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Back to school, life in a pandemic
Back to school
The events of the last year have been testing for all of us. Enforced lockdowns, restrictions and now the children are back to school on Thursday 3rd September. I have enjoyed home schooling but now is the time for proper out of the house, school. My daughter is excited, she would go right this minute if I could take her now. My nine-year-old is not as happy. When lockdown happened, he had only been at his new school a month so hadn’t had time to build new friendships. Since March he has spoken with a friend from his old school on a regular basis. He will miss chatting with her on Thursday.
School preparations
I’ve ordered most of their uniform online. With supermarket delivery it was easily added to the order. Argos with Sainsburys TU offers delivery to home within days. School shoes ordered online from the Clark’s Outlet. At the moment I’m still avoiding shops as much as I can.
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Bento box
My seven-year-old is now going into year three, key stage two, which means the UK government no longer provide her dinner. Unlike my son she is a super snacker. She will happily help herself to salad and fruit from the fridge. The Bento box cube and Bento lunch (UK, below) offer different compartments for food, so sandwiches go in one place and the fruit and veg – cucumber, tomato, pepper in another. She has a healthy appetite which is better than my sons two chocolate spread sandwiches and a yogurt daily. We have added snacks and fruit to his lunch but he rarely eats it. However, as he sees his sister’s lunchbox maybe he will follow her healthier attitude.
Thoughts
I’m nervous about them returning but will also be relieved for some quiet time. They need school, the routine and the learning. My daughter has said she loves science. She loves to experiment and make a mess for mummy! She can make a mess for her teacher instead.
All the hype in the media about schools and the R number. The very valid concerns from teachers. The arguments for and against children wearing masks. These all add to my anxieties as a parent. Especially one who has been shielding a vulnerable husband since March.
I can’t keep the children off school that would be cruel and my daughter is very excited about going back. We have no option, but try not to project, to work a day at a time. Try and trust that if an outbreak does happen then the scientists and government will do something. My faith is wearing thin but we can’t do much else.
School
The school have adopted a one-way system, with white lines along the corridors. The year groups are being kept in their own bubbles and the teachers are not allowed closer then two metres to the children. I’m sure if a child is upset, they would have no choice but comfort them. I’m not sure what the rules are on this and I know my children could be the first to try and hug their teachers on Thursday. They are going to both be pleased to see them. I’m not sure how teachers will handle this as I’m sure many would normally enjoy and even appreciate the hug.
There will be staggered start and finish times, and the classes are entering and exiting through different doors in efforts to keep parents and children apart and distanced.
‘New normal’
So, what is the ‘New normal’? I don’t like this phrase and find it scary. This August we haven’t been far as I’ve been too fearful to go out. The virus is still out there and people don’t always know they are carriers. We have been for a few walks, but our usual trips to the city shops, fish and chips and the library haven’t happened. I think we last did this in the February holidays. A time before the threat of Corona virus in the UK.
I hope that as the children get back to school it doesn’t affect the R rate too much. The predictions say it will. I don’t want to worry about it every time I step outside my front door. The mask wearing though is a constant reminder that life is no longer the same.
Today
For now, it’s a day at a time. Return to school Thursday and we are ready, just the lunchboxes to make Wednesday night. I’m still working from home which I’m very grateful for. I’m happy talking on the telephone, things are still different for now.
I’m currently working on a western short story for a Writers Unite wild west Anthology, (5000 words max). I have completed the first draft, I now need to go back and redraft it. I’m aware that I need to do more showing then telling. Writing the western has helped to keep my mind of other life events, such as COVID -19 and back to school.
So how are you? Are your children/ grandchildren / or teaching.. back to school this week? Are they already back? What are your thoughts?
Take care all!
For more see, School holidays and plans during a pandemic
A plan and a model for murder – for Writers Unite photo prompt
Tea, sympathy and a need to fix things – for Blog Battle – Tea
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Tea, sympathy and a need to fix things
A need for tea, and a robbery
He stood trembling as the tall man in a mask raised his gun. Protecting the store was what he did, a security officer for fifteen years he wasn’t giving into this thug. Concentrating on happier times he tried not to look at the scared faces around him. As the manager arrived, shouting, he willed him to shut up.
As the gun shot reverberated, pain ran through him and the world went black. He didn’t hear the screams, and was not aware of the paramedics as they worked on him to save his life.
Tea and sympathy
Sitting digesting the news, this was too much, bad news was never easy to take. Lou put the kettle on, tea was always the answer. The magic solution, it’s always what people say, “Do you want a cup of tea?” Or rather “I’ll make tea.”
Face wet with tears, friends never liked Luke, but I love him. He might have been an idiot but he was mine and didn’t deserve to be lying in a hospital bed. Annoyed that he had put the damned supermarket ahead of his life, I sipped on my tea. Feeling it running down my throat, I felt calmer.
Lou put her arm around me, trying to make me feel better. All I could think about was Luke lying in hospital. Finishing my tea, it was time,
“Come on, let’s go and see him.”
“Sure you’re ready?”
“Mug of tea down, and now I want see Luke”
Hospital
Coming around to another man in a mask, this time one with kind eyes, dressed in blue. He started shaking,
“Luke, it’s okay, this is St Mark’s, you’re safe.”
“What happened?”
“You were involved in a robbery, you were shot and the bullet has now been removed from your chest”.
Luke tried to touch his front, then winced as fire went through him.
“If you need morphine just push this button”.
Luke nodded and smiled with gratitude as the nurse passed it to him.
Closing his eyes again, exhaustion took over, he thought of Julie and thanked God that he was alive.
Thomas
It had been a week since the shoot down at Lichfields. Thomas sat head on his hands, his colleague had managed to steal the cash as he shot the security guard. Running and jumping on motorbikes as the police and ambulance arrived, they had got away with it. Problem was Thomas knew Julie and the heartache it would cause her. Reaching for his steaming tea, he appreciated it’s calming sickly sweetness as it warmed his stomach. A shooter with a conscience does not work, especially as mad Kenny was wanting him to do another job this evening. How could he get out of this? He had to do the job or he would be in hospital bed too.
Thomas thought of the little blonde girl, the girl he had a crush on all through school. Now he had shot her partner, how the hell did he get here?
Luke
I sat stroking Luke’s hand. Relieved to see his chest going up and down, hoping for better times ahead. From all the mental taunts from my friends and now he’s been shot, was the universe trying to tell me something? Lou said it was, but I was happy. This had to be right, all that was missing was a church and a ring. He would get better, he had come this far, he had too.
My stomach felt fuzzy as he opened his eyes. I realised this man wasn’t an idiot, he was honourable. He had done what he had to do, many wouldn’t have risked their life for a supermarket. He saw me and his face lit up.
“Hi you”.
“Hey Luke”.
“Julie, this shouldn’t have happened.”
“No, a cup of tea won’t heal you, but time will.”
“Imagine if tea really did solve everything.”
“You wouldn’t have a fantastic scar across your chest”.
“Tea is a good medicine for a lot of things but unfortunately it can’t eject a bullet from my chest.”
“No, but it’s great when you need a warm pick me up.”
Thomas
He knew this was it, shooting Luke had been a step too far. As the doorbell rang his heart sank, how could he get out of this? Attaching a silencer to his gun, he had only one option.
“You ready mate.”
“I need to show you something Ken.”
“Right, but we have to go.”
“Okay, after this.”
Leading him into the garden, he was shaking, this had to be done. Opening the shed Thomas motioned him in, completely unexpecting. Pointing to a cobweb ahead of him, he pulled out his gun. Sticking it into the back of his head, he pulled the trigger, bang.
No store was getting robbed tonight! He now just had to dispose of Kenny and then this will be over.
Written for Blog battle – Tea
For more see, A life in a sad wretched mess
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A plan and model for murder
The Model – Thursday
Her beauty shone as the light caught her hair as she moved for the camera. Being a model was what she was destined for. All her life she had felt that her calling was to a top magazine. Young and successful, the world loved her.
As Paul clicked his camera, he secretly admired the woman in front of him. Lustful thoughts that he would never discuss with his loving wife of ten years. His job was to photograph and capture, anything more would lead to his dismissal and maybe the end of his marriage. Some days were torturous and others he could just relax into his day.
Charlotte – Friday evening
As Peter arrived home, he was excited about the evening ahead. Diamond ring in his pocket, he knew that Charlotte was the one. Letting himself in, he shouted, expecting her to appear as she always did. Hearing crying his heart sank, he wondered, what was wrong? Sitting on the bed next to her, she sniffed,
“Peter, it’s Suzie, she’s dead, someone shot her”.
Charlotte and Suzie had been friends since school. They had then started modelling together. If someone was out killing models then she was in danger too.
“I don’t want you doing this anymore, it’s not safe.”
“Peter don’t be silly, of course it’s safe. She must have upset someone.”
“She’s a model, what has she done to deserve being killed? “
Charlotte sat up and thought,
I don’t know. Why Suzie?
The police
Hearing the door bell, Peter rushed to answer it, he was relieved when he saw a man and a woman, holding up their police ID badges. He wanted questions answered and Charlotte safe.
“Hi, DI Keith Marsh and DS Wendy Charles. Is Miss Hampton here?”
“Yes of course, come in?”
Calling for Charlotte he guided then to the clean, uncluttered living room. Motioning for them to sit down, he was nervous about what might be asked.
As Charlotte walked in, wiping her eyes, DI Marsh stood up.
“Hello, Miss Hampton, we are here about Miss Suzie Mills.”
“Yes, a friend phoned me. Any news?”
“Not at the moment, we just have some questions for you?”
“Okay.” Wondering what she was about to be asked, she lowered herself into the armchair.
“When did you last see Miss Mills?” Looking at the DI she answered,
The Photographer
“I saw her Wednesday but we last spoke yesterday evening after her photo shoot. She seemed alright but she commented on the leering looks from the photographer.”
“Have you had any problems with him? Has he leered at you?”
“I’ve never thought about it, I just do as I’m told and he clicks his camera. Paul seems nice enough, I don’t think he’s a killer.”
“We’re just considering all angles”. DS Charles started to scribble in her notebook.
“So, what next?” Peter asked, “Is Charlotte safe? Are you going to protect her?”
The murders
DI Marsh, looked up. “We are being cautious. Miss Mills is not the only dead model.”
“Who else?”
“Sorry Miss Hampton, can’t say, but we are investigating in a different county as well. We are looking into all the cases further. You are both going to be put into protective custody until this is over, and no modelling work. A police car will be by in the next couple of hours to drive you to a safe house. All phones and laptops need to stay here. If the killer has any means of tracking you, they will”.
Peter squeezed Charlotte’s hand, “We need to keep you safe”.
“Were there any similarities in the murders? Anything that suggests a serial killer?”
“There is, but I’m saying no more than that.”
As the DI and his colleague got up to leave, Charlotte and Peter just remained holding hands. This was bad, and Charlotte did not want to be killed. She was terrified of needles, let alone a speeding bullet.
Letting themselves out, hoping that the model would stay safe and not do any amateur sleuthing, they returned to their car. With plans to investigate the photographer, he was their number one suspect.
Thinking about her colleagues, Charlotte remembered that Clara was modelling today. Picking up her phone, she dialled her number. Did no answer really mean tragedy? She hoped not, leaving a message she willed her to call back.
Clara – Late Friday afternoon
Clara signed with relief, after a long photography session, she had been relieved to say goodbye and start walking home. The rain had cooled her down, it had been hot and humid and all she wanted to do was jump in her shower. Walking along the river path, she was oblivious to the man behind her. Feeling sudden pain in her head, she cried as her world turned to darkness.
Barry stood, his cold eyes staring straight at Clara. Bound and gagged, she was pretty. He could see the attraction for these women. His sister would be heartbroken if she knew. These models had to die. Sat in the old barn by the lake, he carved the familiar X into both arms. X marks the spot, and now shot her point blank in the head. Model number four gone. Suzie, Bernice, Greta and now Clara. Charlotte was next. Knowing she had a photography session tomorrow afternoon, his plan was to follow her too. These women were stupid, easy to catch and completely clueless. He laughed to himself as he rubbed his gun. Time to move on.
Paul and Christine – Friday evening
Paul started to cry as the officers told him about the models deaths.
“They were beautiful ladies, who would want them dead?”
“Oh my god, oh my god. This might be a leap, but a couple of months ago, my brother was making comments about your job. Said you couldn’t be trusted.”
“Oh Christine, he wouldn’t kill, would he?”
“Years ago, remember, dad had an affair. I caught Barry holding a gun to the woman’s head. He was so angry, it was why he was admitted to the rehab facility”.
Picking up pen and paper, she wrote down his address. “Sorry I think you need to check him out. He possibly isn’t stable.”
“But why?” Paul was confused.
“You spend your day photographing models. Maybe he’s trying to protect me.”
“How long have you photographed them sir?”
“Only about three months.”
“Hmm, okay that ties in nicely. Sir, we are going to need your full client list.”
The clients
Paul stood up, reached for his brief case and found a copy of his list, their appointments and their locations. He passed them to the DI.
“I can see here that you cover a large area.”
“Yes, one day I could be in Essex, the next London and the next Kent.”
“Would anyone else have access to this list?”
“Only Morton Photographic, who organise my work.”
“Thank you Sir, this is helpful. For now we are cancelling your work, the models will be informed. Its too much of a risk. Come on Wendy. Thank you, we might have more questions for you soon.”
Christine looked at Paul. “Sorry I should’ve thought about Barry when you took this job.”
“Christine, those ladies are attractive but they are not you. I wouldn’t ever touch or cheat with them. You also never told me that Barry’s dangerous.”
“Yes, sorry, scary family stuff. Barry is not trusting. Also notice it was the woman he wanted dead, just like now it’s the models not you.”
“This all sounds too simple, murders aren’t usually solved this easily”.
Barry – Friday night
Arriving home Barry was pleased with himself. Remembering William, his face had been pure delight as he saw the dead girl alone in the barn. He thought about Charlotte and putting a bullet through her pretty head. One model after another, bang bang..
Written for Write the story on Writers Unite!
For more see, Strangers in the Sahara Desert
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