why did the guy in line in front of me want to just start in mid conversation about utility bills and their inability to be speedily processed through the Postal System five days from the due date? silence didn’t work. A volley of “what?” “that’s right.” and “yeah.” kept him going. I learned a lot about this man involuntarily. I began to wonder if the pea-sized clear glistening stone in his ear was really a diamond.