The friend who took me to the port is a real old bitch, the kind I sometimes want to be.  She doesn’t hesitate to castigate people about their mask laziness, like the teacher she used to be.  “Don’t get all upset,” one young man dared answer her.  “I just forgot to pull it up off my chin.”  “You’re still endangering me!”   she shouts like a hall monitor.  “Getting into my private space with all your germs!”  In the meantime, I’m buying cheese and trying to appear knowledgeable, not even daring to ask for a taste.  Certainly trying to appear as if I am not with her, but grateful she’s keeping me safe. 

People like me would rather die than make a fool of themselves.

This is part of the reason the elections are going to be a failure.   Those people who lost hope the last time around don’t want to be shamed again and won’t vote.  I’m going to make a few calls.  Maybe there’s a chance I can do some good.