There’s a sense of jubilation on the streets as Unlock-4 begins. ‘Freedom!’ we shout as metros start rolling, a hundred guests are allowed at weddings and travel restrictions lifted. But beware, more than the rejoicing on the lifting of restrictions by you and me, is the absolute delight by the green and yellow monster lurking outside your gates.
“See we are lifting most restrictions, showing we are not afraid of you!” I said speaking to the virus, even as I kept a respectful distance and wore a mask.
“I’m glad your fear is gone,” said the virus gleefully, doing a victory dance, “because we are hungry!”
“Hungry?” I asked, suddenly a bit uncertain about my joy, “Haven’t you eaten enough?”
“Look at me!” said the virus, “Do I look fat and portly?”
“No,” I said fearfully, looking at the coronavirus monster, “You look lean and mean!”
“And that’s not how fatal viruses are supposed to look!” snarled the virus menacingly as I fearfully retreated another six feet, ”How many feet have you maintained from me?”
“Six feet!” I said.
“That’s six feet under, you should have been, to keep me fat and full! But instead of allowing me my full feed you people have run into the shelter of your houses, started working from your homes and wearing masks! How can I eat with you all starving me?”
“I’m sorry!” I said, ‘But the government made it mandatory! They locked us in!”
“Yes I know!” said the virus bitterly, “Your government has made me famished, and if not for those who let their guard down and disobeyed orders, I would have been eliminated! I fumed and fretted, roared and gritted my coronavirus fangs outside your gates! I watched as some of you peered out, and was ready to pounce but then fearing the police and authorities you stepped back much to my chagrin!"
“I didn’t know you were outside!” I whispered trembling.
“I heard you grumbling when liquor shops were closed, and even wanted to bring a loudspeaker so all your groaning and moaning would be heard! But finally luck is on my side! How long can a nation be on siege till the sheer boredom gets to you, and now as I see you jumping for joy, you have your freedom back, I’m doing the same!”
I watched as the coronavirus monster leaped up and down with glee, looked at me and judged how long it would take before he managed to keep the social distance he longed for, of putting me six feet under the ground!
“Unlock 4!” the green and yellow monster shouted, “If you let your guard down, is just what my poor, hungry Covid-19 stomach needs to feed on..!”
Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and author.
He blogs at www.bobsbanter.com and can be reached at bobsbanter@gmail.com
