(The following discussion took place at the library between the old lady who sits at the reception desk, and myself. The topic is the new desk pad.)

Me: Ooh, new pad?
Annie: Uh huh!
Me: It's white.
Annie: Yeah, they couldn't find the good kind.
Me: The good kind?
Annie: The leather kind. We used to have those all the time, but not no more! All because a' 911!
Me: The emergency line?
Annie: No! 911! You know!
Me: September 11th?
Annie: That's right!
Me: We don't have a leather desk pad because of September 11th?
Annie: Yeah! They gotta...use that leather for other stuff!
Me: What? This isn't world war I, we're not rationing.
Annie: You don't know that!
Me: Right. We can no longer find leather desk pads. The terrorists have won.
Annie: Uh huh!

(later that day)

Kaytey: Hey, new desk pad.
Me: Yeah.
Kaytey: Why is it white?
Me: Terrorists.