elsewhere

Fumble in the pocket for the mask, it is all turning into a question of etiquette now, put the mask on, realise that it is upside down, take it off, turn it nose-clip side up and put it on again. Step into the shop and ask for a cup of coffee and a buttered pretzel. The woman behind the counter mutters something into her mask. Beg her pardon, that was really not to be understood. 

Then there is a loud shout, and every word  comes over singly. There is not a problem of hearing, it is just all these people mumbling into their masks that makes communications difficult.

This happens all the time, wonder at it. 

The next customer comes in, and the same thing happens.

The woman is visibly annoyed. All these deaf people. But then, maybe they are not deaf. Maybe it is just the muffling qualities of her high quality mask. But she sounds so angry, nobody is going to tell her.

Sit down at the side of the busy street and enjoy the cup of coffee. Then a man arrives on a bicycle, and starts to shout at some men at a neighbouring table. They shout back. He laughs, tells a joke, and laughs again, this time at his own humour. The men are all shouting and guffawing at each other now, they are cronies, they see each other daily.

This is as irritating as the woman muffled shouting.

The man puts his mask in and goes into the shop. The woman mutters something. He says "what?"

The woman shouts.

Now they are both shouting at each other.

It is time to finish the coffee and seek some peace and quiet elsewhere.