'Otis, the board doesn't lie does it. Your sales are down and we've got targets to meet.  Do you think you can shift that Ford today?'

'Well I'll try my very best Mr. Wilson, the lady was interested.  I'll call her this afternoon.'

Bernard Wilson looked his salesman up and down disapprovingly and replied with, 'Well you'd better, see who wants a tea; mine is white with two sugars'.

As it turned out the lady thanked Otis very much for showing her the car but she preferred a Nissan from Lokes, they offered a good trade in. Two other customers came and went but finally Otis sold a little run around to a man looking for a first car for his son;  not a new car but a sale just the same. 

Pleased with himself Otis went into the office to tell Mr. Wilson.

'Look Otis, you got to work on selling customers extended warranties and if you can get a credit agreement... well more the better.  The board doesn't lie...

Andy 4 cars monthly sales target 94%
Brian 3 cars monthly sales target 86%
Rita 3 cars monthly sales target 88%
Otis 2 cars monthly sales target 56%'

Andy and  Brian looked up from their desks and gave each other a knowing grin at Otis's misfortune.  Dallas Motors wasn't a joyful place to work but since the inept Otis had arrived at least the pressure had been taken off them.  And they worked it so they were usually first to customers and got the best sales. Rita looked away, once again embarrassed by the situation.  

Mr Wilson said nonchalantly, 'Go and give the cars a bit of a polish Otis there's a good lad, oh and my car could do with a shine too.  Wilson's Porsche was his pride and joy, and boy did he love to talk about it. 

Otis set to polishing.  It felt kind of therapeutic, and it was away from the office folk. He looked up and noticed a lady pottering around the hatchbacks.  'Oh hello, she said, I've not parked in the way have I?  I'm looking for something like a VW Golf.

'No, you're fine over there.  If you park on the street you'll get towed away and your car crushed.  They are pretty hot about that kind of thing around here. Cameras watching the street.'

'Thank you, can I have a test drive in this one'

'Sure, I'll go get the keys'

Later, whilst cycling home Otis reflected on his day.  The Lady was sleeping on whether to buy the VW.  This had caused another bout of mirth from Wilson at Otis's expense, and smirks from the others.  He decided to drop in on his dad down in the bay.  He could see how the project was getting on too.

Otis couldn't remember exactly how long his dad had been working on that boat.  It was a 1970s schooner.  His mother had complained at the time because it looked like a wreck but his father had meticulously worked on it over the years and more so after Otis's mother had died.

Otis parked his bike inside the gate, 'Hi Dad'

'Hi son'

Otis ran his fingers along the side of the boat. 

'I'm putting it in the water tonight', his dad exclaimed with a twinkle in his eye.'

'Where are you sailing to, Otis asked his father, they were both experienced sailors having belonged to the local sailing club since Otis was five. 

'Well son, maybe around the coast, I'll try her out and see how she fares.  If she doesn't spring a leak I'll think I'm winning'

Otis was worried but didn't want to disappoint his dad with his concerns.  The schooner  had taken years to make sea worthy had been the focus of adventures and dreams of sailing to foreign lands ever since he was young.  In those days even the Caribbean,where the swashbuckling pirates had once sailed, seemed so possible.  But now Otis feared for his father.  What if the schooner couldn't even make it out of the harbour. 

Otis made his way home with another set of worries to turn over in his head. After  his day at Dallas Motors and his fathers' wild sailing scheme Otis was about ready for bed.  He tried to console himself with the fact that his dad was an excellent sailor and would know what to do in an emergency. 

The next day Wilson was in typical form.  'Could you please do me a favour and try and sell a car today Otis. If it's not too much trouble.   Or maybe you have an attachment to the cars and can't bear to see them leave' Andy and  Brian sniggered, Rita looked embarrassed.  I'm taking Andy and Brian to the auctions today.  They deserve a little outing, the board doesn't lie.  Andy you can drive us in the BMW series 3 on the front forecourt.  Rita man the phones and Otis?'

'Yes Sir' Otis murmured feeling low and picked on'

'Wash all the vehicles and make some more room on the forecourt.  We are going  to bring home a couple more cars today.  Come on hop to it.  Look lively.' Wilson turned away, leaving a miserable Otis to go and find the bucket and sponge.

But Otis was more resourceful than Wilson gave him credit for. He thought, 'I'll have 100% by my name, on that board, by the time Wilson's back.' He started moving cars.  Making room on the forecourt. 

When Otis came into the office, Rita said, 'Hey, don't mind Mr. Wilson.  He's just got his funny ways'. 

'Ok', said Otis, taking the Porsche keys from Wilson's desk.  Just gotta move his car to make more room on the forecourt. 

'Be careful with that' Rita advised, looking a little alarmed.

Otis brought the keys back a couple of minutes later.  Then he went to the board and altered the percentage by his name to 100% using indelible pen. Before Rita could say anything Otis said, 'This is a crap place to work, the owner is a rude idiot, so I'm leaving. Bye' and with that he walked out. 

Two hours later and Mr. Wilson was back.  They had bought an Audi at the auction and Wilson was impatient for Otis to clean it up. Just as he entered the office he noticed that his Porsche wasn't there.  His eyes scanned the forecourt. Not there.  Wilson hurried in. 'Rita, where's my Porsche?

'Oh, Otis moved it before he left'. She picked up the Porsche keys from Mr.Wilson's  desk.
Wilson grabbed them from his hand. 'Left, where's he gone?'  Wilson looked a mixture of astonished and worried as he turned the keys of his precious car over in his hand.

'Well I don't know, I think he's resigned.  He just said it's a crap job and that you were a rude idiot and he left.  If the car's not on the forecourt it can't be very far away.  Otis was in and out with the keys.' 

Alarm washed over Wilson's face as he thought of the no parking zone outside of the car lot.  His eyes then noticed the change on the board. 

Otis 100% Sails Away.