You are all ESSENTIAL

I am a duck,

And you are seeing my picture

because I dressed like a fireman.

Why?

Because I need to

So you can see my picture

On the internet

The only window

A lot of you have to the outside

Because you aren't allowed out there

But I am because I dressed like a fireman

I dressed like that

So I could be considered

ESSENTIAL

But the most important thing about me

Is really

I am duck, a creature, alive

Like you.

I am essential, not because of my costume,

But because I am alive, like you.

Let me out

Let me out without this costume.

Let yourselves out.

Lockdown

First they came for my ability to decide what I wear and I did not speak out—

Because I was not paying attention .

Then they came for my ability to work, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not paying attention .

Then they came for my right to decide where I, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not paying attention.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Jennifer loved people, from a distance.

She loved to watch them, and would even make up elaborate stories about fabricated friendships she had with random strangers, but she wouldn't ever attempt to actually do it, she couldn't bring herself to. If she was honest with herself, she had to admit that she was completely revolted by most people, Their grimy hands, smelly feet, sweaty hair, bad breath all disgusted her. It also disgusted her that she was disgusted. She was ashamed, ashamed of hating other people for no reason, but she couldn't help it.

She wasn't used to being around people. She had grown up in isolation. Her parent's were bankers, they had branches all over the world and would have to go take care of business so they would leave her with Lola, their maid. She was alright, she was very clean, but she didn't speak English. Lola was kind of perfect, she was clean and kept to herself. The only thing about her that bothered Jennifer, was the coughing. She had allergies or something, so sometimes she would cough relentlessly. it drove her so crazy she could choke her, but that would involve touching her so she usually just waiting impatiently, but quietly for the horrid noise to stop.

Then something happened, It started at Jennifer's dance lessons. She was taking interpretive dance. Ballet was stupid, and it involved letting a boy touch you sometimes, well if you had to dance with a partner. Not worth the risk. They had very dirty hands.

Jennifer was always able to keep a hold on her small neurosis. Well, always until today. It started with the dance teacher. The other one, she couldn't remember her name because it wasn't that important, she never had to address her directly, anyway the other one got the flu or pnuemonia or something, so she sent her cousin. Gross. Her cousin probably had it too, she just wasn't have symptoms yet. She should have known not to touch my stuff, Jennifer thought after her outburst.

The nervous sub dance teacher found one of Jennifer's socks that had gotten seperated from her stuff. Without thinking Jennifer screamed at her, and had to go sit in the corner. That dumb bitch, she shouldn't be getting her germs all over my stuff. Disgusting.

It only got worse from there. Jennifer's yelling aggravated her, so she paired her with someone, at least it wasn't a boy. But, it was close. Sara Hardy. She was kind of vile, she smelled like dog and whatever atrocious food her mom and dad cooked. It was making her nauseous. So when Sara got a little too close Jennifer pushed her. HARD. But, she didn't mean what happened next. Sara fell over and hit her head right on the corner of the bleachers., and she was out cold.

The subsitute ran over, frantic. What happened?' She screamed.

Jennifer tried to explain, but there was no explaining it. She was in trouble. But it was that bitches fault. She shouldn't have gotten so close.

"She deserved...She shou

The teacher looked at her and then at Sara. Sara's head was badly bleeding.

Jennifer was so concerned with her own safety, so nuerotic, she disregarded another human beings safety. Jennifer is a child in a story, I have seen adults do this to each other, because they were pissed that someone was a little less than six feet apart.

Covid-19 is not a justification for losing human decency. Human beings should always be treated like human beings.