house of lords -- part 2

I was lying back in the chair, waiting while the conditioner set in my tangled locks.

Next to me, a hairdresser washed a patron's hair. As she did so a man came over, handed her a business card, and then walked away.

"Oh, god," she said to her customer. "That guy, I was cutting his hair, and he says he's a photographer -- from New York. And he wants me to come to New York so he can take photos of me. 'Just like you are', he says, 'chewing the gum -- and more gum, and more gum.'"

Her voice lowered.

"Like that's going to happen."