This is a fictional story. All names, places, and viruses are used fictitiously. Resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, past or present, are intentional.
***
Due Date: 126 days away
Kenneth greeted me at the door, bouncing like he was up to something.
“Hi,” he said.
It kind of through me off.
“Hey.” I looked around when I stepped inside. “How’s it going?”
Liz answered. “This is getting serious, Ben. Have you been following the news?”
She didn’t follow the news either, not the traditional way. We never watched TV on our TV. No newspapers ever landed on our front porch each morning.
She was like me. She got her news from Facebook: links friends posted, live streams, mom groups. She had me beat on that last one.
“Everyone’s talking about it at work,” I said.
Beyond the internet, Liz stayed pretty connected with the outside world. Weekly swim lessons for our younger son, Shepherd. Usually at least one trip to the library, followed by a meal and the play place at Chick-Fil-A. Church on Sundays. Grocery shopping. Some other kind of outing most weekends. She’d post about most of it online. Friends always said they didn’t know how she did so much.
“They’re talking about shutting down the schools.”
I wasn’t convinced. “Do you think that’s real?”
“I don’t know.” She scrolled through her phone as she said it. “I bet they hold off tomorrow and then close them on Monday.”
Kenneth disappeared to his room.
“That’s crazy. There are only a few thousand people, in the world, who’ve died from it. Right?”
“I think so.”
I kicked my shoes off. “What are we doing for dinner?”
“We don’t really have much,” she said. “Do you want to just grab pizza?”
A Little Caesar’s trip later, we got the news.
“It’s official,” Liz said. “Kenneth! Kenneth, come here.”
He didn’t usually eat with us if we were eating pizza. He was still on his computer. He opened the door and tip-toed out.
“Guess what? School is canceled,” she said.
“What? Why?” I asked.
“Haven’t you been listening to me?” Her tone had tensed.
“Yeah, I mean I have. It’s just… wow.”
I got up for another slice of pepperoni.
“How long is it canceled?” Kenneth asked.
“They’re saying until April 6. Through Spring Break. Someone tested positive this morning. Somewhere in Lexington.”
“This morning? And they’ve already canceled schools?” I tore off a slice. “Did you want another one too?”
“I’m good. I think they were planning on it for a couple days, even before it arrived here. I told you it was going to happen.”
“Well, Kenneth, are you bummed that you’re going to have to start Spring Break now? What are you going to do with all your newfound time?”
He was turning 13 in April. He didn’t need to answer.
He smiled and headed back to his gaming.
“Don’t forget. We need to do your shot today.” She shook her head at me. “We missed it yesterday.”
She joined me in the kitchen. She was still getting around okay. Her pizza waddle was kind of cute.
“What’s everyone going to do with all the newfound time?” I asked her. I hugged her from the back.
“We’ll be fine,” she said. “It’ll be fun. We’ll do some crafts here. I’ve heard they might try—”
“No, that’s not what I meant. What are we going to do with all our newfound time?”
I tickled her side.
“Stop it! You’ll have to wait for later for all that.”
