My Mail Carrier is Always on the Phone

{(set: $corpnum to 1)}\ [<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "2")] <br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">My mail carrier is always on the phone.</div>}

[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "3")] <br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">He’s not the only one. I’ve noticed that our <span class="cycle">(cycling-link: "(set: $corpnum to 1)(color:#FF6600) + (background:#4D148C)[corporate carriers]", "(set: $corpnum to 2)(color:#FFB500) + (background:#351C15)[corporate carriers]") are also always talking to someone on their phones.</div>} [[<img src='images/FIM1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/FIM1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/FIM1.png'">->2a]]

{[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "5d")] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->5b]]} <br><br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">Are they super close with their family?</div>}

{[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "6")] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->5c]]} <br> [[<img src='images/TruckB.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckUSPSRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckB.png'">->6]]<br> {<div class="textcenter">Do they keep a schedule of times when they can call their friends?</div>}

{[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "6")] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->5a]]} <br> [[<img src='images/TruckC.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckUSPSRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckC.png'">->6]]<br> {<div class="textcenter">Do they just know people who are always around?</div>}

{[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "6")] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->5b]]} <br> [[<img src='images/TruckA.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckUSPSRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckA.png'">->6]]<br> {<div class="textcenter">Are they super close with their family?</div>}

<div class="imgright">[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "9a")] <br><br> {<div class="textcenter">Like, a pen pal group, but for phone numbers. Dial a number to randomly chat with (cycling-link: "another mail carrier who works a town over", "🏘️"), (cycling-link: "or a driver two times zones away", "🕓🕗"), or (cycling-link: "a last-mile delivery guy a whole continent apart", "🌍🌏🌎").</div>}

{<div class="imgright">[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name|(click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "9d")] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->9b]]} <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">What do they talk about all day? Do they critique our homes?</div>}

{[<img src='images/Stamp2.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp2a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp2.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "10a")] [[<img src='images/Cancel.png' style="float:right">->10a]] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="position:absolute" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->9b]]} <br> (if: $corpnum is 1)[[[<img src='images/TruckD-FedEx.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckFedExRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckD-FedEx.png'">->10a]]](else-if: $corpnum is 2)[[[<img src='images/TruckD-UPS.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckUPSRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckD-UPS.png'">->10a]]]

{[<img src='images/Stamp2.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp2a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp2.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "10b")] [[<img src='images/Cancel.png' style="float:right">->10b]] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="position:absolute" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->9c]]} <br> (if: $corpnum is 1)[[[<img src='images/TruckE-FedEx.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckFedExRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckE-FedEx.png'">->10b]]](else-if: $corpnum is 2)[[[<img src='images/TruckE-UPS.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckUPSRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckE-UPS.png'">->10b]]]

{[<img src='images/Stamp2.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp2a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp2.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "10c")] [[<img src='images/Cancel.png' style="float:right">->10c]] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="position:absolute" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->9a]]} <br> (if: $corpnum is 1)[[[<img src='images/TruckF-FedEx.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckFedExRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckF-FedEx.png'">->10c]]](else-if: $corpnum is 2)[[[<img src='images/TruckF-UPS.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckUPSRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckF-UPS.png'">->10c]]]

{[<img src='images/Stamp2.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp2a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp2.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "11")] [[<img src='images/Cancel.png' style="float:right">->11]] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="position:absolute" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->9b]]} <br> (if: $corpnum is 1)[[[<img src='images/TruckD-FedEx.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckFedExRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckD-FedEx.png'">->11]]](else-if: $corpnum is 2)[[[<img src='images/TruckD-UPS.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckUPSRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckD-UPS.png'">->11]]] [[<img src='images/TruckG.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckUSPSRearBig.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckG.png'">->11]]

{[<img src='images/Stamp2.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp2a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp2.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "11")] [[<img src='images/Cancel.png' style="float:right">->11]] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="position:absolute" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->9c]]} <br> (if: $corpnum is 1)[[[<img src='images/TruckE-FedEx.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckFedExRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckE-FedEx.png'">->11]]](else-if: $corpnum is 2)[[[<img src='images/TruckE-UPS.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckUPSRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckE-UPS.png'">->11]]] [[<img src='images/TruckH.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckUSPSRearBig.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckH.png'">->11]]

{[<img src='images/Stamp2.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp2a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp2.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "11")] [[<img src='images/Cancel.png' style="float:right">->11]] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="position:absolute" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->9a]]} <br> (if: $corpnum is 1)[[[<img src='images/TruckF-FedEx.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckFedExRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckF-FedEx.png'">->11]]](else-if: $corpnum is 2)[[[<img src='images/TruckF-UPS.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckUPSRear.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckF-UPS.png'">->11]]] [[<img src='images/TruckJ.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/TruckUSPSRearBig.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/TruckJ.png'">->11]]

[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "13")] <br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">You observe changes big and small, guess at triumphs and setbacks, and maybe trade hand waves or small talk from time to time, but never for long. The job demands efficient and constant <span class="WordMove">[[movement|12a]]</span>.</div>}

[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "14")] <br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">It’s probably nice to blather with, and be blathered at by someone all day while you cross lawns.</div>} [[<img src='images/DoNotBend.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/DoNotBend2.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/DoNotBend.png'">->13a]]

[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "15")] <br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">A whole chat network for lonely mail carriers. Calling each other and providing friendly voices.</div>}

[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "3")] <br> {<div class="textcenter">The invention of the Bluetooth earpiece was a revolution for them.</div>} [[<img src='images/MrZip.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/MrZipBT.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/MrZip.png'">->3]]

{[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "5e")] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->5c]]} <br><br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">Do they keep a schedule of times when they can call their friends?</div>}

{[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "5f")] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->5a]]} <br><br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">Do they just know people who are always around?</div>}

{<div class="imgright">[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name|(click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "9e")] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->9c]]} <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">What do they talk about all day? Our character?</div>}

{<div class="imgright">[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name|(click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "9f")] [[<img src='images/Return.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/ReturnA.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Return.png'">->9a]]} <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">What do they talk about all day? Our mail?</div>}

[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src=images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "13")] <br><br><br><br> <span class="WordMove">[[movement|12b]]</span> {<div class="textcenter">You observe changes big and small, guess at triumphs and setbacks, and maybe trade hand waves or small talk from time to time, but never for long. The job demands efficient and constant .</div>}

[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "13")] <br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">You observe changes <span class="WordMove">[[movement|12c]]</span> big and small, guess at triumphs and setbacks, and maybe trade hand waves or small talk from time to time, but never for long. The job demands efficient and constant .</div>}

[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "13")] <br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">You observe changes big and small, guess at triumphs and setbacks, and maybe trade hand waves or <span class="WordMove">[[movement|12d]]</span> small talk from time to time, but never for long. The job demands efficient and constant .</div>}

<span class="WordMove">[[movement|13]]</span> [<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "13")] <br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">You observe changes big and small, guess at triumphs and setbacks, and maybe trade hand waves or small talk from time to time, but never for long. The job demands efficient and constant .</div>}

[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "14")] <br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">Shoot the shit while striding sidewalks.</div>}<br> [[<img src='images/DoNotBend.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/DoNotBend2.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/DoNotBend.png'">->13b]]

[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "14")] <br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">Create ongoing narratives about what you see to amuse each other while running back to your double parked vans.</div>} [[<img src='images/DoNotBend.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/DoNotBend2.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/DoNotBend.png'">->13c]]

[<img src='images/Stamp1.png' style="float:right" onmouseover="this.src='images/Stamp1a.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/Stamp1.png'">]<hook-name| (click: ?hook-name)[(go-to: "14")] <br><br><br><br> {<div class="textcenter">Exist in companionable huffing and puffing while you run up the next flight of stairs.</div>} [[<img src='images/DoNotBend.png' style="float:left" onmouseover="this.src='images/DoNotBend2.png'" onmouseout="this.src='images/DoNotBend.png'">->14]]

<br> {<div class="textcenter">Who does my mail carrier talk to all day?</div>} <br><br> {<div class="textcenter">[[✉️|Credits]]</div>}

<img src='images/String.png'> <div class="finaltext">Thank you to Liz and Henry. This essay was written for the <a href="https://itch.io/jam/neo-twiny-jam" target="_blank">2023 Neo Twiny Jam</a>. Please follow me and check out my other work at <a href="https://patientrock.itch.io" target="_blank">my itch.io page</a>. --- Background photos from these photographers on Unsplash: * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/Eeee5H-yuoc" target="_blank">Paula Hayes</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/fb7yNPbT0l8 " target="_blank">Mathyas Kurmann</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/sMtKdbJfi_I" target="_blank">Jane Sorensen</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/SQ3iMGteT6s" target="_blank">Datingscout</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/MjNLKWa5fe4" target="_blank">Erik Mclean</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/4e8xTgPGHEA" target="_blank">Vandan Patel</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/L0Wdk52FAmM" target="_blank">Jac Alexandru</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/c168jRbeIEM" target="_blank">Nathalia Segato</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/VBSxZsTbwEg" target="_blank">DLKR</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/FKwehQfTyuo" target="_blank">Derrick Treadwell</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/sUfyYPlSWPY" target="_blank">Abby Anaday</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/9szCcOw4BWo" target="_blank">Elizabeth Kay</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/-MqV06PYMSs" target="_blank">Dan Meyers</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/_RBIqsYXUSc" target="_blank">Sir Manuel</a> * <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/-WRAk7RtH64" target="_blank">Lia Choi</a> </div>