The Line

 When I was at the post office this week, there were 30 people in line.  No one was talking except for one person on her cell phone sharing information about some unpleasantries with her ex husband, but all the other people were just standing there quietly and patiently.

No one touched anyone else.  No one cut in front of anyone else.

If I were a postal worker, I'd feel some satisfaction looking out at the silent people waiting in the line. I'd appreciate the calm order that required nothing of me and allowed me to focus on individual transactions in my own time.

My job's quite different.