"Year-round Daylight Savings Time. Awright," said Ellen. "Good for passing the bill, Senators. I hate driving home in the dark."
"Try walking to the subway," added Maureen. "I get neck strain looking over my shoulder to spot a mugger."
"You're safer on the street than the station," muttered John. "Another assault again this week."
"You're a cop." Maureen shook her head and opened her purse. "Want to see how much pepper spray I'm carrying?"
"I keep mine in the cup holder," Ellen said. "Carjackers."
"Come on," Bob interjected. "I was in grade school in '75 when we went year-round. Standing at the stop at 7 am waiting for the school bus was torture, even with a down jacket and thermal underwear."
"And yet you still have 3 kids," joked John, poking Bob in the arm. "No, really, we should follow the experts. They're voting for standard time."
"What, farmers? Hey, I'm allergic to meat that moos," said Ellen. "Or moves."
"Wheat doesn't move anything but my bowels," Bob admitted. "Gluten."
"TMI dude," said John. "Actually, it's not the farmers. They milk their cows when the cows are ready, not by the clock. It's the sleep scientists that say that it's healthier for us to have light in the morning. Gives us energy to start the day. And, a darker evening means we have more time to wind down and pump that melatonin to give us a good night's sleep."
"I buy my melatonin at CVS every month," said Maureen. "I'm a Candy Crush Saga champion and my team doesn't wrap for the night until midnight."
John scoffed, "You do know about screens and blue light, right? Early to bed, early to rise, and for God's sake, turn off your devices an hour before bedtime."
Bob rolled his eyes. "My kids always do, pediatrician's orders. Or at least they turn off the sound so I can't hear them gaming."
A sigh from Ellen. "Pediatricians also say that it's important to sleep well, especially for children and teens. Their sleep cycles tend to run later than older folks'. In fact, some research has shown that later starting times for school helps kids get enough sleep and they do better in class."
"Your point?" asked Bob.
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