By Barclay Alldred
Salmon Arm, BC
It was only a short time since we had all been placed in “lock down”, since stores and malls had closed, since our children had been laid off and since we had been struggling to adapt to this new world. There was no alternative. I had to go to the pharmacy for some necessary medications. I found the new cue system with bold demarcations of appropriate social distance and vertical sheets of plexiglass at the counter unnerving, despite the fact that I was the only customer and was wearing my face mask and latex gloves. The interior of our vehicle now resembled a treatment center — hand sanitizer, sterilizing wipes, extra supplies of gloves and masks in sizes that accommodated our needs.
The Pharmacist moved to the counter and motioned me to approach. I moved the few feet closer. I gave him my name for the needed prescription refill. I noticed that he stepped away from me as I came nearer (undoubtedly maintaining the three meter distance required despite the fact that we both wore face masks).
“I’m safe,” I offered. “I haven’t been out of my house for over two weeks and my money has been languishing in my wallet for the same time.” It was my intent to lighten the situation and let the Pharmacist know that I was not just any reckless individual. I was following directives.
His eyes stared directly into mine above our respiratory protections and his words came out slowly, “No one is safe.” The words fell heavily on me. How could I have been so thoughtless? No one was safe. I felt like an embarrassed school child who had acted shamefully.
We conducted our business like a choreographed dance, alternately advancing and retreating to exchange my payment for my little bag of pills and for my change and then receipt. I offered a muffled but sincere “Thank you” and left. It was astounding that something so microscopic could humble even the strongest and most confident and skilled among us. I felt very small and very helpless in the face of this new reality.
No One is Safe,
Copyright © Barclay Alldred, 2020