Sales Assistant in a Foreign Land

Inspired by a summer work experience in France

My day is folding and watching.

Folding clothes for stock,
Folding clothes for shelves,
Folding clothes for fun.

Watching people work,
Watching people walk,
Watching people shop.

Folding and watching is all I do.

I can't advise people.
I try and they walk away,
Move on to Nadine
Who apologises on my behalf;
'Just an English girl'.

I can't serve people.
It would take too long to show me how.
When I'm left alone
A queue builds up and I apologise;
'I'm new'.

So my day is folding and watching.

She says that I'm becoming quite an expert
With the cash-coeur,
It took her years to master,
So I get the pile.

But still I'm not allowed to fold the
Nouvelle Collection.
It needs to be done perfectly,
So I must bring it to her.

And watch her fold.