The emptiness of stock smiles

We've managed to produce a world that's boring, but we can create something better.

Meet Cheryl.

I explore the city one step at a time. The same blocks impart different knowledge depending on the frame I bring to them. 

It took several passes for me to notice that three banks sit close to each other on two blocks downtown. Looking at one bank square in the storefront, I saw a photo of an older Asian woman with glasses. She pretended to smile in the vertical banner that doubles as lobby decoration and sidewalk eyecatcher. 

Stock photo. Yeah, okay. 

I eyed the next storefront and saw the same woman. With the same smile.

By the time I reached the third bank, I realized I couldn’t name the banks. And after a few more blocks, I also realized the same woman appears in a number of the photos my company uses, flashing that same smile as bright as it is empty. 

Crap.