I: Do you have crochet needles?
Woman at the counter (very small, very wrinkled, very old): What?
I: Crochet needles?
Woman at the counter: What?
I: Crooo-cheee needles.
Woman at the counter: What?
I (demonstrating a movement that probably makes her think of chopsticks): Crochet needles. To crochet.
Woman at the counter: What? (She looks thoughtful at her shoes for a while and ages another five years due to the exhaustion of thinking. Then, in Spanish): No, creo que no.
I: Do you know where I could get one?
Woman at the counter: No se. Ask at the beauty desk. They know.

I walk over to the beauty desk. Two women, looking very bored and exactly alike (except that one is the 30 years older edition of the other), hiding under half a decimeter of make-up:

Older woman: Can I help you?
I: I’m looking for a crochet needle.
Younger woman: There might be one at the knitting corner.
Older woman: We don’t have any.
I: I know – I was wondering whether you know where I could get one.
Younger woman: We might have some!
Older woman (rolls her eyes and whispers into my direction): We don’t have any. But let’s do her the honor and follow her.

We follow the younger woman to the knitting section. It consists of shoelaces in different colors and sizes.

Younger woman, looking sorry: We don’t have any.
Older woman (looking bored, pointing at the shoelaces): How about a glue stick?
I: No, not today.
(awkward pause)
I: I really think you should start selling crochet needles.
(awkward pause)
Older woman: Do you crochet yourself or is it a present?
I: I need it to fix my hair.
Older woman: Maybe you should go to a hairsalon.
I: I don’t think they have crochet needles.
Older woman: They might have something else. Maybe a pen!
I: Maybe. I will try.
Older woman: Have a nice evening!
Younger woman: I am sorry.
I: Thank you!

(* CVS is a pharmacy.)