There is a little older Latin American gentleman who comes through my line smiling hugely. Today he mentioned in conversation that he speaks Russian. I expressed admiration , and asked him where he learned it, and this is what he said.
"Oh, I fought in Cold War. I had to learn it to know my enemies. I interrogate people, they say 'I don't speak that language,' I say, 'Fine!,' speak Russian. Then they have to tell me everything. ^-^" He laughed. This was delightful to him.
"Now, Cold War is over. We are not great friends, but Russians not enemies. We make friends all over. Russian good for talking to people. The Cold War is over, but...people do not appreciate it. They think, 'We are free because we are America,' but that is not true. We are free because people fight. We are free because people bought it. And they do not appreciate this." He was still smiling, still twinkling. "I am glad to have been a part of this."
I thanked him. Soon people would line up, soon I would have to ring up someone else, but I got to ask, "Were you in the American military?"
"No," his eyes shone. "SECRET." His chest puffed out. He put a finger to his lips.
A woman came with a few dozen cans of cat food. He tipped his head and his eyes twinkled and we parted.
America is free because of some very strange people, and they seem to be the happiest ones.
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