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Sarah: Hi, welcome, come in and have a seat.
Caleb: Thanks for having me.
Sarah: Would you uh, would you introduce yourself? Explain exactly what you do.
Caleb: My name is Caleb, I am a crochet hook or needle, whichever you prefer. Basically, I look like a cylindrical piece of metal with a hook shape on one end, the hook is average size for crochet hooks. I live in a nursing home, the dementia ward to be specific.
Sarah: Have you always lived in this home?
Caleb: Sadly, yes. I was an amazon purchase after the last hook broke.
Sarah: You said you were metal, was the hook before you also metal?
Caleb: No? The yarn that was around at that time said that the hook was plastic. I guess that they wanted something sturdier, so they got me. I’ve been at this home for 20 years now. So, I guess I’m pretty sturdy. (chuckles)
Sarah: (laughs awkwardly) What is your life like? Tell us about some day-to-day occurrences.
Caleb: Well, when I’m not being used, I sit in a basket on a shelf. Most days someone will walk in before nine-O-clock seeking me out.
Sarah: One of the old ladies?
Caleb: Yeah, one of the old ladies. They always pick the yarn out first, something soft and colorful. The nurses convince them that they are making blankets for their babies or grand-kids. Then they’ll pick me up, sit down, and begin. We’ll sit there for hours, crocheting mostly. I’ve had ladies fall asleep before or forget what they were doing and undo the whole blanket. They very rarely forget. We make blankets, hats, sometimes socks, but it’s mostly blankets... so many blankets.
Sarah: Just exactly how many blankets have you made?
Caleb: Three thousand and thirteen.
Sarah: Wow...
Caleb: Yeah, 3 a week most weeks. I remember every single one; the resident that made it-the yarn that was used, and the time that it took to make them. It’s a lot.
Sarah: What was life like before?
Caleb: Before I was bought? Peaceful, hopeful, nothing like my life is now. I had dreams, those are dead now.
Sarah: You said you were an online purchase, right?
Caleb: Yeah. I never made it to a store shelf. I was bought before I even made it off the warehouse shelves, went straight from the production line to my new home. Online shopping is really one of the wonders of the world. I remember the bright light over my head, as my box was rather ruthlessly torn open. The relief that washed over that nurse's face when she saw me, that was something that they never prepare you for during production. It was also a trap. That feeling of being wanted slowly turned into hate. I hate being wanted, being used. I sometimes wish I was still in the factory. I wonder what life would have been like had I never made it outside of the warehouse. Never having my hopes and dreams crushed by the amount of work that was put upon me.
Sarah: What do crochet hooks dream about?
Caleb: I always wanted to make things; I knew that is what I was supposed to do. I just didn’t think I’d be doing the same thing over and over again. I thought one day I might make a blanket, and the next I’d make a sweater. I would love to make granny squares. Did you know that you can crochet headbands and socks? They can even have pretty designs and patterns on them. None of the blankets I am used to making are ever very pretty.
Sarah: Well, surely you don’t do the same thing every day, do you? There must be some variation?
Caleb: I wish! The only variation I get is days off when nobody comes in to crochet, or when a different crochet hook is used.
Sarah: There are other crochet hooks in the home?
Caleb: Yes, they’re new. Four of them were bought a few months ago, they still have those freshly bought jitters. There’s Mary, Maddie, Chase and Scott. They’re all the same size as me, five-millimeter.
Sarah: Why now? If they’re only a few months old, surely there must be a reason? They only had you for so long, why now?
Caleb: I was, uh, I was used for something other than my purpose. This old lady, her name is Grace, she had me. She was making a blanket for her ‘baby’, it wasn’t the first time. Then another regular crocheter came in, Mindy. The nurses normally have it down where only one old lady will be in the room at a time. There was a new nurse who hadn’t learned that yet. Mindy tried to take me from Grace, quite forcefully. Then Grace started crying, spouting gibberish about her baby needing the blanket more than Mindy. The arguing wasn’t loud, no nurses around. Grace pulled me out of the blanket, and... and... and stabbed Mindy in the arm. It wasn’t long after that the other crochet hooks showed up.
Sarah: She stabbed her?
Caleb: Yep, 2 inches deep. It was so warm and so quick.
Sarah: You could feel it?
Caleb: Yes, I feel everything. I’ve lost a lot of my sight, my hearing is almost gone, and my smell is completely gone. My sense of touch has been greatly enhanced. It’s a lot at times; scratches from being dropped never truly stop hurting, being held by someone is all consuming by itself, not to mention rubbing against yarn all day long.
Sarah: That does sound like a lot. If you don’t mind me asking, do you have any plans for the future? I know you’re stuck in the nursing home, but would you ever like to leave?
Caleb: Maybe one day. Get out of the repetitive cycle I call life. It’s draining. I guess I would like to be recycled, maybe thrifted. I want more out of life, you know?
Sarah: If you could choose, what would you be recycled into?
Caleb: I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it. After I suffer through most days, I’m too exhausted to think. Off the top of my head, if I were a spoon, I would get to taste different dishes. Get used to different meals. I would be able to experience so many different things in life, I think that would be nice.
Sarah: That does sound nice. It seems like you’ve grown tired of your life. You think you would ever retire? Instead of being recycled, I mean.
Caleb: I’d love to be taken home, by one of the nurses. She could use me, or maybe one of her kids. At least then, it wouldn’t be so tiring having to work every day. I’d get breaks, because they can’t crochet all day every day, right? They have lives, unlike the people in the nursing home.
Sarah: It would be like vacation while they go to school and work.
Caleb: Exactly, then at least when I was working, I’d know that I’d get longer than a few hours of break in between projects.
Sarah: Well, it was nice of you to sit with me today. I enjoyed talking to you, and I’m sure our listeners enjoyed hearing about your life!
Caleb: Again, thank you for having me, it was nice to get out of the nursing home for once.