Loading the Costco haul into the van. Early days of the first wave of this pandemic. Everyone has a mask on, and gloves, and we’re all afraid of touching things and each other. Couple behind me is loading their trunk.

A man comes by, talking to himself, swearing to himself, it’s something angry that becomes racist when he sees the couple at their car. He yells racist slurs at them. They stop what they’re doing to see what he’s doing. I stop to stare too. His arm is in the air and he’s staring and he’s so mad that he’s shaking.

We’re in a spaghetti western now and we all sort of look at each other to see who moves first. I want to be Clint but I know I’m the dumpy guy, I don’t have the jaw nor the eyes for van Cleef. I accept my role and stare nervously, sweating on my mask and making it useless, so I’m told. It’s probably the least of my concerns.

He waves his hand a bunch and asks loudly if they can speak English. They just stare. I don’t know if it’s true or a good tactic in this kind of situation. He turns to me and yells something about COVID. I just stare blankly, I don’t want to show weakness. Nature documentaries have taught me that much: no sudden movements and try not to be afraid.

His arm is covered in sores and some of them are fresh and open and red and look to be leaking. He yells again a five letter word that means a chain is twisted up. I consider going to do something but he begins to move away.

I feel as relieved as the couple looks. He stops. Oh shit, I tell myself. This is when it goes down.

He makes a loud growling noise and spits an impossibly large amount of phlegm and god knows what else all over their door. He stares at them. Then at me. One last time for good measure. And he walks off.

The couple look at me, shrug their shoulders and say he must be upset about something. I shrug my shoulders and agree. They bring out the sanitization spray and some wipes and clean off their car. I wonder if they would have had that handy if it weren’t for the pandemic.

As new as all this is, some things never change.