In Which We All Learn a New Word
An older patron comes up to the desk. He is wearing a Wal-Mart name tag, and has rampant tooth decay.
Me: Can I help you?
Patron: I need a book that shows how to build a “shilloose.”
Me: A what?
Patron: A . . . “shilloose.” It’s a way of processing gold. It’s like a chute, with slats in it. You put the gold in the top with the water, and the slats catch the gold, and the water washes the sand away.
Me: Hmm. I’ve never heard of that word. Do you know how to spell it?
Patron: Uh, no.
I Google “gold shilloose” under every spelling I can think of. No luck.
Me: I’m sorry, sir, but I’m not finding it, and without knowing how to spell it I can’t search for books on that subject.
Patron: Can we look it up in a dictionary?
Me: . . . also no. Your best bet is probably just to look through the gold/prospecting section and see if you find anything.
I take him over to the right section and turn him loose. A few minutes later he comes back to the desk with a book in his hand.
Patron (shows me a picture of a man prospecting): This is a “shilloose.”
Me: Ohhh. You mean a sluice?
Patron: Maybe. That’s a hard word to say.
Don’t blame me for not figuring out what he meant right away. My job is totally hard! STOP LAUGHING AT ME.
Fuck you all. >:(
Like
September 4th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
I think I’m really more bothered that an old guy fancies learning how to going prospecting for gold. Tough times. :(
September 5th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
The only reason I know what word he meant is my dad is rock obssessed. But I woulden’t have had any idea how to spell it. At least you were able to help him find it in the end.
September 5th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
I’m not sure I’ve noticed a real uptick in the popularity of the prospecting/gemstone books lately. They’ve always had a kooky, devoted following. :P
Betty, I should’ve known what he meant just from the description. I guess I was just so mesmerized by the hilarious-sounding word he was saying that I didn’t even connect it with the obvious term. *sigh*
September 7th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I would’ve been a lot more judgmental if you say, had a background in mining. :)
I often think of you when I’m reading the Not Always Right site…customers really do astound sometimes.
chosha´s last blog ..and canberra gets even more boring…
September 14th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
You guys have a gold/prospecting section?
Ethan´s last blog ..Deserves a pizza #3
September 14th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
“Section” is a bit grandiose, I guess. We have several books on gold and prospecting, though.