The news

Margie had not heard, or didn’t remember hearing about the results of the election. I waited till we were seated to tell her. I was uncertain she would remember who Trump is, but she did. Instantly. She was horrified. 

“Do you believe he was really elected? Maybe it’s a lie. Did I vote?”

I told her I’m sure she voted, Lucy will have helped her with it. Yes, she was sure, yes, Lucy will have mailed in their ballots. As to what I believe, I said, I have no idea. I don’t know what to believe. I added, “But they say the Republicans took the House and the Senate as well. And they already had the court, so that gives them total power.” Again, I didn’t know if that would mean anything to her, but she concluded immediately,

“So this means fascism.” We sat together in dead silence, taking it in. 

“Are you sure this is true?” she asked me.

I showed her the map (extra). She looked at it for a long time and then said, gravely,

“This is crazy. This can’t be right.” After a long pause, “Will people rise up? Will there be protests?”

I told her I don’t know. I haven’t heard of anything yet. We faced each other, sipped our coffee, and eventually made our way back to her place. I thought the news had slipped her mind, but as I was leaving, I bent down to kiss the top of her head, and she held both my hands and said, “I’m glad you came to see me today. I wouldn’t want to hear this terrible news alone.”