The Strangeness

It had been a strange day. No a strange time, a testing time.

Like the rest of the world Tom was on lockdown. He had been so for two weeks now, not for any wrong doings, he wasn’t one for trouble so he didn’t have an electronic tag on his ankle. No this was far worse, a parasite had infected the world, attacking humanity with a deathly ferociousness. Coronavirus was causing a pandemic. Tom was thankful his lockdown was minuscule compared to what others around the globe had endured so far.

It was a scary time and Tom couldn’t help but wonder when normality would return and the strangeness he felt that morning added fuel to his thoughts.

His skin had been tingling on and off since waking and sometimes the hair on my arms had stood on end, it was as if there was something in the air; an energy, like static but without the feel of electricity about it.

Had he picked the virus up somehow? Is this how it starts? He wondered.

He had woken early after a restless night; most of it listen to the news, as he did more so than ever now or checking social media. Which was strange in itself for Tom as he wasn’t one for social media ordinarily, but given the way the world was and unable to see his family, he now relied on it keep in contact.

As he sat drinking his morning Coffee, Tom wondered if his previous nights social media activates had anything to do with the strangeness he felt. He wasn’t a man to really show his anger. He was easy going, chilled. But the previous night while enjoying a glass of wine or two, Tom was reading the Facebook arguments about the lockdown and couldn’t help but express his feelings openly.

“Ok people are really starting to piss me off, So yes ok, maybe I shouldn’t look at the arguments that go on here, behind the safety of their computer screens or phones.

People are dying, not just here but world wide and to be honest I’m shit scared, not just for myself but for my children, my grandchildren, my family, my ex family’s, my friends. This is real, it’s happening.

People coughing and spiting at people, people complaining that they can’t drive to the country to walk their dogs, people moaning because they can’t go in the shops sensibly.

Look around you, It’s not a bloody joke. And I can imagine most of those I mentioned above put their keyboards down, left their dogs inside and put their shopping away so they could clap with the rest of humanity.

I’m not a political person, never have been but these things have been put in place to keep us, as a world safe. Do you want to hear that someone you know or love might die? Not only due to Coronavirus but through selfish and irresponsible behaviour. I certainly don’t. It would devastate and break me as it would you.

Wise up, be responsible for your actions, if the human race worked as one, we can overcome this parasite and get back to having our normality restored.”

Maybe that was the wine talking or like many others the isolation was getting to him.

After his Coffee Tom showered, dressed then headed out for his daily exercise, which the government was allowing along with picking up essential supplies from local shops.

Tom decided to combine both activities.

It was nice day. The sun was out and the sound of children playing in their confined gardens and bird’s singing freely in the trees filled the air. It felt like any other ordinary day, except it wasn’t. The strangeness was there.

As Tom entered the shop, the first thing he noticed was the Black and Yellow sticky tape on the floor, spaced evenly Six feet apart as direct by the Governments Social Distancing policy. ‘Keep 6 feet away from other people to help stop the spread of the virus.’

It felt surreal as he wandered down the isles; smiling at fellow shopper, but not knowing whether to stop, go, back track or sidestep any that were in his path.

He wondered if they too felt the strangeness as his skin tingled once again.

Tom spent the rest of the day looking for things to do, trying to fill time. He read, watched TV, used social media; albeit limited.

With day was nearly over, Tom decided on a glass of wine before heading to bed. Grabbing the bottle, He poured the red liquid into the glass and watched as it sloshed from one side to the other, allowing the aroma of the grape to be released. But before he could raise the glass to his lips the strangeness returned and Tom watched in astonishment as the wine began to vibrate in the glass causing a circle of rings to spread outwards like a stone thrown into a pond.

Tiredness, he thought. Trick of the mind.

The BBC news was on TV, showing more figures of deaths around the world as Tom emptied the last of the wine.

“And now for some good news,” the broadcaster announced, “British summer time is here, Don’t forget to spring forward.” he informed the nation, smiling.

Tom adjusted his watch and clocks before sliding into bed and with the effects of the wine taking hold, he was soon asleep.

The alarm from Tom’s mobile gently stirred him awake, stretching and with a yawn, he gradually opened his eyes; he could taste the remnants of wine on his breath and headed to the bathroom to freshen his mouth.

Strange, no tingling, he thought as he looked at the reflection that stared back at him from the mirror.

Tom shivered as he disrobed and stepped into the shower. He hadn’t noticed it until then just how cold it was. The hot water felt good as cascaded over his body, pulling him further awake.

Stepping from the shower, he wrapped himself in a warm fluffy towel and headed to the front room. Turning the TV on loud so he could listen to the latest bad news Tom went to the kitchen and started to prepare a coffee.

“The snow has caused some disruption to the roads this morning, the M3 has had minor tail backs southbound, but it is starting to move and wont cause much delay.” the newscaster announced.

Tom cradled the cup in his hands, sipping on the hot Coffee as he waited for the toast to pop from the toaster.

“And in other news Israeli’s and Palestinian’s are rejoicing over the end of the conflicts and with help of the Islamic State of Iraq and the United Nations are starting to rebuild their country.” he continued.

Tom buttered the Toast, topping it with Peanut butter and thought about what essentials he need from the shop.

Toilet Paper has been stockpiled but I might be lucky, he thought.

“It’s been five months since the eradication of Coronavirus and the world is finally at peace, what a wonderful world we live in now, wouldn’t you say Holly”

“Defiantly Phillip, in a way the Coronavirus saved the planet, it brought the world to its knees but the strangeness reunited it.”

The cup smashed as it hit the floor, the toast popped from the toaster and Tom stood at the window looking out at the snow cover field; children were building Snowmen, families were laughing and smiling as they threw snowballs and Christmas lights decorated every house.

“And humanity was asleep while it did, your right it certainly is a truly wonderful world.”