I was told we’d be targeting elderly voters and because I have an affinity for elders, I hoped to spark conversation about World War II, listen intently to the whistle of their wispy voices, and chuckle with them about the good ol’ days.

I had called 18 other phone numbers and I either received their voicemail or they abruptly ended the call when they heard, “Hi [insert name], my name is Caitlynn and I’m a volunteer with YES on…”

I told my phone banking group chat that this was my final call. A steaming bowl of spaghetti awaited me downstairs, and I was demoralized.

The phone rang once, twice, “Hello?”

Alvin Barton Paltin was 81 years old and a good listener. I recited my script in one exhale, and he asked me to slow down.

I asked if he knew anything about my proposition. He said he couldn’t recall but had his ballot with him and was voting on it soon. I read my spiel and he questioned if his homeowner tax would be affected. Good question. I checked my script, then insisted it wouldn’t, but it was a valid, common misconception.

We then began deviating from my intended script. I would accidentally cut him off at times, and it didn’t help that he was hard of hearing.

He told me I should get a raise for my work and I laughed, explaining that I was a volunteer, only a high-schooler phone-banking for the first time.

We talked about how COVID-19 has made us realize what liberties we had taken for granted and how I was missing out on a real high school experience. He gushed over how lucky I was to be in high school and how he wished he could go back and be the same age. He asked me what grade I was in, and I explained that, at the time, I was a sophomore.

He asked if I was a cheerleader, I couldn’t stop giggling at everything he said and replied that I wasn’t, but I was considering trying out. He quipped that the people at the top tended to fall off, and I boomed laughing, explaining how Westview has had a flier fall from grace in the past.

Begrudgingly, I tried to divert the conversation back to my proposition and asked him if he was voting by mail. He said he was and complained how his newspaper, The East Bay Times, didn’t physically print what their stance was on candidates and certain ballot measures. He was given a code by the paper for their online issue but kept running into a paywall.

I explained how newspapers now charge online fees, because physical papers don’t sell the same anymore, and I advised him to contact the paper. He thought that was a great idea and planned to call them the next day. Even better, I asked for his email and offered to check online for him.

He said he hoped I was staying safe but knew the chances of me having severe symptoms were less likely than him. I told him I’ve been staying safe and inside because I have grandparents myself. I told him I wished him well as I knew it was more dangerous for—and I struggled to say this—older people. And then there we were, laughing together.

A woman in the background urged Alvin to “let the poor girl off the phone” and I smiled. I said he was my last call and I could stay on as long as he liked. He agreed it was about time he stopped holding me up and attempted to end the call. The conversation ended, but he forgot to hang up and said, “She didn’t even say her name.”

I sent this email a day later: “Hello Alvin, I’ve attached a screenshot of the East Bay Times’ election endorsements and I hope they can help you make some informed decisions this election. Let me know if you need further instructions or help. Stay healthy, happy, and safe! Best, Caitlynn.”

Alvin’s newspaper didn’t support the proposition I was volunteering for, but to be honest, I barely did myself—I just wanted to be more civically engaged. But it wasn’t the proposition that mattered, nor the volunteer hours I would be getting, or the interpersonal experience—it was Alvin. So now, I say yes to almost anything, riding the hope of meeting new people. It is experiences like these that I hope to force upon myself during my senior year, and in this column, you’ll get to hear all about it.