I was just standing there, near the big ancient pottery display. It was a good day, not too crowded yet. I like to walk around this museum when I have some free hours. Much peace. I was looking at the small bowls from long ago, thinking how people could make such things with simple tools. My mind was far away, in history, when a sudden shadow fall on me.
A woman was standing very close. She look at me with eyes that say, ‘Help me, now.’ Her hand move like she was trying to get my attention, even though she was already right next to me. I thought maybe she was lost and need directions to a certain art piece. I wait for her to speak. My thought was still mostly with the ancient pots, so I was a little slow to come back to the present time.
“Excuse me,” she say, and her voice was quick. “You. Where is the special exhibition? The one for the new modern art. I have a ticket for the eleven o’clock time, and it is almost that time. I do not see any signs for it from this part of the museum. You should have more signs visible.”
I turn my head fully to her. “Oh,” I say, and I try to be polite. “I am sorry, but I do not work here. I am just a visitor, like you. I do not know where the modern art is. Maybe you can ask at the front desk or a real employee for help?” I thought that was clear enough. My English is not perfect, but ‘I do not work here’ is a very simple sentence, easy to understand. I nod my head a little, to show I was being friendly.
But her face did not change. She just blink at me, like she did not hear my words. “No, no,” she say, and she shake her head. Her voice was getting faster, more demanding. “You must know. You are standing here, so you must be working. Do not tell me you do not know. I am in a hurry, I need to find it now. Tell me the direction to the modern art exhibit. Is it upstairs? Or through that door?” She point her finger at a closed door next to the pottery.
My stomach begin to feel a little knot. I try to be calm. “Truly,” I say, more firm this time. “I do not work for this museum. I have no uniform, no badge. I am wearing my own clothes. I have no information about the exhibits. I am just a guest.” I motion to my jacket, which was a simple, plain color. My head start to feel warm, like a small fire was starting behind my eyes.
She put her hand on her hip. “This is ridiculous,” she say. Her voice was loud now, and some people nearby start to look our way. My cheeks burn a little with embarrassment. “You are just being difficult. I am a paying customer, and I need help. You are an employee, you are supposed to help me. I need to get to the modern art. It is very important. Where is it? Just tell me.” She took a step closer to me, like she thought that would make me tell her. My breathing became shallower.
My muscles tense, and I feel a sharp pain behind my temple. The knot in my stomach was now a hard ball. “I DO NOT WORK HERE!” I say. My voice was louder than I mean for it to be. The words burst out, full of the anger I was trying to hold back. My hands clench into fists at my sides, but I try to keep them relaxed. I look at her directly, no longer trying to be gentle.
Her mouth drop open. Her eyes grow wide. “How dare you!” she shout. Now everyone nearby was definitely watching. My face was very hot. My head felt like it would split open. “How dare you speak to a customer like that! I will have your job! This is unacceptable service! I want to speak to your manager right now! You are a terrible employee! You should be fired!” She look around, like she was searching for someone official to report me to, but then her eyes come back to me, full of accusation. “Are you going to help me, or not? Or should I just go tell your manager what a rude person you are?”
My heart was pounding very hard. It was thumping against my ribs. I could not believe this was happening. My mouth felt dry. I felt an urge to just walk away, but she was blocking my path a little, standing too close. I just want the ground to swallow me whole. I was getting very angry. I could not think of any other words to say. My voice was gone. My throat felt closed up.
Just then, a man, who had been standing a little ways back, reading something on his phone, look up. He had a bag over his shoulder. He took a few quick steps towards us. “Honey?” he say. He look at the woman, then at me. His eyebrows rise a little, like he understood what was happening. “Is everything okay here? What is going on? We need to go, the car park ticket is almost expired. You know how expensive it is if we are late.” He put his hand gently on her arm. He look apologetic at me with his eyes.
The woman start to sputter. “She is so rude! She will not help me find the modern art exhibit! And she scream at me! She deserves to be fired!” she say, pointing at me again with her finger.
The man pull her arm gently. “Okay, okay. Let’s just go. We will ask someone at the exit for directions, or look on the map outside. We do not have time for this, honey. We need to go, come on.” He started to lead her away, still holding her arm. He look at me one last time, a quick, almost unnoticeable nod of apology. She was still complaining loudly as he guided her out of the room, her voice fading as they went around a corner. My whole body felt like it was buzzing. It took me a long time for my heart to slow down. I just stood there, looking at the ancient pottery, but I did not see it anymore. My peaceful afternoon was completely gone.
