Demeter giggled to herself as she drove down the road. 'This is great. I've already made a farming buddy,' she thought. "Where is that farm shop?" Demeter wonders out loud as she glanced at the signs along the highway.
After a few minutes, she felt like it should have been around here. It was only a few miles down the road, according to Diana. "Oh well, Goggles give me directions to the nearest farming depot?" she asked her smartphone.
"Continue down Field highway for two miles," Demeter's phone chirped. Demeter followed her phones directions and soon found her self at the depot Diana had told her about. It had a gaudy sign with a buff farmer giving a thumbs up. It looked like the guy on the front of romance novels. Donny's One Stop Farm Shop was plastered above the man's head.
'I wonder if that's supposed to be Donny,' Demeter wondered as she climbed out of her car. She walks towards the building. 'It's smaller than the all in one depots in the city," she observed. As she reached the entrance, it had automatic sliding doors like most new stores. As she entered her eyes sparkled as they swooped around the store.
Although lacking the rustic feel she thought it should have it was packed full of farming equipment. From handheld to tractors, it seemed to have it all. After searching for a bit, Demeter finds her way to the fertilizer section. The row was stacked with different enumerable bags of fertilizer. They also had signs that seemed to battle for Demeter's attention. Some even had animated signboards that bashed the competitors. Names like Elise Filton, a famous farmer, showed up on one of the bags.
While marveling at the overwhelming number of choices, Demeter's eyes wander down to the price tags. Some of the prices were astronomical costing over two hundred Firmingtons. She thought back to her bank account and wept. She'd saved quite well during her time as an, but it'd be gone in seconds with these costs. After her last paycheck, she'd have around fifty thousand Firms (short slang for Firmingtons with the equivalent being the Euro in our world). A pretty good nest egg for someone her age but now it'd have to sustain her until she can make money farming.
As she is browsing a man with a beer gut and receding hairline walks over. He has on a blue dress shirt and tan khaki pants. "Can I help you miss?" a slightly nasally voice asked.
"Um, I'm new to farming, so I'm looking for a good starter fertilizer," Demeter replied with a smile. She glanced at the man's name pin and is surprised to see that it said owner: Donny Swinbelor.
"Of course, I'm happy to help newcomers how big of a field are you working?" Donny asked while rubbing his hands together.
Demeter thinks for a bit before she answered uncertainly, "I have fifty, but I'll probably start with only ten?"
The depot's owner hand stop rubbing, but he still smiles while answering, "Sure that makes sense don't want to get over your head. Hmm, what would be best." Donny scratches his scalp as he contemplates.
After a short moment, Donny's eyes light up. "Oh yes, this is perfect!" he exclaims as he slams his fist into his hand. "I've been in a predicament you see. Someone canceled their order for some top quality fertilizer. I managed to sell most of it, but there is still a hand full of bags left," as he explained, he began to rub his head sheepishly.
Demeter shakes her head, "I can't afford high-quality fertilizer like that."
"Hear me out first," Donny counters while holding out his hand to stop her. "The amount I have is perfect for you. There isn't any way I could sell such a small amount to my regulars. So I'm in quite the predicament. I'd be willing to sell the rest of the bags at a hefty discount!"
"I was hoping to only spend a few hundred on fertilizer for my first attempt," Demeter again tried to deny Donny.
"That's reasonable, but you'll definitely benefit from this fertilizer for the next few years. I'll sell the lot for only two thousand Firmington. I'd be selling them at a 90% discount. I'll be taking a huge loss, you know? But I really can't store them and the likely hood of someone needing only ten acres worth," Donny said while putting on a distressed look.
Demeter felt terrible for this balding man he really looked troubled. But two thousand Firms is rough. She bites her lips as she contemplates. After some thought, she pulls out her phone. 'Shoot I should have asked for Diana's number,' she thought. She could still check the web, though. "What is the fertilizer called? I want to check on it first," Demeter questioned Donny.
"I'm hurt that you don't trust me. But I understand that it's hard nowadays. But I assure you I wouldn't be in business very long if I tricked newcomers," Donny says smoothly before gesturing over to Elise Filton's fertilizer. "I'm sure you've heard of the exclusive premium brand that Elise personally uses," he whispered.
"What really?!" Demeter yelped with her hand over her mouth in shock.
"Indeed, that's why I couldn't send it back. I would hate to get on such a powerful person's bad side," he said with a gulp.
Demeter closed her phone and nodded, "Ok, can I take a look at it?"
Donny heaves a sigh of relief and puts his hand on Demeter's back to guide her as he said, "Sure this way. I'll get the paperwork ready as you look."
They enter the back, and Donny leads her to a crate with bright blue bags. Each bag had a seal of approval and Elise's face on it. Demeter hadn't seen this type of bag before, so she was a bit relieved. She looks over the bag, which seems to have the standard information on it. Demeter felt it should be more spectacular, but she'd come to understand that she idolized the farming industry a bit too much and should lower her expectations.
As Demeter looked over the fertilizer, Donny went into the back and printed out some paperwork. He returned with the contract in hand. "Well, what do you think? Looks good right?"
Demeter tilted her head with a perplexed look and responded, "I don't know. It looks the same as the rest of the fertilizer to me."
"It may look the same, but that's to keep it safe. If it was easily identifiable, how could I hold it in my back room? I need to hire security just for this batch," he explained. Then he pulls out a pen from his pocket and hands it to Demeter.
Demeter takes the paperwork and starts looking it over. "I can't return it?" she asks nervously, noticing the all final sales clause.
Donny waved away Demeter's worries and said, "Of course it's already a returned product I can't take it back again this is standard practice."
Demeter gnawed on her lip as she signed the paperwork. She then filled out a check for two thousand Firmingtons and hands it to Donny. As she finished, Donny quickly takes it away and made copies. As he returned, Demeter asked him, "Can you ship the crate?"
"Of course I'll get the guys to follow you home," he replied cheerily.
"Great, I need to pick up some diesel on the way. Is that a problem?" Demeter clarifies.
"Sure, that's fine. Was there anything else you need?" Donny responds while laughing.
"I was going to pick up seeds too, but after spending so much I'm not prepared," Demeter confided.
"Well come back later, and I'll help you with it," Donny said while leading her to the exit.
Demeter waited for the small truck with two workers to come out the back. They follow her to the gas station where she fills the can and gently sets it in the backseat. She had a burning smile as she pictured the shock she'll see on Diana's face when she sees the great deal she got.