Page 36 - Gilbert & Me_Neat

The man standing next in line asks the preacher if he’s actually in the queue or not because it
really isn’t clear, and there’s quite a distance between him the a young lady standing in front.
The preacher says something – can’t make out what because of the radio – and he moves a few
paces forward. The radio announcer solemnly reads out “chapter 31”.

A few more people join the queue, and there’s a brief discussion about exactly where the end of
the queue now is as a few have stepped ‘out’ preferring to stand under the shade of a large
Flamboyant tree growing opposite by apartment, and thus on the other side of the road. A rather
large woman takes charge and nobody questions her when she points to where the last, and most
recent, person stands.

God continues bashing mankind on the transistor. I return to my desk and carry on bashing out
“Consejo Shores”.

Lunch is fried chicken from the last remaining take-out place in Kings Park. Its a few doors
down from my apartment, on the same road as the grocery store people were queuing to get into
– it’s now closed – but in the opposite direction. I bring the food back and start eating. It’s
probably the worst fried chicken I’ve had from them; hardly any actual meat, mostly bones and
batter, with some scrawny fries. I won’t go back there.

Disappointed, I trash what’s left and plonk down on the couch. Its TV time and I know Gilbert is
happy now – he’s been waiting all day for this.

Number of cases: 8
Number of deaths: 1