We went up to Vermont over the weekend. Just Mom, Beagle Man, and me. Things were strange. Beagle Man took me for a walk along French Hollow Road. Said we couldn’t do our usual hiking trail around Equinox Pond, because we weren’t supposed to be near anyone. We drove to the next town — Peru — and passed Bromley Mountain on the way. It was still covered
with snow, but the lifts weren’t running, and nobody was skiing. Then we made a stop at Hapgood General Store because Beagle Man wanted to pick up a ski cap as a birthday gift for his friend Tom. Beagle Man really likes Hapgood Store, and usually stays inside for awhile, even though when he leaves me in the car he says, “Just a quick errand. Be right back, good boy.” But this time he didn’t go in; they handed him the ski hat through the front window! He paid the same way, and got right back in the car. Odd. Then, driving back to the house, we saw two
different groups of three or four people, just walking along Route 11. Not hiking, just kind of straggling along. I heard Beagle Man tell Tom later that day that all these scenes — especially the people slowly making their way along the all-but-empty highway — reminded him of of the road warriors headed to Bartertown in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. (Don’t ask me; I have no idea.) Yesterday, Sunday, we were back in CT. And it was still strange. All the indoor stuff — stores, restaurants, gyms — closed. It was a nice sunny day, and it seemed like everyone was outside — walking, running, biking. I saw two ladies on Bradley Avenue walking and talking — but they stayed on opposite sides of the road! Everyone outside seemed happy. And acting nice. Happier and nicer than usual, in fact. Puzzling. And now I hear that even though Matt and Alison had their baby boy, Cole — over a week ago! — we can’t go see him in person till nobody-knows-when. I’ll bet it’s this Mad Max thing again . . .
Beagle Man always has a lot to say, so I’ll just pipe up in The Duck Dog Speaks whenever I can.
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