“Axe throwing? Bowling? Watch Redeemer High football tryouts from high in the stands with vodka slushies?”
The pause on the other end was disconcerting.
Bernard jumped the response.
“I think our Tuesday night date streak has to be at least in the 40s.”
“I don’t want to break the streak, Bee, but if we’re going to do something together tonight it’s going to have to involve seeing Yancy Whitehurst’s speech at Local 309. In fact, it’s important to me that you listen to them speak.”
Bernard laughed. It began mockingly, then he pulled it back, not wanting to hurt Urs’s feelings.
“Whitehurst doesn’t have a turtle’s chance of crossing 94 safely on a skateboard,” he said softly. “No way. They are not gonna be governor.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t listen to what they have to say.”
Bernard opened his fridge, phone trapped between shoulder and ear, perusing his beer selection. He didn’t usually start without Ursula.
“Urs, I heard it and read it. Empty the prisons, climate-conscious job training. There are at least four neighborhoods just in this town that would gate themselves right now if they could. Empty the prisons? It’s never-”
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