated speech, bike riding through the park, snow falling, ready for redial, skipping stones in the pond, getting ignored again, visiting Aunt Lori after school & listening, listening, listening.

Paul was ring one, ring two & then hello & then “Can I have a moment of your time to explain the value of…”

Paul was skimming, or skipping, brief hops or jumps, kind of working outside the constraints of counting or always saying the same.

Paul was headset on, eyes staring straight into grey cube & computer monitor, opening line on lips, & ready for redial.

Paul was the muzak piped through the phone system whenever a customer was put on hold. Only once or twice would it ever be heard in a day, as most people hung up with a quick:

“I’m not interested.”

Though, when he got to hit the hold button Paul let the songs linger, for if he had gotten a caller along this far they were buying. & now holiday themed tunes were played to reflect the season, though in saying they were holiday themed Paul never heard a Hanukah or Kwanza song.

Mostly White Christmas.

 

So he changed his script with a swift pencil mark to remind himself for these weeks that while putting someone on hold he could say:

 “Please enjoy this holiday music while I process your request.”                     

Paul was telemarketing response tree

Paul was once asked about how interesting his job was, by a potential sale. This line, this human interest not scripted, & Paul had no colour coded sheet to respond with.

Paul was as in, a pause

 

 

thoughtful, perhaps contemplative

 

a sales technique

Paul was scripted silence.

 

 

 

 

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