Jack checked his Blackberry as soon as he arrived at the Super 8 hotel in Abbottsford near the intersection of the Trans Canada Highway and Sumas Way. He had only one message. The call came in just after ten o’clock the night before, around the time he passed through the small mountain town of Golden. He was listening to the audio book at the loud volume he preferred, while focusing on maneuvering his vehicle through the slush covered road in the mountains of Roger's pass.
The message was from Donna reminding him to call her when he got settled. He saved her message and called her, but she wasn't home. He knew she would already be at work. He left a message saying he made it safely and that the weather at the coast was clear and calm. He said he loved her and would call her later in the evening. He then closed the blinds of his hotel room, set the alarm for two the next afternoon, put his Blackberry on silent and tried to get as much sleep as he could.
Jack woke to the alarm, quickly showered, and grabbed a quick breakfast of coffee, oatmeal, and a muffin in the lobby of the hotel where a small continental breakfast for guests was set up earlier. As arranged during each one of his stays at this hotel, a muffin and oatmeal was always kept aside for him for when he woke up in the afternoon—the start of his day.
He reviewed his contacts for the day, called his office, and spoke to his boss for ten minutes. Jack opened the trunk and reviewed the contents of some of the totes. Some had brochures and others product samples. The hand sanitizer dispensers, disposable latex gloves, and food storage bags were his biggest sellers over the past few years, and he always carried samples to hand out. Everything was in order. He jumped in his car and headed out to meet his first customer.
Jack always started with a low maintenance customer—one who faxed purchase orders in on a regular basis. This practice usually left him feeling upbeat and positive for the rest of the day. Today was no different, and by 6:00 p.m., he had dropped in on four customers and had one good new prospect.
He went to the Bootleg Bar in North Vancouver. The manager was young and enthusiastic, and Jack was sure he could drum up some business at this pub. He ordered a burger and called Donna. It was after 8:00 p.m. back home, but there was no answer. Jack wondered where she was, but it wasn't unusual for Donna to go for a run along the river. He left a message telling her the trip was going well, prospects looked good so far, that he loved her, and to call him when she got in.
He finished his meal and left the restaurant to keep making his way down his list of prospective clients. He would drop in on a few more bars before returning to Abbotsford for the night. Taking business meetings at pubs was the highlight for Jack on these trips. There was so much potential business, and each pub was as unique as the proprietor who ran the pub and the patrons he or she served.
A few hours later, Jack tried calling Donna again, but there was still no answer. His message was simpler this time. "Darling? Where are you? Please call me when you get in.”
Jack continued to work his route until the last bar closed at two in the morning and began heading back to his hotel. He received no call from Donna. Just like the night before, he set the alarm for two in the afternoon, turned the ringer to silent, and rested his head on the pillow.
Jack was very tired, but sleep did not find him easily.