Sue was ostensibly wiping the dining table but in reality discreetly “monitoring” Ravi’s progress in preparing breakfast independently. One last sweep with antiseptic wipes and it would be done.
Final assignment topic Maximising Independence. “Evidence a challenging scenario, choose your own title ” her practice teacher had instructed.
Caring in the time of Coronavirus. Challenging enough? was her unvoiced riposte. That’s the title she thought. Ravi was the obvious star. 59 years old and before she had become his key-worker 6 months previously, he had never used a kettle or microwave in 40 years living at SeaView Court Supported Living. Now, look at him.
A gasp from Ravi warned Sue all was not well. As he stepped back from the open microwave the crime-scene was revealed. A volcano of porridge was still bubbling over from the bowl onto the microwave turntable. Ravi put his hand to his eyes … to erase the scene of carnage before him.
“Shi! Shi! Shi!”
Must include that detail of him swearing in triplicate and that “Shi! Shi! Shi!” is his favourite even though he knows that “Fu! Fu! Fu! is more offensive, Sue thought. She had never heard him successfully complete any expletive pronounced in English. In Hindi, his range was extensive and perfectly enunciated . Replicating his high pitched tones, Sue had asked Ravi’s mother the meaning of “behn chud.” A subdued explanation about something sexual with a sister followed.
“I have Lithuanians, Arabs, Malaysians and a Vietnamese and they all say the same.” Sue was not sure how reassured Mum was to hear that there were similar expressions in all languages.
“What do we know about touching our face?” She said re-wiping the table.
“Ba! Ba! Ba!” Ravi bleated, dropping the final d of bad as usual.
“And now ? …”
“ appy ..thday. ” He clapped his hands.
“Fantastic”.
As she ushered Ravi to the bathroom, the midriff bulge of Sue ‘s Hazmat swished against the corner of the table. As Ravi washed his hands, they sang Happy Birthday together.
Sue prided herself she had cleaned and disinfected bowl, turntable and microwave precisely according to specialist COVID training.
“Start again?” Ravi looked at that her reassurance.
Five 30 second beeps, a stir and 2 more beeps later and the porridge was ready. Success! For the first time, Ravi had done it all himself, with no prompting, no encouragement.
“Seeya , Seeya, Seeya” Ravi was grinning with pride as he gave his usual farewell greeting.
Sue took off the suit , gloves, and mask and dropped them in the medical waste bin outside his flat
Walking home later on the deserted streets Sue pondered the assignment’s structure. Most likely she would work it into the last paragraph… that one person’s Coronavirus fear is another person’s culinary success.
