Once upon a morning dreary, after stumbled, late and weary,

Upon many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten quotes,

While I nodded, nearly sleeping, suddenly there came a ringing

As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my telephone.

“Thank you for calling,” I muttered, “How may I help you”

Only this I’ve said before…

Ah, distinctly I remember, this customers wish me dismembered

As each separate dying ember, wrought their ill forgotten quote.

“I called twice, good sir, last morrow – and I must insist you follow…

follow up on promised rubber flooring quotes!”

“I need rubber mats for my brood! They play rough, I must conclude,

that as such they’re safety surely would be skewed.”

Deep into the darkness peering, of my screen with products gleaming

Out I shot my first suggestion, “Interlocking carpet tile flooring perhaps?  It makes the ideal play room floor.”

I questioned others

“Folding mats, Gym mats, or Wrestling mats for the young in violence nestling?”

Bored and uninterested

Quoth the customer “Nevermore…”

Flabbergasted there I pondered, through the phone her children wandered

With their screaming deep inside the burrows of my soul.

What would appease this consumer beast

With needs ill met by merchants there before…

“Please, on hold you’ll wait

While I try and formulate some kind of discount for you more.”

PART II next week!