Failure as a girl

So today we're at Sears, getting our Christmas family pictures, and I realize I have no lipstick. I do own a stick of lipstick, purchased circa 1994 from The Body Shop (Burnt Plum, I believe is the shade) but I can never find it when I need it. So I figure I'm getting my picture taken, I'm at Sears, they're running 45 minutes late... why don't I splurge and be a girl for once and get myself something nice?

Go to the cosmetics department, hide my utter confusion at the plethora of girly colour options before me, find a shade that approximates my good old Burnt Plum (if it works, don't screw with it), and look for the price tag.

"Um... how much is this?" I finally ask the salesguy.

"Let's see... $19.95CDN." (that's about $17.06US)

"$19.95!!"

"Well, yes. That's pretty standard, for TRESCHICBRAND. I mean ::slightly disdainful sniff:: you could go with our CHICBRAND line, those are about $18. Or SLIGHTLYLESSCHIC, those are about $17."

::blinking in bewilderment:: "Really? That's... standard?"

"Yes." Slight eyeroll at my bumpkinness. "Or I suppose you could go to Pharmasave or something, they carry lines like Avon or ::slight shudder:: Revlon or things like that, more around the $10 range, but really, ::haughtily disdainful sniff:: you get what you pay for-"

"Great! Where's the Pharmasave?"

::pursed lips - must've just et a lime:: "Out into the mall, to your left."

"Cool - thanks!!"

::exercising great effort to not mutter 'Philistine' under his breath:: "You're... welcome."

Buddy. Think. I'm there for a portrait and don't have a single stick of lipstick, and look at you in horror when you tell me the price. Did you really think you were gonna make a sale?


Oh, and Revlon? $8 ($6.84US). Sold :)