Overheard at the Galen Street Post Office

Dismayed to see a notice that the legislature (which, Joan noted, was majority Republican), that that legislature, our legislature, was considering reducing the pension for postal workers, Joan expressed her concern to the postal worker and to Marash Girl who was, as she does daily, shipping books to faraway shores.  Standing in line behind Joan (who was standing behind Marash Girl) was a young woman with a baby who stopped the conversation:  "I'm an independent," she stated, "and I don't want to hear that kind of talk."