16 Renford Road
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Soliloquy #1
Submission Techniques
"The Form"


days thinking.  What kind of policy was this?  One that charged people
thousands of dollars for tapes that they had in fact returned promptly?
Wasn't there governmental overseeing agencies to deal with stuff like
this?  Theodore thought that he might call the Better Business Bureau - he
had heard of them in some of the magazines he read.  Upon calling them,
he was referred to the NSBA, the National Small Business Agency, for
evidently the BBB did not deal with issues like this - they only dealt with
fraudulent businesses or false claims and the like.  They told Theodore
that according to the information he had provided, the movie place was 
not misrepresenting any information.  The NSBA turned out to be a large
voice-mail device with tips on common problems: how to speak to your
credit-card company, what to do if a business goes bankrupt, why large
corporations often put small businesses out of business.  They also
recommended contacting a larger federal department for other,
extraordinary problems.  When Theodore contacted the number referred to
him by the NSBA, he found that that federal department had been
dissolved six months ago, and that perhaps he might try calling the BBB
or NSBA, please.
	Theodore knew that he could not give up.  There must be
something he could do.  He knew it.  These things just couldn't happen.
There must be some reason, some problem with something.  "How about
calling a different video store - maybe they could give some insight,"
recommended a friend with whom Theodore was discussing his problem.
"Sure, that's a good idea.  Maybe they'll tell me if this policy is really out
on a limb, or if it is typical," he responded.
	Theodore located a telephone book and called the first store he
could find.  "Yes, hello," he began, "I'm curious to learn about your late-
return policy."
	"Why?  Do you have a tape that you would like to turn in late?"  
	"Oh no, I'm not even a customer at your store.  I'm just curious."  
	"Well, sir, then, we can't really tell you that.  I'm sorry."  
	"Why?  I'm just asking what would happen if someone turned in
their tape late."

16 Renford Road
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