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: 125 days away
“Team,” he wrote, “I typically hesitate to weigh in on social issues, but the virus is a very unusual situation.”
Our boss went on to encourage us to educate ourselves on the virus. He said much of the information that’s circulating is inaccurate or misleading, but from what he’s read, the best preventative action is to socially distance as much as possible, wash our hands regularly, and be on the look out if we develop a fever.
“We are operating business as usual,” he concluded. He put “business as usual” in quotes.
I wondered what he’d heard from everyone at the conference. I knew some of the dealers from Washington or California must have been there. They said the outbreak started in the US on the west coast.
I sent him back a response, without cc’ing anyone else.
“Thank you for sharing this. Can I text it around so our technicians can see it too?”
Within a couple minutes, “Yes, please do.”
I was glad he addressed it. Nothing changed operationally based on the email, but it helped to know he was paying attention to what was going on. He said he’d read over 100 articles about the virus. I couldn’t remember him telling us he’d read that widely on anything in the past. Not to say he didn’t research anything. Just the fact that he felt the need to tell us, meant something.
It was hard to tell if the email helped or hurt the technicians. I knew Tom seemed concerned. I hadn’t heard anything from the other techs about it yet, but my sample size of one told me others were too. No one wanted business to slow down, but I figured some wished they weren’t running around out in the wild.
After lunch, Jerry came into my office. He looked over some of the extra security boards on the table in front of my desk and then sat down.
He didn’t say anything, so I started.
“What do you think about all this?”
He shrugged and looked to the side.
“Schools shutting down? Seems like a big deal.”
He opened his eyes wider. “Oh, yeah. It is.”
I finished out my email and hit send.
“What happens to all the parents who have to find someone to watch their kids?” he said.
“That’s a good point.”
“Can Brandon afford a babysitter? You know?”
“For two weeks or three weeks? Yeah, I don’t know.”
“Is that how long they’re saying schools will be out?” he asked.
“That’s what they were saying for Kenneth. Two weeks plus Spring Break. That was already scheduled, I guess.”
He nodded. “How’s this affect you? How’s Liz doing?”
“She’s worried. But we’ll be fine. I mean, we’re fortunate in that she stays home anyway. And Kenneth, he’s not exactly upset that school is canceled.”
He shook his head like he knew the feeling.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out and held it up for him to see. Liz’s photo lit up the screen. It went to voicemail before I answered it.
“I’ll let you get back with her. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.”
He got up and headed back toward his office.
I texted Liz back.
“How’s it going? How was your appointment?”
