Friday, January 22nd, 2021

Ten or more men are gathered around the weekly backgammon match in the city square. There are enough of them that they could burst into prayer if they wanted to. I doubt that they would. I’m out earlier than usual for my Friday shopping. I was too tired last night to start up a fresh pot of cold brew, so I don’t have coffee ready at home. I head out relatively soon after waking. The sun is straight ahead as I walk through the square. It shouldn’t be. I’m walking south. Everything ahead of me that I can see at all is in silhouette. I stop into the sandwich shop and get a large cappuccino. It’s hotter than I expect. Drinking it takes longer than I want. There’s a line outside the pharmacy, as usual. This time, they aren’t distinguishing between those there for prescriptions and general shoppers. A docile dog waits a few meters away, chained to a post. A toddler, still practicing how to walk, crashes into it. It yelps once then quietly sits back down. The line moves quickly. When I get inside, only one person is ahead of me in line. I get the one medication that I need and leave. Elsewhere on the street, I get my groceries, a challah, and another espresso, then head back home.