By Sara Casalino (2020) Honey: (talking to Crystal) Can you believe that all the toilet paper and hand sanitizer is gone? I would pay a lot of money to have them! Crystal: I wonder if Silver has some. She runs a medical office, so I’m sure it’s well stocked. Honey: Let’s go over and see. Silver’s medical office Silver: Hey guys, things are crazy around here with the virus. Are you the volunteers they sent me to help with the sick? Honey: No, we were wondering if you had any toilet paper or hand sanitizer. Silver: I do, but I need it for my office. People are getting sick and supplies are running out. Crystal: You said you needed help here. We’d be happy to help out. What can we do? Silver: First, wash your hands for 20 seconds. Then put on these gloves, mask, and this poncho. Honey: A poncho? But it’s not raining. Silver: We ran out of scrubs, so we’re using ponchos instead. Oh, and try to stay 6 feet away from everyone if you can. Crystal: What do you need us to do? Silver: We’re going to administer tests. There’s a long line of people waiting to be tested. They may or may not have the virus. If the result is negative, send them home. If the result is positive, bring them to the quarantine room. In a dark warehouse Onyx: (sitting at a table in a dark room) You may enter. (A timid-looking boy, Litmus, enters) Apex: You may approach. (Litmus walks into the light, under the only lightbulb in the room.) Litmus: Why is it so dark in here? Apex: Don’t ask questions. What do you want? Litmus: I ran out of toilet paper. Do you have some? Onyx: We have plenty. What kind of toilet paper do you need? Litmus: Any kind. I’m not picky. Onyx: The toilet paper I was able to get are the crazy kinds. I have one with smiley faces all over it. Litmus: I don’t care as long as it’s toilet paper. Onyx: Bring out a roll. Apex: Here it is. (Puts it on the table) Litmus: Why does this place look like an interrogation room? Apex: We ask the questions here, not you. Onyx: This roll will cost you. Litmus: How much? Onyx: I want a batch of cinnamon rolls. Litmus: But I don’t know how to cook! Onyx: Then go and learn! Doesn’t your sister know how? Ask her to teach you. Litmus: Okay, can I have my roll now? Onyx: Give him the roll, and keep your distance. Apex: I’ll use the stick. (He puts the toilet paper roll on a long selfie stick and gets it to Litmus.) Litmus: Thank you! (Runs away happily.) Apex: Next person! Enter! Silver: I need the strongest hand sanitizer you got. Apex: Stay where you are! You’re the doctor! You’ve been around sick people all day! We want you to stay 12 feet away at all times! Silver: I wanted to send one of my assistants, but none of them were willing to come. They were afraid. Onyx: Afraid of what? Silver: Afraid of this dark warehouse. They’re afraid of ghosts. Onyx: This place is not haunted. Trust me on that. I had it checked by ghost-hunters. Silver (sarcastic) How resourceful of you to get rid of something that doesn’t exist! Onyx: So why are you here? Silver: I want to make sure I don’t get sick. I’m the town doctor, and if I go, then everyone goes. Everyone would be on their own. Onyx: You have a point there. Since you’re the doctor, I’ll give you everything for free. Apex: But why? Onyx: Shut up and do as I ask! Give her all the best hand sanitizer bottles we got. Give her the sanitizing shampoo and the sanitizing sprays as well. Apex: But the whole point of this endeavor was to make money! Onyx: We can’t make dirty money! We need to help the only doctor we have! Apex: Fine! (He puts everything into a large suitcase) Silver: Thank you! I’ll pay you back later with free medical services and medicines. Honey: I’d like a roll of toilet paper, please. Apex: We have different colors. Honey: Really? Okay, I’ll take the polka-dot one. Apex: What are you willing to trade? Honey: Well, I am the town archivist. Maybe I could help you find archives of your ancestors. Apex: Why would I want to do that? Honey: Don’t you want to know your history? Apex: It’s not my history. It’s other people’s history. People I’ve never met! Honey: (shakes her head) Some people just don’t get it! Apex: I’ve got a better idea. How about going on a date? Honey: With who? Apex: With me, of course! Honey: No, I’m leaving. (turns away) Apex: Wait! I’ll give you two rolls! Honey: (turns back and smiles) Give me five and we have a deal. Apex: It’s a deal! (Dusk enters.) Onyx: What is this little boy doing here? Dusk: Hello, I would like to sell you some hand sanitizer for your black market business. Apex: Go away, you little twerp! (Onyx holds up a hand) Onyx: Wait, let’s hear him out. Dusk’s small size allows him to get into secret places. Perhaps he has a good stash. Dusk: (holds out a small suitcase) I’ve got tiny bottles of the best sanitizer in here. They’re perfect for traveling and for hiding. Nobody can steal your sanitizer if they don’t know where it is. Onyx: Let me see. (He opens the small suitcase and sees tiny bottles of 100% alcohol sanitizer with different scents.) Do you make this stuff yourself? Dusk: Yes, me and my schoolmates prepared it. And Flavia designed the labels. (The label says: Annihilavirus) Onyx: Isn’t that brand name a little long? Dusk: Well, I wanted to name it Crush Corona, but Flavia said this sounded much stronger. Onyx: How much do you want for this Annihilavirus? Dusk: I only ask for one thing. I have a specific list. Apex: Why do you have a list if there’s only one thing on it? Onyx: Shhh! Let’s hear him out. I find him very intriguing. He’s smart for one so young. Dusk: I want the key to the city. Apex: What?! How can you ask for something like that?! Onyx: And why do you want that? Dusk: So I can get juicy details whenever I wish. I can hide in the air shaft and listen in on political conversations. Onyx: But don’t you know that city hall meetings are open to the public? Dusk: Yes, but I want to hear what they say when the public’s not there. Onyx: You got yourself a deal, little man! We will get that key for you. Apex: What is this world coming to? That little boy is a blackmailer, and you’re about to give him power to keep blackmailing people! Onyx: I really admire him. He’s the strangest but craftiest little boy I’ve ever seen! And how can I say no to that face? Apex: (grumbles) If you keep this up, I’ll start my own black market business. Later… (At night, Alumine (the medical assistant) is sitting outside the medical office, crying) Apex: What’s the matter? Why are you crying? Alumine: Things are spiraling out of control with this virus. We’ve run out of face masks at the medical office. Silver is working overtime, poor thing, and I fear she will get sick. All the healers are in danger! Apex: Well, you’re in luck. I’ve got a deal for washable face masks. Me and my people have been sewing nonstop to make these. Alumine: (stops crying) Can I see one? Apex: Of course. Here’s one I made today. Alumine: (smiles) Where did you learn to sew? Apex: I got Flavia the seamstress to teach me. Alumine: How many of these can you make in a day? Apex: Why, I’ll make as many as you wish! It takes an hour to make 10 of them. Alumine: Then get your sewing machines ready, I want 100 masks as soon as you have them. Apex: I’ll get to work right away. Now, about the payment… Alumine: Of course, how much? Apex: I would like someone to make my meals and deliver food to me three times a day. Alumine: That’s quite the sum. Heron often is the cook at the medical office, so I’ll talk with her and have her arrange your meals. Apex: Great! I just want to eat good food again! Since my brother got sick, there is no one to cook our food anymore. Alumine: (laughs) Well, you could always learn. I mean, you did learn to sew. What if we have Heron teach you to cook? I mean, if she got sick, then you’d have no one to bring you meals. Apex: True! Okay, I’ll exchange the face masks for some cooking lessons. Deal? Alumine: Deal! I’ll talk to Heron and we’ll make a chef out of you. Note: I got the inspiration for this story from a video by Lilly Singh. It's the health dealer portion, which begins at 3 minutes 30 seconds.
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