The Impact of Covid Part 2

Story Continued...

Like a drill sergeant, I woke my wife and children one morning. As they assembled, I instructed them on setting a garden in the backyard. We all dug up the grassy compound. We needed spaces to construct raised boxes for vegetables and potatoes.

We kept chickens and pigs. We had composted the manure behind the kitchen. We ferried and mixed with the topsoil and watered it.

We purchased seedlings from the agricultural stores and transplanted in the raised boxes. We also set up a wooden rack and pressed black polyurethane bags. We planted tomatoes, spinach, herbs such as thyme, rosemary, mint, oregano, lavender. Later, we added turmeric, ginger, spring onions, cabbage, kale. Also, we planted beans, Irish potatoes, and corn.

I had never had a team working together before. Some seedlings dried up and withered away. But my children and wife, Jane, were determined to see better outcomes.

After the hard work, we added chicken and ducks to raise for meat and eggs. Our foods were healthier and organic now. My wife and I grew closer than before. Over the years, our relationship had tumulted. She stopped drinking, and we prayed to God and grew more intimate. On some afternoons, we disappeared into the hills to romance and make love. It was a wonderful homecoming.

Our children also noted the positive change in us and became cooperative. They had become withdrawn after our incessant quarrels and bickering.

Now, I read lots of eBooks on my kindle. Every morning, I jogged up and down the granite hilltop, toning my flabby body. Some days, I walked four kilometres with my children, sightseeing the vast swampland. They loved watching the flamingos and crested cranes swimming in the small river.

The children trekked, picking wildflowers and purple berries. Primo, the charcoal grey puppy followed them, sniffing cow dung and small anthills. I used such moments to teach my children the true meaning of life. We did holiday work together. I trained them on how to grow organic food and caring for the birds and the pigs.

Months later, covid-19 eased up, the neighbours visited us and requested tips on how to grow the food. We donated fresh vegetables, potatoes and sold off some eggs and pork.

I vowed to work at my home. I am lucky that I had grasped this new technology of Microsoft meeting point and Zoom. I scheduled meetings with my fellow workers and our employer. We did many projects with the clients.

The second wave of covid variants started in India and Brazil in 2021. It strained the already fragile world economies. This second coming brought massive death, infections, and devastation. Once again, my country reacted late and failed the litmus test. The government technocrats had learnt and forgot lessons. They controlled variables, but the old problems persisted. Corruption and embezzlement!

My family had prepared well this time. We had learnt our lessons firsthand in 2020. The second lockdown of 42 days was a walk in the park.