“Small talk is the most important talk,” said Ariel, cupping his drink between his hands as if to warm either it or them. “It’s when we tell people everything. What we think is polite to ask. What we think they might like to hear. By extension, what our family is like, and our town, and our country. I don’t mean to load too much meaning onto what you think of Starbucks, of course. Small talk says more about the asker than the askee.”
