Record of Political Discourse 1st bulletin
February 3rd, the two thousand twenty second year of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
I walk into Berkshire Coffee in Lenox, carefully covering my lower face with a mask, which is a brown fleece scrungee. I see a young woman with a blue surgical mask, the barista and clerk. I ask for a medium drip coffee.
"Would you like room for cream?" she asks.
I think for a moment, and say no. As she prepares the 12 ounce waxboard cup, filling it with a light roast from Guatemala, I engage in political discourse, being careful to not offend, since our age is so fraught. But I feel I can understand her, since both our lives are dominated by the Democratic Party, and free of interference from the Republicans, who instead rule the interior of the country. I am from Oregon and this is Massachusetts but we can both understand each other, since we are well versed in Libspeek.
I say, "So, I'm just wondering, say, let's say you didn't have to wear the mask while working, would you choose to wear it or would you not wear it? Like you personally?"
"Huh," she says, "I would keep wearing it, but that's just me personally."
"Right," I say, "so you would keep wearing it for how long? Like, for the rest of your life? Perhaps really just when Covid is completely gotten rid of?"
She says, "I actually don't really know." She seems to really be thinking about it. "I might. But for sure, until Covid is gone."
She has now handed me the cup and we both look at each other a moment longer. Then I say thanks and leave.