Three holidays, three sets of internal monologues: The quiet friction of late October

The final weeks of October present a compressed sequence of social obligations that generate distinct internal narratives. From the candy exchanges of Halloween to the polling lines of the midterm elections and the family dynamics of Thanksgiving, a new column details the specific thoughts and reactions people suppress in these settings. The piece argues that these unspoken words often reveal more about social tension than the outward pleasantries.

The Halloween section focuses on the transactional nature of trick-or-treating. The narrator describes the internal debate over whether a sheet from a closet constitutes a valid costume, specifically noting the case of an "iceberg" that appears to be melting. The text captures the reluctance to say "trick or treat" and the frustration when a child takes more than two pieces of candy. The columnist notes a desire to send a photo of a "candy sandwich" to a dentist, highlighting the sensory overload of the holiday.

The election segment addresses the friction of voting day. The narrator imagines voters in long lines wondering about the political leanings of strangers who avoid eye contact. There is a recurring theme of people claiming the election is the "most important of our lives," a sentiment the narrator counters with the certainty that the next election will follow. The text describes the mental exercise of counting in French to maintain a facade of listening during small talk.

The Thanksgiving portion details the inevitable family dynamics. The narrator anticipates being asked about football, a sport they claim to dislike, and the repetition of a ping-pong championship story told in the same location for three consecutive years. The section includes internal calculations regarding room temperature and the specific plan to eat a cranberry sandwich with powdered sugar for breakfast, despite the meal's formal nature.

The column concludes with a reflection on gratitude and voting. The narrator acknowledges the difficulty of proving genuine thankfulness, suggesting that a lie detector for gratitude is currently in development by artificial intelligence. The final image is of the narrator confirming they voted, while noting that their choice did not align with that of a specific family member. The piece ends on the promise to repeat the gathering next year.

The midterm elections are scheduled to occur within a few days of Halloween. Thanksgiving follows a few weeks later. The column suggests that the period between these events will be defined by these internal exchanges rather than public discourse.