Day 12- Hopeful

Morning news reports show the flattening trend is continuing. We have 67 new cases, 39 confirmed and 28 probable. There are 13 people in hospital including three in ICU, one of whom is critical. Arkansas with a population of just over 3 million has 853 cases. Schools have been closed for several weeks and will be opened again on April 15th. Perhaps. Stopping Covid very much depends on government leadership. Trump quotes," It will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away." And," One day it's like a miracle. It will disappear."
The sports news consists of celebrities whiling away their hours in lock down. And uncertainty over their future and their pay in the meantime. This is going to be interesting.
The house reeks of onions. I soak them in brine and put them outside. From the hills the Southern Alps look closer than usual. It's overcast, the light is flat and the foothills have disappeared. I pass a 6 year old in Batman mask and cape, and his dad, colour co-ordinated in yellow and black. Precious time together. In the distance a lone plane hangs in the sky. It's leaving, no it's landing. Some people are returning home.
On the ground, it's all quiet on Upper Chrichton Terrace. How Jacinda likes it. I break out and bike to Sherry's. She's in her garden again and I take a seat on an upturned flower pot. We put the world to rights. I complete the circuit home. If we could see ourselves on time lapse cameras we'd be going in circles.
One day when this is over I hope parents spend more time with their kids. I hope there's fairer pay. I hope we listen to each other. I hope we think critically when electing our leaders. And I hope we do more with less.