Yesterday at my school’s health clinic I met an older woman named Oralee. Upon her arrival, she noticed a stack of female condoms. “What is this?” She picked one up. “They’re condoms for women,” my friend said. “Or you can put them in your butt for anal sex,” I added. Her eyes widened. “I can show you how they work,” I said. “Please do!”

Having just watched a video on how to insert them for an STI prevention presentation I’m giving at a community center, I’d familiarized myself with the particular condom. When I finished showing her how to insert it, following the example of the video I’d watched, she thanked me, and introduced herself.

She told my friend and I how she felt bad for our generation, having never known a time when such risks were not associated with sex. “But I’m well past seventy. And in my time, people I knew had illegal abortions on their kitchen tables. Every generation has its own bag of hammers.” My friend and I nodded. “Back in the 80s, I produced a film for young people in New York City schools, and it was the first to use the term ‘anal sex.’ Now, imagine how you’re showing me!” My friend and I laughed. “The film’s called Sex, Drugs and AIDS. Look it up. Not sure if it’s still around.” Then she said goodbye and got on the elevator.