Sitting With It

Start by offering to get them something. Push off from this if it helps: a jar of buttons.

Want some tea? I’ve got that Earl Grey you like, or the terrible instant stuff. I’m up anyway. Saw a jar of buttons on the counter, just... sitting there. Thousands of them. Don’t know what they were from. A coat? A…

Open with something completely trivial. Push off from this if it helps: handwriting on envelopes.

I saw someone today using a fountain pen for a utility bill. It looked ridiculous. The ink was bleeding through the cheap paper. Why does anyone bother with the flourish when the mail driver doesn't care about your…