The Feed

"Who told you about us?" she screamed "Who told you about us?"

She looked menacing at first and then reached for an object which from
the corner of my eye looked like hot tongs.

"Give me the money".

"I've given you the money".

"So you have". Again though "Who told you about us?"

"Look, should you really be talking to me like…… " I started but I
barely had enough breath…

"Who the fuck are you and who told you about us?"

"I suppose you found us on the Internet, did you? Is that what you're
going to claim? You are not leaving here until you tell me. It would
be easier on you if you do". She drew breath, slowed down a little.
"Look, just who told you about us?" Calmer now but I knew what follows
calm.

"Just tell me. Why wouldn't you?" Then the thunderclap. "Why wouldn't
you tell me? You'll feel a lot better, Fuckbreath"

"I didn't feel bad before … until you started…." Oh no.. she was on
the move, approaching slowly. She was between me and the door.
Shutting down the exits.

"Look, we're all just trying to get on with each other, aren't we? We
all have a job to do", she smiled a scary smile. I preferred her
without the smile.

"All I'm asking you is who told you about us?"

"I don't have to answer". But my voice shook even as I replied.

She rifled through some papers as though busy and picked up the
handset of a phone that hadn't rung.
"Annnnnyway", she said as though she was about to drastically change
the subject "I am just asking you who told you about us"

That had been apparent.

"Maybe… oh I don't know, Silly, maybe you got an anonymous text" she
suggested with a barely disguised smirk of contempt. I was now Silly.
Mr Silly. It was an improvement over Fuckbreath.

"Maybe… I don't know… somebody put a letter through your door and you
never knew who it was?" "That's all you need to say. If that's the
truth. If that's the truth then that's all you need to say", she
repeated with a disconcerting level of clarity and reassurance.

"Just tell us what you know, and everything will be fine. So.." now
scarily upbeat.."now we understand each other. FULLY. I'm going to ask
you one more time. Are you ready?

Oh Lord.

"Who…, are you paying attention?… WHO. Told you. About us?

I was sweating now and I knew that she knew she could see me sweating.

"Come on. It's a simple question".

I made a decision there and then.

I'm not a huge fan of retail feedback surveys but I'm definitely not
going to that hairdresser again.