Shopping in the time of Coronavirus

The bright blue sky had stayed for weeks. We got to the supermarket, my son’s skateboard by his side. There was a modern winding path to the carpark, me son asked,

“Should I skate”

Usually he wouldn’t ask and just jump on his board the world was different now.

“Sorry”

He nodded, sad that his world was a little less of a playground.

The first summer dresses were out, the sunglasses were out and men wore shorts. This should have been a joyful Spring day.The only things that looked out of place were gloves, masks and a line of super ordered, obedient people lined up outside.

The people were stood on crosses marked out with tape on the ground, they were at the new super polite distance of 2 meters apart. Occasionally a few people were allowed in and people would shuffle forward. Most people were alone but some were out in their “family groups”. There was no gossip, there were distant smiles but no conversation, this was the new shopping order

We did the distance shuffle and wound our way around the carpark.

Not long ago sometimes I went shopping with my boyfriend, we’d giggle our way around the supermarket, cracking jokes and being loud, treating ourselves to way too much chocolate.Sometimes if my boyfriend knew if I was single mum poor he’d give me some cash and sometimes he’d cook curry and we’d banter over if we should play Punk or Rap, we’d talk over dinner and I’d complain about life. Now liquid relationships were on hold, everything had to be defined, love was either long distance, or you were locked down together. Part of me knew this was to protect us all the other part was furious and frightened at governments interference in our personal lives.

The distance dance continued in the shop. Tape defined  the space between up between humans. Some people made light of the distended dance and dodged around comically, others took the dance deadly seriously, they gave defensive looks protecting their safe, germ free bubble.

We looked around. the half empty shelves. Some baked beans were back, I was delighted at this small bonus. Cheap honey was out,a normal sized normal priced bottle of cooking oil was out so I bought a huge bottle. We had never seen shortages, before the virus we were spoilt children who’d complain if a supermarket didn’t have the right flavour cake, now we had to take what we could get.

We dragged or thought through shopping to the till. The young cashier is hidden behind a thick, clear, plastic screen. My son went to help me pack and an employee told him to stay clear. I pass heavy items to put in his college bag.

We leave, as we walk out the world looks sunny and all in order  A petty trip to the shops just showed how much a tiny virus could change the petty, domestic details of our lives.