From Part One, I closed my recount of my stay at the Sheraton.
Forgive me for a small break in my narrative, but I must tell you a story about my Uncle Terry. Who, it is said, in many ways I take after.
Dear Uncle Terry was in Saudi Arabia about the same time as myself. He was working on commission for a company that made wall planners. His job was to sell the publicity space around the planner.
My Uncle was always a very good businessman, and managed to sell nearly all the publicity spaces. All except one; the most expensive one.
He had an appointment with a very important company owner. As he walked up the office stairs, his mind was fully focusing on just getting that last order. He knocked on the office door. And to his surprise found it ajar. Poking his head around the door he found himself face to face with a very attractive Saudi lady. The only problem was that she was completely stark naked!
My Uncle, not being the bravest of men, and knowing the penalty for seeing such a lady in such an indisposed situation, did what any man of his nature would have done. He ran like hell!
The problem remained, how was he going to sell the last space and earn a very high bonus? He would have to go back to the client’s office!
To do this, he borrowed a walking stick from a friend and a set of light shaded sunglasses from another. And this is where he did The Oscar Performance of his life.
He entered the office with a very pronounced limp, and his host, being of a kind nature, offering my Uncle a chair. However, he could not resist asking my Uncle about his leg and dark glasses. My Uncle, without a moments hesitation informed his client that while being given a hot cup of tea, he burnt one hand which made him drop his portable typewriter on his foot, and this brought on a slight migraine that he was prone to have, thus the glasses.
My Uncle got the contract and the bonus.