1979 - You Must Be Kidding Read Online Free

said, ‘but I can assure you, you have a big success. I know these people. They don’t like meetings. That’s why there was such a poor turnout. For thirty-four of them to come here is an achievement. These thirty-four will be your salesmen. They are going to brag about what they have done for their kids. Here, in Secomb, people are all close neighbours. The word will go around. You wait . . . you are going to be busy.’
    Ken thanked Byrnes for his cooperation, shook hands and walked out into the hot sunshine with Karen at his side.
    ‘I hope he’s right,’ he said. ‘To me, that was a godawful flop.’
    ‘I think he’s smart,’ Karen said. ‘He could be right.’
    He regarded her. They both had agreed that they should present a better image for the meeting. She had on a simple green cotton dress. He wore a blue, lightweight jacket and grey slacks. He had only recently bought the jacket. It sported miniature golf balls as buttons which he thought made the jacket pretty sharp. As they stood in the hot sunshine, he thought Karen looked sensational.
    The past five days had passed quickly. Twice Alec Hyams, the Sales Director, had looked in. Ken was secretly amused to see that Hyams was most obsequious when speaking to Karen, asking her if she was happy with her typewriter and the air conditioning. Karen treated him as if he were of no importance, and pointedly went on with her typing.
    While waiting for Sunday, Ken had called on the various stores and shops up and down Seaview Road, introducing himself and talking fire and accident insurance. He didn’t expect to get any business as everyone was already covered with other insurance companies, but he wanted to make contact and friends. His reception was good. Several of the storeowners said it would be more convenient for them to take out policies with the Paradise when the present policies ran out, and would talk to him later.
    Ken saw little of Karen who was kept busy card indexing, typing letters and talking to the various people who drifted in, making inquiries. In one way, Ken was relieved not to be in such close contact with her, but always, at the back of his mind, especially at night, he kept thinking of her, sexually.
    The office closed Friday evening. He spent Saturday tending the garden, then he and Betty went to a movie in the evening and had dinner at a seafood restaurant. He kept wondering what Karen was doing. She had said she had to spend Saturday afternoon on her father’s yacht.
    ‘That’s a real drag. Pop’s friends are creeps. Maybe I can find an excuse. . .’
    He had seen Betty off on Sunday morning. She had again urged him to come to Fort Lauderdale as soon as he could, and he had said he would.
    Now, with the meeting over at 16.45, he realized with dismay, he could be at Fort Lauderdale within the hour.
    This meant he would be stuck with his dreary sister-in-law and brother-in-law until midnight!
    Karen said suddenly, ‘Are you a handyman around the house?’
    Surprised, he stared at her.
    ‘Why sure. Why the question?’
    ‘Just wondered. I guess you have a date right now. You couldn’t spare a couple of hours?’
    Ken’s heart began to thump.
    ‘I’m in no rush. I do have a date, but not until eight o’clock. Anything I can do?’
    ‘I’ve just moved into my beach cabin. There are shelves to fix. Are you any good at fixing shelves?’
    ‘The best shelf fixer in the business. Beach cabin? Do you have a beach cabin?’
    ‘Strictly for weekends. I was there last night after I got rid of Pop and his creeps. It’s nice, but the shelves need fixing.’
    They looked at each other. Ken hesitated. A red light began to flash in his mind. He thought of Betty. He told himself to make some excuse and drive over to the gruesome party, but no excuse came to mind. Karen, looking at him, a provocative smile on her full lips, was blatantly offering herself.
    ‘Maybe you want to go home,’ she said. ‘Some other time, huh?’
    The red light