Delivering pizzas on a well-used American Schwinn Panther with fat whitewall tires tested William’s resolve as much as winter mountain firefights with the Taliban. Working in the public pandemic unnerved him more than fighting insurgents ever did. He trained for the former. Hot pies for local neighbors left too much to the imagination that could go wrong. A surprise kiss or hug from a drunk customer or a wayward sneeze all spelled danger.

William kept his distance as best he could.

Of course he had to pay his bills. But he also needed to act as a good example, showing customers he could and would obey the rules and abide by restrictions designed to safeguard him and others. Making sure he delivered the pizzas without human contact, making sure he wore his mask and making sure payment took place in a guarded manner all mattered.

Matter is a funny word, William thought. Not comedy club funny but funny in the sense you didn’t want to say all lives matter when you should be willing to say Black lives matter. Anymore you almost didn’t want to say matter at all but the word itself applies lots of places. William believed reason prevailed As long as you’re willing to say Black lives matter and believe Black lives matter.

Yeah, OK all you reactionaries, all lives matter. Blue lives matter, too. But Black lives really matter because too many people in America, including too many white cops, don’t believe they do.

Don’t bring that up while delivering pizzas, though, even to a Black customer. Some Black cops will shoot a Black suspect quicker than a white cop will pull the trigger. Some white cops will freeze and not shoot at all. Some cops shouldn’t be cops. They shouldn’t even deliver pizzas.

That’s why William saw the national protest story ending soon, closing down and wrapping up without resolution or progress. Armed revolution from a number of sides is not out of the question.

As for the pandemic, too many American people really didn’t care. Even otherwise good citizens exhibited bad behavior, lazy behavior, self-absorbed and greedy behavior that jeopardized themselves and countless others. Sloppy, stupid and selfish, the road to the American Way could easily become a highway to holocaust. People didn’t care. Too many didn’t read. Too many didn’t think. Too many didn’t know better and those who did set the stage for reckless self-defeating behavior they considered we-the-people freedom and strong opposition to tyranny.

William quit his martial arts training in the dojo for that very reason. The toughest teacher would lose a face-to-face battle against the bug unless armed with engagement distance, what the Japanese call Maai, and win the face-off without drawing your sword. The best fight is the fight that doesn’t happen. That’s right, bad ass, the virus can kick your ass.

William called his next customer on his cell.

Pizza delivery, he said.

Stepping to the stoop, he gently placed the hot white box on the top step.

Chanise opened the door.

I know you, she said.

I hope you’re smiling behind that mask, William said.

I am, she said.

Still interested in getting together to talk?

I am, she said.

How about tomorrow where the Columbus statue used to be?

Want to go to a flag burning, instead?

William hesitated.

Chanise saw the pause coming.

America needs us to speak out against police brutality, racism and war at home and abroad, she said.

See you at the radio station at noon, William said.