CW: AMERICAN POLITICS
I’m at work, right?
I work at a bookstore where we have the books Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance and The Truths We Hold by Kamala Harris on display by our information booth as they’re highly requested items. We are technically a Blue state but we have a high Red population where I live, so I’ve heard negatives by guests about both books.
Anyways, this is why you should never judge by appearances.
A man walked up looking very much like he would approve of Vance based on his appearance, and he was looking at the book and had it in his hand, and then he turned to look at me.
Now, you absolutely can judge by my appearance because I am definitely as gothy queer as I look, wearing all black and my death’s head hawkmoth shirt, dark tattoo visible on my chest, rainbow glasses, and buzzed and dyed hair.
This man holds the book up and goes, “You know none of this true, right?” with so much disdain in his voice. And he continues to tell me that Vance himself was not truly Appalachian, and just going off on how much of a liar he was who never really did anything.
So I see the opportunity. I’m pleasantly surprised. I say before I can remind myself I’m at work: “Well yeah, he’s been too busy with a couch.”
This man LAUGHED.
Like…out loud, echoing, startled laughed. He covered his mouth and near bent over with how startled and embarrassed he was, his face full of his delighted humor.
I am so proud I got that reaction out of someone. It’s not the first couch joke I’ve made, and it by the gods will not be the last.
