Two shop window mannequins had just tried to leave the store. The security woman had them in her office, but neither was giving anything away. The blonde had a change of underwear in her bag, the other a packet of profiteroles.
The previous week another mannequin had abused an elderly customer, at least so the woman claimed, and had had to be restrained by the police. Its head had been crushed during what the officers involved called ‘a violent scuffle’. An official inquiry was being set up.
That had seemed like an isolated incident. Now the store detective suspected some sort of organised revolt was afoot. ‘How could you do this?’ she demanded. ‘Has the company ever mistreated you?’ The mannequins stared blankly into the middle distance, showing no sign of remorse.
Simon Collings
Art by Julie Goldsmith
https://www.instagram.com/juliegoldsmith/?hl=en