Yes...?

I am sure we all have been asked that monosyllabic annoying 'question'. But wait...by whom? By shop assistants. Such was my experience this morning when I visited one shop specializing in bathroom appliances.

I usually ignore them. This is especially true when I am in a hurry where the intention is just to take a quick look to see what are on display. Why...I havent said anything to provoke such question hence I dont feel obliged to answer. The persitent one would take an extra step to explain "That one just came from Australia"--mucho mucho to my annoyance. "That one came from Mexico...yesterday". I felt like saying, "Yeah, so what? It is still fugly". These examples came from a lady who works in one of those gaudy furniture shops (Liberace's style) along Jalan Tun Razak near Yow Chuan Plaza. Like I was impressed with the name Australia and Mexico.

I wonder how and where on god's green earth did that originate from. My guess is, it started off a long time ago when some salesperson's only vocabulary in english was invariably the famous one syllable "Yes" or "No". Oh you know, how people who dont speak English well just use them alternately in a conversation to create the impression that they do. Over time this becomes a standard one-word demonstration of how excellent our customer service is--monosyllabic yet loaded with well-intentioned meaning. Good-morning, & how-may-I-help-you are all packed into one simple question. Why not.

And today, for the N'th time, a saleslady asked me that the MOMENT I entered her store. I didnt even have the chance to even look around yet! As of my wont, I ignored her. And followed me she did as if there was an invisible string attached to our hips. Once in a while I would make myself disappear between the aisles but there she was...unflinching from her duty to watch me like a hawk, as though any moment now I would be pinching one of the 50kg-bathroom sinks, hide it in my brassiere and be running to my car.

I wonder if she herself have been subjected to a similar treatment. Doesnt it bother her...people asking that question and then tailing her around? Fifteen years could have gone by and I doubt things will ever change. Maybe I am being critical but why cant they just nod their head, or say hello, or even just ignore us? A lot of us would love that, methinks. Besides, dont they have anything better to do than follow us around? Dont they need to do inventory and start putting those shoes in the boxes? You know...they can multi-task--start counting those shoes and once in a while give us a nod to let us know if we need anything, help is nearby. I certainly would prefer that.

I havent even begun to talk about the small nonsensical talk they try to engage me in. Yes, let's ask the obvious. Yesterday, on entering a lighting shop, one saleslady inquired, "Cari lampu ke?" "No, I am looking to buy some grapes. Which aisle should I go to?" Something that I quietly whispered under my breath. Wont it be delicious if I could say that?

And oh by the way, usually it is the "saleslady" (vs salesman) who would do that. My other half told me that a woman on the average uses 3,000 words per day compare to a man. Go figure.