Today, I present to you the story of a terrible day, which despite being a truckload of rottenness ended with a tiny light that sort of made a bad day not so bad.
Wednesday, December 22, 2021, Alicia woke up with searing pain in her lower back. It was evident that due to some strenuous activity the day before she had aggravated an old injury.
“Oh swell,” she thought as two full-volume children burst into her room demanding she resolve some ridiculous dispute. The universe had sent a warning shot… today was going to be a no good, very rotten, awful day.
Begrudgingly she solved the dispute and continued on through the morning, hobbling and wincing in pain.
Then the electricity went because T&TEC can’t seem to get its life order. Cue the small inhabitants of her house incessant moaning.
“It’s hot,” they whined, “I’m bored.”
Before Alicia got to the point where she would consider something that may involve the police being called, she decided to throw them in her car to get them out of the house and fill up her precariously low gas tank.
The gas station was a mess. “Well this is an act of patience,” her seven-year-old mused.
At last, the line was moving and Alicia was next at the pump.
But wait! What is this? Some scumbag jumped the line and backed up into the spot which she was pulling into.
Rage burned through Alicia’s already aching body, but she breathed because today she refused to allow idiots to upset her day.
Unfortunately, her five-year-old wasn’t as calm. Into a rant he went, demanding he be let out of the car so he could “deal” with the spot-stealing man.
“Mum! You better tell him something! He can’t just do that,” he exploded from the backseat, “Call the police! Let me out, if you aren’t going to do something I will!”
Alicia tried to calm him, all the while calculating how much money she would need to start saving to open an emergency bail fund for her small son’s future.
Finally she got peace as she got out of the car to fill the tank, thinking “What a day, at least the worst seems to be over.”
But was it?
On the drive back home she got a call from her husband, turns out a family member they had been exposed to on Sunday had just tested Covid positive and they would all have to go into isolation.
Alicia cried, she wailed, she had been so careful as to not get Covid so she could have a merry Christmas and now there would be no merriness.
Alicia hates PCR tests, but Alicia knew what needed to be done. So she scheduled PCRs for her whole family on Christmas Eve, hoping they would be negative so she could see her parents.
Depending on those results, Alicia is either having a cheerful Covid negative day or she is hiding behind her Christmas tree, drinking vodka straight out of the bottle with a straw, crying deep Covid positive tears.
She was defeated, she was frightened, she was mad as hell. “But hey,” she thought, “what else could happen.”
Then the Ministry of Education stormed on her already rained out parade, with their announcement that primary school would remain closed until April.
The MoE admitted schools are not linked to increased Covid spread, but alas had decided to keep them shut.
Alicia had no more tears and very little emotion left.
So she sulked and ached, what a rotten, no good, awful, dumpster fire of a day.
Then her husband told her of his day. He was on a job in Barrackpore before quarantine orders were handed out. The job was a tricky one and many of residents came to help out. He made a joke about having to be there until dinner time, after which a young man approached him.
The young man pointed to his humble home and said, “Boss man, if you are hungry I have some curry aloo and rice inside. You want me to bring out a plate.”
Her husband thanked him and let him know he was only joking. Her husband could not help but feel incredibly touched. Here was a young man, from simple means, opening his home and kitchen to a complete stranger.
When Alicia heard the story, her frigid heart thawed. That tiny act of kindness reminded her of all the good in the world. That despite her completely terrible day there is always good, there is always kindness.
So Christmas may be different this year, but Alicia realised once there is still kindness, there is still hope and where there is still hope, there is a chance for a better tomorrow.
Alicia Spends Christmas in Isolation
By Alicia Chamely
MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!
Hope it’s full of love, ham and sorrel.
Today, I present to you the story of a terrible day, which despite being a truckload of rottenness ended with a tiny light that sort of made a bad day not so bad.
Wednesday, December 22, 2021, Alicia woke up with searing pain in her lower back. It was evident that due to some strenuous activity the day before she had aggravated an old injury.
“Oh swell,” she thought as two full-volume children burst into her room demanding she resolve some ridiculous dispute. The universe had sent a warning shot… today was going to be a no good, very rotten, awful day.
Begrudgingly she solved the dispute and continued on through the morning, hobbling and wincing in pain.
Then the electricity went because T&TEC can’t seem to get its life order. Cue the small inhabitants of her house incessant moaning.
“It’s hot,” they whined, “I’m bored.”
Before Alicia got to the point where she would consider something that may involve the police being called, she decided to throw them in her car to get them out of the house and fill up her precariously low gas tank.
The gas station was a mess. “Well this is an act of patience,” her seven-year-old mused.
At last, the line was moving and Alicia was next at the pump.
But wait! What is this? Some scumbag jumped the line and backed up into the spot which she was pulling into.
Rage burned through Alicia’s already aching body, but she breathed because today she refused to allow idiots to upset her day.
Unfortunately, her five-year-old wasn’t as calm. Into a rant he went, demanding he be let out of the car so he could “deal” with the spot-stealing man.
“Mum! You better tell him something! He can’t just do that,” he exploded from the backseat, “Call the police! Let me out, if you aren’t going to do something I will!”
Alicia tried to calm him, all the while calculating how much money she would need to start saving to open an emergency bail fund for her small son’s future.
Finally she got peace as she got out of the car to fill the tank, thinking “What a day, at least the worst seems to be over.”
But was it?
On the drive back home she got a call from her husband, turns out a family member they had been exposed to on Sunday had just tested Covid positive and they would all have to go into isolation.
Alicia cried, she wailed, she had been so careful as to not get Covid so she could have a merry Christmas and now there would be no merriness.
Alicia hates PCR tests, but Alicia knew what needed to be done. So she scheduled PCRs for her whole family on Christmas Eve, hoping they would be negative so she could see her parents.
Depending on those results, Alicia is either having a cheerful Covid negative day or she is hiding behind her Christmas tree, drinking vodka straight out of the bottle with a straw, crying deep Covid positive tears.
She was defeated, she was frightened, she was mad as hell. “But hey,” she thought, “what else could happen.”
Then the Ministry of Education stormed on her already rained out parade, with their announcement that primary school would remain closed until April.
The MoE admitted schools are not linked to increased Covid spread, but alas had decided to keep them shut.
Alicia had no more tears and very little emotion left.
So she sulked and ached, what a rotten, no good, awful, dumpster fire of a day.
Then her husband told her of his day. He was on a job in Barrackpore before quarantine orders were handed out. The job was a tricky one and many of residents came to help out. He made a joke about having to be there until dinner time, after which a young man approached him.
The young man pointed to his humble home and said, “Boss man, if you are hungry I have some curry aloo and rice inside. You want me to bring out a plate.”
Her husband thanked him and let him know he was only joking. Her husband could not help but feel incredibly touched. Here was a young man, from simple means, opening his home and kitchen to a complete stranger.
When Alicia heard the story, her frigid heart thawed. That tiny act of kindness reminded her of all the good in the world. That despite her completely terrible day there is always good, there is always kindness.
So Christmas may be different this year, but Alicia realised once there is still kindness, there is still hope and where there is still hope, there is a chance for a better tomorrow.