Fast Forward to a Fascinating Result
As a dutiful employee, Benny did as he was told. He wasn’t even sure why he had to kick the old man out, making the task even more difficult. Approaching the man with a heavy heart, he explained the predicament and asked him to leave. The man left without fuss, only adding to Benny's guilty conscience. But it wouldn’t be the last time Benny saw the old man.
The next time Benny saw the old man, the situation was vastly different, and the tables had turned. Benny could hardly believe his eyes, and his mind was flooded with questions. Finally, he received the answers that he was looking for, and he learned a very important lesson in the process. Have we got your attention? Let’s dive into the story of Benny and the old, rugged man!
A Bull in a China Shop
For the past five years, Benny had found his groove working at a car dealership for luxurious vehicles. During this time, he refined his knowledge of the niche luxury industry — including the ability to identify the ideal customer. He knew how to identify a potential buyer, negotiate the best price for both parties and recommend the perfect car for their personality. So, you can only imagine Benny’s surprise when an old, disheveled man walked through the revolving doors.
Although the man was not a typical luxury car customer, he was fascinated by the cars. He would walk between the rows staring at the vehicles with adoration. But his “low-class” presence caused quite a stir in the dealership. Benny was confused by the man’s persistence, but he shrugged it off, assuming that the man would never buy one of the esteemed cars.
The Old Man’s Behavior Escalates
When the old man first arrived at the dealership, he hovered by the window and stared inside. With mouth agape and rugged clothing, he seemed out of place and caused quite a stir among the more refined shoppers. While Benny was slightly confused, he didn’t think much of the situation, especially considering the old man was outside the showroom floor. But he wouldn’t stay there.
As the days passed, the old man returned to the dealership. With each visit, he pushed the limits a little bit further by staying longer and even walking into the showroom to look at the cars close up. Doing his job, Benny asked the man if there was anything that he could help him with, but it seemed as though the man was merely browsing — so Benny let him be.
Was the Old Man an Unlikely Customer?
It was only a matter of time before Benny got familiar with the old man and recognized his true age. From Benny’s perspective, the old man appeared over ninety years old and could barely walk without a hobble. Could he even drive? Did he have the budget to afford a fancy, luxury car? Benny was tempted to ask him these questions, but he thought it would be better to leave him alone.
Eventually, Benny developed a soft spot for the old gent. He seemed to love the cars, and despite the mild distraction that he presented, he wasn’t causing any trouble. Even when offered complimentary coffee or water, the old man gently waved the offer and continued to focus on the cars. Unfortunately, not everyone was as patient as Benny, and it wasn’t long before one or two snobby customers complained about the old man’s presence.
A Disgruntled Boss Makes an Impulse Decision
While Benny was committed to his work, his boss was less involved and only popped into the store once every two weeks. As fate would have it, the boss arrived as the old man browsed the cars (for the fifth day in a row). But the boss didn’t have the same patience and compassion as Benny. Instead, he was disgusted by the old man’s lack of class.
The boss demanded that the old man be kicked out of the store, but he didn’t want to do the dirty work himself. Instead, he complained to Benny, explaining that he disapproved of the old man tainting the shop’s image. Having witnessed the old man’s harmless interest, Benny tried to defend him, but the boss wasn’t interested in what his dutiful employee had to say.
Kicking the Old Man to the Curb
Unlike Benny, the dealership owner was impatient and image-centric. The old man did not suit the aesthetic of the dealership and he didn’t want him anywhere near the cars. Calling Benny into his office, the boss said, "The man has to get the hell out of my building if he is not buying anything anytime soon. No reason for him to stick around."
Benny was used to his boss’s blunt nature, but the cruel instruction still took him by surprise. Although he disagreed with his irritable boss, Benny knew there was no arguing when he was in this mood. The only thought that offered Benny comfort was that he wouldn’t be the one to kick the old man out — but he was wrong! His boss tasked him with the uncomfortable task.
Mustering the Courage for a Difficult Task
Benny knew that his boss was right about one thing — the old man was not going to buy one of the luxury cars. Following instructions, Benny went to the old man who was still browsing the cars. His heavy heart weighed him down, dreading the moment that he had to break the news that the old man was no longer welcome in the store.
The situation worsened because Benny and the old man had developed a friendly repertoire. Although they didn’t exchange many words, they always smiled at one another, and Benny admired his deep appreciation for luxury cars. When seeing Benny, the old man greeted him by name, with his face melting into his iconic smile. But Benny didn’t return the gesture. Instead, he sighed deeply and looked into the old man’s gentle eyes.
A Heartbreaking Moment
Trying to soften the blow, Benny told the old man that he had grown to enjoy his enthusiastic energy and genuine presence over the past few days. Then, he broke the news that his boss did not share his sentiments, meaning that the old man had to leave the store. At first, the old man appeared confused. Then, he dropped his gaze to the floor and nodded slowly.
The old man turned around without uttering a word and started hobbling toward the exit. Benny was crestfallen watching him go. But just as he reached the door handle, he turned around and uttered a few words that would stick with Benny — he thanked the salesman for allowing him to view the cars and emphasized that he would not forget it.
The Old Man’s Final Words Plague Benny
The difficult job was done, and Benny returned to the office to update his boss. However, the owner was already onto the next task, having forgotten about the old man and the instruction to kick him out. Disappointed by his boss’s lack of compassion, Benny ended his shift and went home. Even after leaving the dealership, the day’s events continued to play in his mind.
Once he was home, Benny went about his evening routine. But throughout the evening, the old man’s final words circled through his mind — “I’ll never forget that.” What did the old man mean by these cryptic words? Why did he emphasize this sentence? After all, Benny was convinced he would never see the old man again, but this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth…
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Each day that passed without the old man strolling into the store was a day that he became a further distant memory. Benny was busy with work and soon forgot about the old man and their uncomfortable conversation. Sometimes, a memory would flick to his mind, and Benny wondered whether he would ever see him again. But as quickly as the thought appeared, it would slip away.
Benny and the rest of the team were preparing for a busy month at the store, but it remained eerily quiet. Rather than rush from one customer to another, the salesmen were tasked with luring people inside, spending time on the phone to entice future customers. While it’s not easy to sell luxury cars, it had never been this difficult before. Something strange was happening, but Benny kept pushing. After all, the job was his livelihood!
Times Get Tough for the Car Dealership
At first, the dealership was concerned by the sudden scarcity of customers, but they thought the quiet spell would blow over. Yet as the days passed, the dealership remained empty, with no one showing up to browse the cars. The shop had never been so quiet before, and the initial niggle that something was wrong intensified, causing Benny to grow concerned about unemployment.
Benny’s pay structure worked like many other sales jobs. Each time that he sold a car, he earned a commission. But without any customers, he couldn’t sell any cars (or earn any money). The company was going through a drought, and Benny was desperate. To make matters worse, whenever he approached a wealthy, prospective buyer, he got the sinister feeling that they were holding back information.
Avoiding a Purchase and Skirting the Issue
Every time Benny got a lead, he would pick up his phone and make a call. However, each call ended with disappointment when prospective buyers gave him the same vague answer: "I am just not interested in buying a new car now, probably later again.” These words felt like empty promises, and Benny was confused by the delay. Why wouldn’t they buy cars now?
The days blended together, and eventually, three weeks passed without a single sale. The company was in a sticky situation, and the dealership owner called a staff meeting. Benny felt ominous about the meeting, worried he might lose his job and be left high and dry without an income. Surely, there had to be a solution to the customer issue.
Benny’s Biggest Fears Are Confirmed
It turns out that Benny was right to trust his guy. The car dealership couldn’t stay afloat, and the owner decided to sell the store. Unfortunately, this meant that all the staff would lose their jobs. Benny’s heart sank. He had a family to support, and now he had no source of income. But it was about to get a whole lot worse!
Not only was the owner selling the dealership, but he had also found a legal loophole that allowed him to file for bankruptcy. Despite his fat personal bank account, he claimed he could not pay any of the staff after letting them go. The situation was a lot worse than Benny had anticipated, and he set his sights on finding a new source of income.
The Panic and Anger Sets In
Benny’s entire life had been turned upside down in a single moment. He went home without a job and with his tail between his legs. Not only was his bank account nearly empty, but he wouldn’t be earning his final salary from the dealership. Keeping the job loss to himself, he lay awake that night, wondering how he would find another job to support his family.
It wasn’t only stress that dominated Benny’s sleepless night but also anger. He couldn’t shake his frustration at how the rich seemed to keep getting rich at the expense of the common man. His thoughts flickered to the owner of the story managing to sell a very luxurious and expensive car on the day the store closed — what were the chances of that happening?
Benny Receives a Mysterious Email
Benny felt down in the dumps, experiencing despair, hopelessness, and frustration. His former employee had been incredibly selfish and dishonorable by lining his pockets at the expense of his hardworking employees. As these dark thoughts were circulating in Benny’s mind, he received an unexpected email from the dealership. Confused and intrigued by the message, Benny decided to open it and find out more.
The email was sent from the new dealership manager, requesting that all former employees come to the office and answer a few questions. One part of Benny was disgruntled and had no interest in returning to the office. Another part of Benny was interested in the proposal. Maybe there would be an opportunity for him to get a new job — or get revenge on his previous manager.
Straight Into the Frying Pan
Benny realized he had nothing to lose by returning to the office. If anything, maybe he could get the new manager to do something about the illegitimate filing for bankruptcy that left all previous employees in such a difficult position. So, he responded to the email, agreeing to meet the new manager that afternoon and answer any questions he may have — but he wasn’t prepared for what happened next.
Benny was the first employee to meet the new manager, and he was anxious about breaking the ice. He couldn’t pinpoint his concerns, but he was overcome with dread when he arrived at the dealership. He assumed that the new owner would be another rich and snobby crook. But he was in for a surprise.
The Truth Is Revealed
Full of anticipation, Benny pushed the office door open. As soon as he saw the person before him, his jaw dropped to the floor. It was the old, disheveled man that he had kicked out of the showroom, but he looked very different. The new owner looked at Benny with a cheeky smile and said, “I told you I would not forget about you.”
The old man was the new owner of the car dealership. Benny couldn’t believe his eyes, and the old man read the expression of disbelief on his face. He invited Benny to sit down so that he could explain. As it turns out, the old man was not only a car enthusiast but also an incredibly wealthy businessman. He had been considering buying the dealership for some time, but he wanted to get more familiar with the staff and environment. Benny remained suspicious.
The Puzzle Pieces Fall Into Place
Benny still had several questions, and the old man slowly filled in the blanks. He explained that he visited the store every day for a week to assess the state of the showroom, judge how the employees treated the customers (including him), and, obviously, to look at the cars. He had already decided to buy the store when the previous owner kicked him out. The harsh decision would have a serious knock-on effect.
Rather than make a formal bid, the old man decided to teach the previous owner a lesson. He was well-connected and started calling every possible customer, telling them to wait before buying a luxury vehicle. Suddenly, Benny realized why the store had been so quiet, and all the customers had been apprehensive. Unfortunately, the old man’s plan left Benny in a very difficult situation — or so he thought.
Benny Is Rewarded for His Kindness
One by one, the pieces started to fit together. By forcing the previous owner to file for bankruptcy, the old man could buy the dealership at a low price. He planned to open it up in a week and invited all his influential connections to come and make their purchases then. At first, Benny didn’t understand how he fit into the old man’s master plan, but it all made sense when he offered him his job back.
The old man needed experienced employees to reopen the store and rehired everyone who had been dismissed. Benny was relieved to have his old job back — with a better boss! The store celebrated its grand opening three days later by making impressive sales. Benny was over the moon with the opportunity, and he had learned a very valuable lesson by being kind to the old man. One he would never forget it!