The train was running smoothly. Sam was in the dining car with her laptop and the table she occupied was clearly her mobile office. She worked in the nation’s capital but lived further out and rode the train daily. As she rode, she got a head start on her day’s duties and this day was no exception.
The hills, mountains, farmlands and residential developments alike blended into obscurity as the sound of the train moving along the rails became increasingly monotonous. It’s a shame that she allowed her work to take her time and attention away from the beauty all around her. However, when you’re as important as she was, you certainly can’t afford to “waste” time looking out the window.
When Ben sat down with his breakfast at the next table, he observed this sharply dressed, middle-aged woman with gray hair cut close in a smart, boyish style. He also noticed that she was busily hammering something out on the keys of her laptop. Her face was only visible above the nose as the rest of her face was obscured by the obligatory, mandated mask.
Ben removed his mask with gratitude that eating was considered a legitimate reason to NOT wear a mask. His heart condition made breathing difficult anyway, even without a mask. The mask mandate was an added frustration because of his legitimate medical condition.
As he ate his sandwich and sipped on his coffee, Ben wasn’t about to waste the opportunity to look at and enjoy the passing landscape. Then, when he was almost lost in the dream world of his imagination and reveries, Ben was brought back to the present. “Ben Dougherty?”
Ben wasn’t accustomed to being caught off guard. He thought he was traveling in complete anonymity and was savoring the lack of notice from his fellow passengers. This break in the silence did 2 things. First, it startled him into a state of vigilance that he normally maintained. Second, he searched his memory for a clue as to the identity of the approaching man.
As the man spoke again, the voice gave him away in spite of the mask that covered his face. They had spent three years in training together but that had ended eight years before and they hadn’t seen each other even once since the training ended. Now they were face to face again. “Hi, Fred!”
They exchanged pleasantries while Fred stood beside Ben’s table. Then Fred sat down as the friendship was revived and conversation became more intense while they discussed the issues of the day.
Conversations frequently take precedence over other things, especially for Ben. This occasion was no exception. As the conversation continued, he stopped eating as much or as frequently and just concentrated on his coffee. The two were traveling together for about an hour so there was no rush.
The train stopped at another station. Passengers got off while others took the now empty seats. The conversation continued for Ben and Fred. As the train pulled out of the station, the conductor came over the public address system to announce once again that a mask mandate was in place so that all passengers were supposed to be masked unless they were “actively eating or drinking.” The train continued on along with the conversation between these two men.
As the train pressed on, moving toward the Capital and a difficult day of work for Fred, Sam grew increasingly agitated. After nearly 5 minutes, Sam gave up and interrupted Fred. “You’re supposed to have your mask on!” she said to Ben. “Didn’t you hear the announcement? You’re supposed to have your mask on unless you’re actively eating or drinking, not talking! People have died from this.”
Ben had recently lost his mother to the infamous virus to which Sam was apparently referring. A short time later several friends were hospitalized with the same virus and nearly succumbed to it. Then, a few days ago, he had lost his otherwise healthy 30-something cousin. He was no stranger to illness, pain and suffering.
As Ben tried to process this verbal attack he thought about responding with sarcasm. He considered explaining that nobody would contract any of his heart conditions or his genetic condition if he didn’t wear a mask. However, the longer he thought about it, the more compassion he was filled with. This woman was clearly a slave to her fears.
Ben sat his coffee back on the table as he struggled to put the mask back on his face. It had not been a sufficient reprieve from its restrictive work and now his coffee and sandwich were getting cold.
“Why didn’t she go work in a part of the train where people weren’t eating if not wearing a mask was so offensive to her? Then again, why did she care what a total stranger was doing? After all, her own mask never left her face and appeared to be more than adequate to the task.” These thoughts plagued him as he finally swilled down the last bit of (now) cold coffee and threw away the remaining half of his now cold sandwich.
His conversation with Fred had been cut short. That was shame enough. Maybe they could get together again later, if they could find a place to talk where Sam wouldn’t interfere.
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