Outside the store, observing an older-than-me woman as protected against the elements as I was and coming out fully N95 masked, I said, “Can I tell you a joke?” ignoring the smoke signals of her non-response.
“How many (gender + color) does it take to put on a mask?"
She shook her head, taking off her mask and grumbling as she walked away, “I don’t get involved” or something to that effect. She then sat on a bench, unfolded the lid of her small white paper bag and ate her solitary piece of chocolate.