Retail

The irate buyer, adamant

Certain of her rights

Demanded the clerk

Call a manager

And allow her to complain

In person

Of the terrible service she was subjected to.

And the clerk

Dialed the number

Knowing neither the manager

Nor the customer

Really wanted to have the conversation

But needed to go through the motions

To justify their existence

As human beings not just economic forces.

And she needed the job to eat.