Friday, October 16th, 2020

I see a man with a black mask on my way to the nearest supermarket. I suddenly realize that I’ve forgotten mine. The supermarket is only a block away by then. I continue walking toward it. When I get there, a guard scans my temperature. I apologize for not having a mask and ask if they have them. She holds up her hand in a crossing guard’s “stop” gesture. “Wait here.” She walks to a bin a few meters away. The overhead speakers blast an announcement. “Attention. The lady with the blue mask in the wine aisle. Your mask must cover your nose. Yes, you. I know you heard me. Your mask must cover your nose.” The guard returns with a small package of masks. She opens it. I pull one mask out and put it on. She hands the package to me. “You will have to buy these, of course.” Of course. Online ads have suggested that the supermarket has been spruced up and renovated. I can’t see any difference. It’s still cramped and scruffy. I manage to find what I need: white cheese, persimmons, frozen fruit, chicken thighs, Sabbath wine, and paper towels. The overhead system announces that credit card purchases should go to aisle 4. I do. I start to unload my shopping bag. The cashier stops me and points to my left. “He’s next.” A man with a white beard and black coat is slowly going through the pomegranates, holding each one up to his right eye as if he were examining a diamond. This will take some time. I move to the next aisle. When that cashier’s done ringing me up, she tries to upsell me a half dozen items arrayed at the end of the counter. She’s good at it, but I don’t need any of the things that I can recognize. I put my purchases back in my shopping bag and head out. At the door, I thank the guard. She grunts and continues to stare at her phone.