Wheedling to Ruin

The week after I left my job at Popular Woodworking Magazine, one of the advertising salesmen called me on my cell phone to chat. Which was weird because it was our first-ever phone conversation.

“Hey, congrats on going out on your own,” he said, which I think was sincere. “Good news. The people at Bessey Tools love your work and really want to support you.”

<curious noises on my end, ending in a question mark>

“They want to set you up with clamps. Whatever you want. And they don’t want anything back. Just hang them up and use them.”

I took a deep breath and didn’t say anything for an eternal five seconds. Here’s the narrative in my head: Oh my clamp-lacking donkey, I needed clamps. I didn’t have nearly enough, and I was always borrowing them from colleagues. And Bessey clamps were (and still are) my favorite. I was grateful for this kind gesture, which would make my life so much easier. But…

“Thanks, but no thanks,” I said. “I know it sounds stupid. But… Uh… Anyway, really, thanks. Please…