Conversation · Frittte clerk

"Before we go on, what is this Frittte?"

"I don't know -- Frittte?" She shrugs.

"Why is it written with three T-s?"

"I think they think that extra T makes it funkier..." She chews on her gum with disgust. "It doesn't."

The story goes that normal Fritte with two T-s (a men's workwear shop in Vredefort) was already taken, so when Fritte Retail, Inc. grew into a multinational corporation they had to add an extra letter to avoid trademark infringement.

"And what is Frittte?"

"A 7-to-11 grocery store?"

"What magazine are you reading?"

"You mean this?" She looks at the cover boasting a colourful photo of two girls kissing.

"This is Pop-Stars, it's got, like, famous people in it? It's not for sale."

Looks like it also has something called 'Police De La Mode' featured on page 34. This speaks to you.

"Stupid famous people."

"Yeah, they're kind of boring, but, you know..." She never finishes the sentence.

"I'm not even interested in that magazine. I don't know why I asked about it."

"Yeah, me neither."

"I approve of this, very futuristic." (Tap on the girls kissing.)

She pops her raspberry-flavoured bubblegum and nods.

Her shoulders tense. She shuffles back only slightly; bewilderment and repulsion root her in place.

The lieutenant frowns at you, before turning to the clerk with an apologetic half-smile.

"Forget about all that -- what this is fashion police feature?" (Point at the cover.)

"Uhm, it's where they rate different outfits famous people wear? It's kinda funny. They're kinda mean." She stops to think. "It's about who's the most stylish."

(Point to her hat.) "I bet your hat would take the prize."

"Uhm, no. I don't like it, I hate it."

"We are not the fashion police." The lieutenant looks at you. "We're the real police."

"Who's the numero uno guy in there right now -- and does he look like this?" (Point at yourself.)

"Uhm..." Her lazy eyes scan up and down your body, assessing the situation.

"No, I don't think so."

"So who is the most stylish there? It can't be anyone from here."

"Benita. She's a model. Usually it's a model. Or a singer-songwriter. Or a model."

[Leave.]

"Uhm, you kicked the tare machine. Please don't kick the tare machine. This is Frittte -- and you don't want to fuck with Frittte."