The Pictures

There is a lot of rejection in telemarketing. I have alimony to deal with so in addition to my cruddy day job, I have a cruddy night job trying to get people to buy overpriced family portrait packages from a mob owned photography studio.

I can generally deal with the rejection, but some people can't. Like Denise. Denise was this sandy blonde haired little waif that sat in the cubicle next to me. When the floor boss gave her the call list for the night I could hear her muttering self help motivational phrases. She was terrible at sales. Didn't have the heart for it. She must have needed the money bad to be there every night.

Denise always kind of had this air of sadness about her, but one night in particular I can remember hearing her stop in mid-sentence of the sales pitch and slam the phone down. "Fine then, bitch," she whispered to the phone. I rolled back in my chair and looked at her from around the cubicle. A single tear had made it's way down her cheek as she held her head in her hands.

I averted my stare quickly not wanting her to think I was gawking at her. I always thought Denise was attractive, but in that moment she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I took my break and went outside to a payphone. I called our 800 order number. I said that I wanted to place an order, but requested Denise specifically. After a few minutes I was connected to her. In a deep made up drawl, I ordered two of the AAA full family super deluxe portrait packages at $450 each. No one in Dilenno Photography history had ever sold two in one call.

I came back inside and sat down. Denise was surrounded by a crowd of our co-workers. Laughing, her eyes red, faces stained with tears. Everyone congratulating her. My biggest desire was for her to be happy.

She quit a week later and I never saw her again. We never had the relationship I thought we might. But I will always have the pictures.