Christmas 2020 ©2020
by David Lee
The year 2020 AD had begun with great expectations but had turned into a dumpster fire for many people in the world. It had been especially so for those living in areas which saw natural disasters on top of the outbreak of Covid 19.
At the age of 20, AJ was approaching full adulthood and looking forward to becoming a full-fledged RN. It had been a struggle, but he'd persevered and would complete his goal unless something else went wrong.
Until he'd turned 18, he hadn't had a particularly hard life. He'd never gone hungry and he'd never suffered physically. His parents might not have been particularly demonstrative in their affection, but he hadn't felt unwanted.
He had assumed they would help him continue his education because they had expressed hope that he'd be the first in the family to get a college degree. However, when he came out to them, they used his orientation as a convenient excuse not to carry through. Fortunately, his high school counselor had found various scholarships and other forms of aid to help him toward his career goals without the aid of his family.
Since he'd been working parttime at a small café during his senior year, he managed to increase his hours as soon as school was out. One of his colleagues rented him a room in her basement at a reasonable rate, and thus, AJ enrolled in the community college to begin taking core courses, hoping to transfer to the university later. If he found he couldn't afford the university at all, the junior college had a well-respected nursing program which would be within his reach and some local colleges had programs so he could earn his BS without having to move or commute.
Things moved along for the summer and into the fall term. AJ wasn't one to waste time. He worked hard and studied hard. Many guys his age wouldn't have had the stamina nor the desire.
By the end of fall term, he had earned almost enough credits to be a sophomore. Spring semester would put him over the mark easily.
The following year continued in a similar manner. He would soon be well on the way toward certification. After that, he could probably work parttime as a nurse and continue toward his college degree at Coe, Mount Mercy, or the university.
Keeping busy wasn't only driven by his need to succeed. Being occupied kept him from dwelling on the fact that he was alone in the world. Through taking classes, he met a number of people, but there wasn't a special someone in his life.
During that period, he got acquainted with a guy named Riley Bosch who was also in the nursing program. The two of them became study-buddies, spending quite a few hours together helping each other learn all parts of the human body, nutrition, and all the rest.
Occasionally, they were joined by a girl, Kaitlin Cross, who was in some of their classes. The three of them would find a quiet corner in the library to work.
Sometimes, the guys went to AJ's basement room and other times to the condo where Riley lived with his uncle. In both locations, they had a lot of privacy which was conducive to concentrating. They didn't include Kaitlin because she tended to flirt, which made them uncomfortable. They didn't want the distraction. Truth be told, AJ found Riley a lot more attractive than Kaitlin.
It was in spring term of their final year that things began to fall apart. It started with a few people in the Iowa City area contracting a strange virus while on a trip to Egypt. People in Cedar Rapids didn't worry about it a whole lot. Many of them didn't have the money or time to explore exotic parts of the world. Obviously, they wouldn't be likely to become infected.
When public schools and universities remained closed to in-person learning after spring break, residents of the state began to figure out that the situation involving Covid 19 might be more serious than they'd imagined.
AJ was able to complete his course work online because he had a decent laptop and the owners of the house allowed him to use their Wi-Fi with no charge. Riley had the same technology at his uncle's place. It put them at an advantage over some of their cohort-group.
Given the state of affairs, they both decided not to transfer to The University of Iowa. It was a more prestigious school, but with remote learning, it wasn't any more advantageous for them to get certification there than at the community college.
In the beginning of summer, the guys were still making progress toward their goal. By the end of the year, they would be able to take their boards. Once they passed them, they could begin work to help combat the virus.
AJ needed a practicum to complete his requirements. He could do it in one of the nursing homes. However, he would need to quit his job at the restaurant to have the hours to do it. That wasn't a big sacrifice on his part because fewer people were dining out. The small café was barely surviving on carry-out business and the owner would likely have to cut AJ's job anyway. So, he was determined to survive on the little bit of savings he'd scraped together through living frugally.
Then came the derecho. On August 10th, the storm of straight-line winds ripped a path across the state of Iowa with gusts reaching an estimated 140 miles per hour. In the space of about 45 minutes, thousands of homes were destroyed or at least damaged. Innumerable trees were broken and uprooted. Streets were blocked and powerlines downed.
AJ was at the care facility when it happened. He found himself trying to calm the elderly residents, some of whom were very frightened. When the lights went out, it increased their anxiety. AJ didn't have time to think about how the storm night affect him. His focus was on the patients.
Luckily, the maintenance people were able to start the generators which restored some sense of normality. The staff prepared a slightly late lunch, and the residents began to settle down. Some napped when their bellies got full.
It was then that AJ had a break and a moment to think. He checked his phone, which had been on mute, and found several text messages. The first one sent him reeling. The house where he'd been rooming had extensive damage and was likely to be declared unsafe since part of the roof was missing. His landlady advised him to get his things out of the basement when his shift ended, before building inspectors boarded it up. She was sorry that she couldn't provide him with another place to live since her family was moving in with her parents who barely had enough room to house them. For the first time in AJ's life, he was overcome with a feeling of hopelessness.
Sitting in the staff lounge, he felt big tears streaming down his face.
The manager came into the room about then and got him to open up about his situation. She had a temporary solution. He could stay for free in the one unoccupied room for a few days as long as it was no one needed it. In lieu of paying, he could be on-call overnight. He would also be able to take his meals there. AJ felt like he'd been rescued!
He was lucky that his old car had suffered only minor damage. A branch had fallen on it making a slight dent in the hood. That was the least of his worries. On the way to his former accommodations, he had to take a circuitous route, sometimes backing up half a block to find a street which wasn't blocked. As he got nearer to the place, he had to drive on the sidewalk for a few yards.
It didn't take him a long time to pack up his things because he had few earthly possessions. He'd saved the boxes and bags he's used when he moved in, so it wasn't a big chore. He loaded his laptop and other more valuable items into the trunk where they'd be out of sight. The only things in the back seat were a few clothes which he figured no one would be likely to steal. He left a thankyou note, hoping it would be found by the owners eventually.
After a few days, another person was admitted to the care center and AJ lost his temporary housing. His only option was to move into one of the shelters which had been set up for storm victims. He dreaded it, assuming he'd be surrounded by the dregs of the earth.
That didn't turn out to be the case. He was housed in a barracks-like environment with a variety of people. Several were immigrant families who spoke very little English. They were frightened that the police would send them to internment camps. AJ did his best to assure them that the US was different from the countries to which they'd first fled.
The boys in the shelter took to AJ quickly. He had an old soccer ball in his car and he had enough experience with the game to play with them. He also talked to them and treated them as younger friends. He created a bright spot in their lives and it helped him cope too.
During all this time, Riley texted him, talking about his practicum and the various things going on in his life. AJ treasured those messages and always responded but didn't share anything about the hardships he was experiencing. He put on a brave face, partly because he felt humiliated by his pathetic existence.
When AJ's "apprenticeship" ended, the nursing facility offered him a job. Although he hadn't yet been certified, he was qualified to do LPN work. The pay wouldn't be great, but it was something and it made him feel useful. If he scrimped, he might eventually save up enough to rent a room and leave the shelter.
With Covid infection rates climbing, all staff members were tested regularly whether they showed symptoms or not. Many of the residents in nursing homes became infected, causing the facilities to keep visitors at bay. Some could see their relatives outdoors as long as they socially distanced. That continued during the warm weather as the city slowly made progress in its cleanup efforts after the storm.
AJ heard from his former benefactors that their house had been declared a total loss and they were trying to find a new place to move permanently. It would be difficult for them since the café had closed and they were down to living on one income. They would welcome AJ back if they could find a place with adequate room. That gave him a ray of hope. At least someone cared about him.
With the cold weather approaching, the temporary shelter where AJ was living closed. Priority for more permanent housing was given to families because their needs were considered greater. Young guys like AJ, who had some sort of income, fell between the cracks of the system.
AJ was relegated to a shelter which took in street people. It was very depressing for him. He usually stayed at his job late so he could use the Wi-Fi and be around people who were at least clean and sober. He used his time to study for the exams he would take in January. Staying focused was a way of preserving his sanity.
About the time he thought he could see a light at the end of the tunnel, he contracted Covid. He was asymptomatic, and some care centers kept people in his situation on to care for Covid patients in their facilities. That wasn't the case where he worked. In December, he found himself living in a section of a homeless shelter which was the designated spot for street people with the virus. Physically, he wasn't in dire straits. Psychologically, he'd about had it. He was nearing the end of a 14-day quarantine, but he felt like he wanted to die. Christmas would be lonely enough without being stuck where he was.
Some carolers arrived on December 23rd to cheer up the people in the shelter with their voices and pass out small treats. The group was made up of people who had already recovered from the virus and who weren't afraid of getting it again. They did, however, wear masks and remain at a distance from the residents.
Their performance took place in what had been a gym when the facility had been an elementary school. AJ decided to go hear them. Perhaps it would lift his spirits. He didn't have anything to lose.
AJ was surprised that Riley was in the bass section of the small ensemble. He knew the guy loved to sing but hadn't expected to see him. He moved to a spot in the room where the light wasn't very bright, hoping he wouldn't be recognized.
In this case, his luck didn't hold. Or maybe it did! When the short performance was over, Riley rushed to AJ's side.
"Dude, what are you doing here? I thought you had a place to live."
"Um, I have `the plague,' you'd better not get too close."
"How much longer do you have to quarantine?"
"Four more days. I've been here 10."
"Didn't you know that they've shorted the time? Many experts feel that seven is enough. Besides, I've recovered from it and I have antibodies."
"Oh, you didn't tell me you were sick."
"And you didn't tell me you were in a shelter."
"I was ashamed."
"I guess I was embarrassed too. I figured you'd think I did something stupid to catch it."
"Nah, I'm sure you got it from a patient like I did."
"Pack up your stuff; you're coming home with me."
"Are you sure it's okay with your uncle?"
"We can talk to him right now. He's the guy in the Santa suit."
"Uncle Bill, I think you met AJ once when he was studying with me at our place. I want to take him home. Do you think Santa will grant my wish?"
"Ho, ho, ho! I certainly will. He's the guy you have a crush on, right?"
"Uncle Bill!"
"Is that true?" AJ grinned.
"Um, yeah, it is."
"Cool!"
Riley's embrace brought tears of joy to AJ's eyes. At last, it felt like Christmas.
I wrote this a few days ago and it was too late to have it edited, so you're getting it raw. I made a few changes recently but have probably missed something. When you find typos, missing punctuation, etc. please feel free to let me know.
Please put something in Nifty's stocking to keep this free service going.
Happy New Year.
David