December 2024
Roseanne Freed
roseanne.freed@gmail.com
roseanne.freed@gmail.com
Bio Note: I love meeting people and hearing their stories. I had many fascinating encounters with tourists from all over the world during the years I spent at my cash register at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
The Phone Call
Woman:
Hello, I was in your museum store about two months ago, and I saw a book.
A photography book. I don’t know the title, but I know it was a photography book.
Me:
What was the book about?
Woman:
I don’t know. I think the cover was green… Actually I’m not sure. Maybe it was blue?
Me:
Can you tell me anything else about it?
Woman:
Oh I know, it was the last one on the shelf. Do you still have it?
Me:
We have hundreds of photography books. Sorry, but without more information
I can’t help you.
Woman:
Oh for god’s sake! Can I speak to the Manager.
Where’s the Family Restroom?
a woman asked me.
I hesitated before replying,
as it’s difficult to find
at the back of a gallery.
It’s for my daughter.
She needs to feed the baby,
she said, pointing behind her
to a small skinny girl
with red hair and freckles,
who I guessed was thirteen,
and carried a baby in a soft padded
wrap on her chest.
I muted my criticism and curiosity,
congratulated the young mother,
made cooing sounds to the cute baby,
carefully showed them where to go
on a map of the museum,
and watched them walk off
in the wrong direction.
Today At My Cash Register
One blushing bride
Two I’m just looking
Three ladies in purple with their requisite red hats
Four women called Frances
(in less than two hours)
Five languages – French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish
(In one hour.)
Six people in wheelchairs
(two with oxygen)
Seven kids pressed the awful Scream puppet
(and all of them pressed it twice)
Eight Where’s the rest room?
Nine finger puppets for one spoiled grandson
Ten nuns in grey and blue silently filing down the stairs
like a line of bluebirds.
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