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“Thanks, Diamond. I really needed this talk,” I sighed. “Sorry if I sound all crazy.”
“It’s all right. I’m scared of this virus too. My grandmother’s in the hospital.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I hope she pulls through. How is she?”
“She’s 88. It might be her time, but we’ll see,” she said blithely. “See why you have to live for every moment? I’ll catch you later, girl.”
“Bye.”
I was almost back at the house when I spotted a guy in a mask walking his dog.
“Hey!” he objected. “You don’t have your mask on!”
“Oh, sorry,” I said. “I forgot it. I was walking by myself.”
“Cross the street please,” he said continuing to jog in place. “I don’t want to have to cross the street with my dog.”
I made an annoyed grunt and complied. Who was this guy? The sidewalk police?
“And you’d better get a mask!” he shouted. “What is wrong with you?!”
Giving him an incredulous look, I headed back to the house. Guess I had to have a mask with me at all times. Although that guy didn’t have to be a jerk about it!
“Hey, Tracianne,” greeted dad. “We need some stuff from the store. It’s your turn to go with Phil and make the run.”
“What? No. I don’t want to right now. Maybe tomorrow.”
“Now, Tracianne,” dad insisted. “This is what we agreed to.”
Technically, I didn’t agree to anything. Dad just would make pronouncements and if you didn’t object right then you “agreed” somehow. I thought about whining or crying my way out of it, but no--- I had to be strong, like Diamond.
“Fine,” I griped. “But let me go alone. It’ll be faster.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Phil walking into the room with his mask on. “This won’t take long, c’mon.”
I grabbed a mask. Phil grabbed me by the arm and started pulling me outside. I pulled away.
“Hey! I can get into the car myself,” I objected. “You don’t get to pull me around like a lost child.”
“Sorry, just thought we’d better hurry before work is over.”
We got into the car. Phil was driving.
“Work? Who is still working?” I noted.
“Well, there’s a lot of essential business still open, but yeah--- I guess you’re right. The majority of people are home. Still, it might cut down on the crowd a little.”
We headed to the supermarket. The parking lot was overflowing with cars. There were so many people, there was a line to get in. Since people were social distancing, they would only let so many people in the store at once. Phil had to park in the plaza next store and we had to walk over. All the stores in the plaza were close.
“Weird. It’s like the end of the world,” noted Phil.
“Did dad give you a list or something?”
“Yeah, I think he texted it to you too.”
I looked at my phone. It was a long list of stuff.
“Jeez, how are we going to carry the groceries all the way back to the car?” I asked.
“Duh! Shopping cart,” said Phil.
“Duh! Phil!” I pointed.
The plaza and supermarket’s parking lot didn’t connect. In between was a berm full of flowers and shrubs.
“Okay-okay,” said Phil. “Here’s what we do. When we come out, we move the cart her, I’ll move the car and we pass the groceries over the bushes.”
“Let’s just go back.”
“No way! We’re out of peanut butter.”
“Who cares, Phil! There’s too many people here!”
“I’m not going back and I have the keys, so if you want to wait in the car--- That will just make this take way longer.”
“Fine!”
God! He’s insufferable! This is what I’m talking about! I didn’t ask for this! Phil’s not related to me. Not really, anyway. Why should I be stuck here like this? With him! This isn’t fair!
We argued over some of the stuff in the store, but eventually I just gave up. After waiting in line for a half hour, I just wanted to go home!Chapter Nine - TracianneBy the time we got out of the store, it was pouring.
“Great idea, moron!” I complained. “Now we have to go all the way over there!”
“I’ll just pull the car up,” he dismissed.
“No! Are you crazy! Look at this parking lot! It’ll take you forever to get out of here! Let’s just get wet. We’re going to get wet anyway.”
“Fine, you don’t have to be a brat about it.”
“I’m not being a brat! You caused all this! I didn’t even want to come!”
By the time we got to the berm and then Phil moved the car, we got soaked. We loaded up and got inside.
“My God, I’ve never seen it like this,” said Phil. “It’s like a fucking monsoon all of a sudden!”
“It’s called spring rain, dumbass,” I griped. “Thanks a lot! Now I have to get changed and redo my hair!”
“You did your hair? Why? We’re stuck in the house?”
“I like to look nice! Okay?! Maybe try it sometime!”
