May 2020 Winner
Home Is Where The Heart Is
Written by Jan M Lowry
____
Jen’s world was going swimmingly and was actually going to be the best year of her life. Her hubby Dave was not normally the emotional or romantic type, especially after three kids. However last Christmas Eve after the last child was safely in bed, he had brought her tea with a gilt-edged card underneath it. ”Happy Anniversary”. She was amazed that he had even remembered.
As she opened the card, her heart jumped. Finally, they were going on a cruise - something all Jen’s friends had been back raving about. Seven glorious nights. Just her and Dave: no kids! Romance was finally on the cards again.
Then the virus came. It was as if the world suddenly stopped spinning. It closed its doors and took six month’s leave. Schools closed. People started working from home.
As a stay-at-home mum, Jen usually loved the idea of isolation. After everyone had been set on their way each morning, there was time for Jen to have a second coffee; gather her thoughts, and get a plan of attack for the day organized . She even found time to work on the small business she had just started: making novelty cakes.
Her days now consisted of her hubby bellowing for endless cups of coffee; making a new and exciting lunch every day, supervising home schooling and occupying the kids (especially the energetic three year-old) the rest of the time. It was if a black hole had just opened up; swallowing normality and romantic cruises in one mouthful.
Jen’s best ideas were usually in the early hours of the morning as the first light peaked through the blinds. New ideas for cakes usually flashed into her mind. However, this morning it suddenly dawned on her what she needed to do.
Jen crept downstairs in the new day’s light and put on the coffee pot. Grabbing a piece of cardboard from the cupboard she started writing her rules of engagement.
1. Breakfast will be served at 7.30 - after which kitchen is closed.
2. Lunch - a sandwich of my choice and a piece of fruit - can be found in individual container with said names in fridge.
3. Snacks will be purchased on a fortnightly basis. If supplies run out prior to this date please write a note on the whiteboard and your request will be purchased on next fortnightly shopping run.
4. A self-service coffee machine has been placing placed in your office.
Then Jen retrieved the tent from the shed and assembled it on the back lawn. She placed in it a sleeping bag, portable TV, the latest magazines and some snacks. The last job was to prepare pre- packed lunches - something she could do by heart.
With her mission accomplished she moved herself into the tent and put up yellow tape and the word “Quarantine: do not enter”. She then went straight to sleep.
For one day the world could revolve without her.