Page 64 - Gilbert & Me_Neat

After dinner I sit on the balcony for a while contemplating stuff. I’m glad all the lads appear to
be okay and managing their own isolation situations – most if not all have family and friends
around, so it’s not too bad for them. They mostly have support mechanisms close by. I don’t.

Most are still at school, or would be if the schools were open, or have jobs where their employers
will have either let them work from home, and facilitated that, or made them redundant, so they
can received state support in the form of unemployment benefit and / or sustenance from the
Boost or Pantry food programs. I don’t.

Most, if not all, have cell phones with data and / or wifi at home, which is either theirs or funding
by their family, so communication is easy. They can swap jokes, send and receive texts and keep
each other happily engaged in life outside their four walls. Even if what they talk about isn’t
good news or particularly enjoyable to share, at least they have the ability to communicate with
each other. I don’t.

They mostly don’t have to worry about money. I do.

I try not to feel depressed, but the feeling is overwhelming. Contemplation turns out to be not
such a great way to use time, when you weigh the results and realize, you’re in a crap situation.

I go to bed.

Number of cases: 18
Number of deaths: 2