Like many good Americans, I voted today. 

     I stood in line for only a few minutes, and was quite pleased when I was finally handed my red folder with a single piece of paper inside.

    A gentleman pointed me in the direction of a free privacy cubicle. I walked over to it, and  just as I was opening the red folder I was handed, a woman in the cubicle next to me,  "pssst'ed me". 

    I was a little shocked. I felt like I wasn't supposed to be talking to anyone. 

    The woman, who was about my age, (ok...maybe a little younger), was staring at the interior of her cubicle.  She said, "I don't know what to do". 

      For a split second, I thought she was trying to bait me into telling her who to vote for!

     Not knowing all the rules of voting protocol, I was afraid someone might perceive this as "cheating", and then they would rip up my paper ballot and throw me out the door!  

    She continued, "how do you turn this computer on?"

    Wondering what she meant, I glanced down at the empty privacy desk, "was I missing something??" 

    I  looked over at her again, hoping I was not going to get kicked out, and admitted to her, "I am not quite sure what you mean". 

     I opened the folder, and without reading the black and white instructions, quickly comprehended that voters just filled in the ovals of the person they were voting for.  So, nicely I said, "just fill in the ovals with the pen."

    The lady still confused continued, "But how does this computer read my ballot?  Do I have to place it face down after I fill it out?" 

    Again, a quick glance at my little privacy desk.  (What the hell is she talking about??)

    My eyes made a quick sweep of the room.  I surveyed  what the next step was.  "You take it over to those machines (and I pointed across the room), and insert your ballot."

    She looked across the gym floor at the fastfood garbage can-sized machine that voters were feeding.

    She was absolutely delighted, and a little embarassed. 

    I am not sure if she thanked me, I was too busy trying to keep my head down just in case we got caught talking!