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打印15 What could his future be? Porter wanted to do something and his mother was certain that he could rise above his limitations. With her encouragement, he applied for a job with the Fuller Brush Co. only to be turned down. He couldn't carry a product briefcase or walk a route, they said.
他將來會是個什么樣子呢？波特想做些事，母親也相信他能沖破身體的局限。在她的鼓勵之下，他向福勒牙刷公司申請一份工作，結(jié)果卻遭到拒絕。他不能提樣品包，也不能跑一條推銷線路，他們說。
16 Porter knew he wanted to be a salesman. He began reading help wanted ads in the newspaper. When he saw one for Watkins, a company that sold household products door-to-door, his mother set up a meeting with a representative. The man said no, but Porter wouldn't listen. He just wanted a chance. The man gave in and offered Porter a section of the city that no salesman wanted.
波特知道自己想當推銷員。他開始閱讀報紙上的招聘廣告。他看到沃特金斯，一家上門推銷家用物品的公司要人，他母親就跟其代理人安排會面。那人說不行，可波特不予理會。他就是需要一個機會。那人讓步了，把城里一個其他推銷員都不要的區(qū)域派給了他。
17 It took Porter four false starts before he found the courage to ring the first doorbell. The man who answered told him to go away, a pattern repeated throughout the day.
波特一開始四次都沒敢敲門，第五次才鼓起勇氣按了第一戶人家的門鈴。開門的那人讓他走開，這種情形持續(xù)了一整天。
18 That night Porter read through company literature and discovered the products were guaranteed. He would sell that pledge. He just needed people to listen.
19 If a customer turned him down, Porter kept coming back until they heard him. And he sold.
當晚，波特仔細閱讀了公司的宣傳資料，發(fā)現(xiàn)產(chǎn)品都是保用的。他要把保用作為賣點。只要別人肯聽他說話就成。
要是客戶回絕波特，拒絕傾聽他的介紹，他就一再上門。就這樣他將產(chǎn)品賣了出去。
20 For several years he was Watkins' top retail salesman. Now he is the only one of the company's 44,000 salespeople who sells door-to-door.
21 The bus stops in the Transit Mall, and Porter gets off.
他連著幾年都是沃特金斯公司的最佳零售推銷員。如今他是該公司44000名推銷員中惟一一個上門推銷的人。
公共汽車在公交中轉(zhuǎn)購物中心站停下，波特下了車。
22 His body is not made for walking. Each step strains his joints. Headaches are constant visitors. His right arm is nearly useless. He can't fully control the limb. His body tilts at the waist; he seems to be heading into a strong, steady wind that keeps him off balance. At times, he looks like a toddler taking his first steps.
23 He walks 10 miles a day.
他的身體不適合行走。每走一步關(guān)節(jié)都疼。頭疼也是習以為常的事。他的右臂幾乎沒用。他不能完全控制這只手臂。他的身體從腰部開始前傾，看上去就像是頂著一股強勁的吹個不停的風邁步向前，風似乎要把他刮倒。有時他看上去就像是個剛剛學步的孩童。
他每天要走10英里的路程。
24 His first stop today, like every day, is a shoeshine stand where employees tie his laces. Twice a week he pays for a shine. At a nearby hotel one of the doormen buttons Porter's top shirt button and slips on his clip-on tie. He then walks to another bus that drops him off a mile from his territory.
25 He left home nearly three hours ago.
像平日一樣，他今天的第一站是個擦鞋攤，這里的雇員替他系好鞋帶。他每周請他們擦兩次鞋。附近一家旅館的門衛(wèi)替他扣上襯衣最上面一粒紐扣，戴上用別針別上的領(lǐng)帶。隨后他步行去搭乘另一部巴士，在距離他的推銷區(qū)域一英里處下車。
他是差不多3個小時前從家里動身的。
26 The wind is cold and raindrops fall. Porter stops at the first house. This is the moment he's been preparing for since 5:45 a.m. He rings the bell.
27 A woman comes to the door.
風冷雨淋。波特在第一戶人家門前停了下來。這是他從5：45分開始就為之準備的時刻。他按了門鈴。
一位婦人開了門。
28 "Hello."
29 "No, thank you, I'm just preparing to leave."
30 Porter nods.
31 "May I come back later?" he asks.
32 "No," says the woman.
33 She shuts the door.
34 Porter's eyes reveal nothing.
35 He moves to the next house.
36 The door opens.
