I have a friend who's an expert negotiator. She's a real estate agent and has honed her skills over the years. She can turn a dire situation into no situation at all with her words. And she usually gets what she wants. I like to tease her about it.
Will you be my negotiator? And stay by my side just in case I need to call AT&T, or the Department of Water And Power?
She always says yes, but she doesn't really mean it. She's married. And the plan's no good unless she's at the ready.
I'm not a bad negotiator, but I'm apt to say it's not worth the trouble. I don't have a negotiator's desire. You need to be strong willed and fight it out. And unless you make me angry I don't have the will.
But my friend can negotiate two for one coupons with the best of them. She'll put any teenager answering the phone at your favorite restaurant to shame. She's good.
