I had a rather Kafkaesque experience this afternoon at Staples, a stationery superstore.
Having hunted in vain for rulers throughout the shop, I went up to a sales assistant and enquired where I might find one.
"Roo-ler?" the woman asked, rolling the R as if to emphasise my bizarre request.
"Ruler", I confirmed.
"Roo-ler?" she echoed with a look of complete incredulity.
"Ruler", I repeated.
"Roo-ler?" she asked a third time.
"Yes, ruler!" I said, somewhat exasperated.
"Oh," she replied. "Aisle 11 on the right."
What luck we were speaking the same language. I can't imagine what might have happened if we hadn't been able to understand one other.
Having hunted in vain for rulers throughout the shop, I went up to a sales assistant and enquired where I might find one.
"Roo-ler?" the woman asked, rolling the R as if to emphasise my bizarre request.
"Ruler", I confirmed.
"Roo-ler?" she echoed with a look of complete incredulity.
"Ruler", I repeated.
"Roo-ler?" she asked a third time.
"Yes, ruler!" I said, somewhat exasperated.
"Oh," she replied. "Aisle 11 on the right."
What luck we were speaking the same language. I can't imagine what might have happened if we hadn't been able to understand one other.
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