Over The Moon

I work in a bar in a rural area. Since we’re out in the sticks, locals tend to have loud opinions, most of which I tolerate.

Since it’s a quiet weekday at the bar, I’m watching footage of the Artemis mission as it travels to the moon. My quiet awe is ruined by a regular at the bar.

Regular: “What a waste of f****** money.”

Me: “That’s your opinion.”

Regular: “Never enough money in this country and NASA wastes billions on this crap! NASA never contributed anything to this country!”

Me: “Is this your way of asking me to change the channel?”

Regular: “Yeah, anything but this.”

I switch the TV off.

Regular: “What did you do that for?”

Me: “Sorry, we’re still on satellite TV here. As in satellite in orbit. Since NASA contributed nothing, I guess we can’t watch TV no more.”

The regular and I had a stare-down, and he went back to his drink, muttering things.

I turned the TV back on to enjoy the footage of the mission.

Me: “Since I, on the other hand, do believe in NASA’s contributions, I’ll continue to enjoy the footage.”

Regular: *Muttering intensifies.*