County Clare 2020: A Day in
My Life
Creative Writing Competition for children and teenagers
Winner of 13 to 15 category
County
Clare 2020: A Day in My Life
by Jack Rush
I pray and hope you are keeping well and living in a pandemic free world. Currently I'm basking in the hot sunlight in my relaxing living room. The table is a battle ground, covered with a debris of modern literature, mind aching mathematics and brightly colored pens and pencils. The soft hum of the oven buzzes throughout the kitchen accompanied by the warm comforting scent of freshly baking scones. I am not tied down with order and schedules, I make my own routine. The whole break from discipline has really settled me in a way, and my anxiety for the whole situation is zilch. I exercise daily and go for long runs through the Burren with my father. In a way the quarantine was a blessing, the perfect paradise.
However, every night as we watch the news, it is like a punch in the stomach as we are sternly reminded that this is a global pandemic, killing thousands, I watched wide eyed as mass graves were dug in America and people became statistics. Our Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and minister for health Simon Harris are doing an amazing job at putting the population at ease, I for one, thought that his Saint Patrick's Day speech was very moving. Would you believe that over in America Donald Trump asked everyone to drink disinfectant and Inject themselves with bleach to eradicate the virus from their system. Christ, I was completely and utterly shocked. It's downright inhuman.
Where we live is quiet and scenic, we don’t worry as much as other people and for that I'm thankful, I train constantly for my All Ireland race and have reaped the benefits. The one thing that I just downright hate is the fact that it's so lonely constantly kicking ball by yourself,. I really miss the lads, don’t get me wrong, I still talk to them, however it's just not the same. I miss the team sports and dare I say it, school. I know you will think I'm crazy for saying this but in my opinion, life is boring without rules and discipline. It makes me sick and upset the lack of contact with my friends and some days I'm longing for school to be back, most importantly I miss the premier league and the sport played across the globe. I miss the dazzling lights of Cusack Park and supporting Manchester United. I miss sport dearly and I vow to treasure even the two worst teams playing against each other in the future.
On a lighter note, I cut my hair recently I walked into the bathroom a teenage
schoolboy and walked out a gang member from Mountjoy prison! I still burst
out laughing when I think of the look on everyone's face, they all stared
and gawped in awe, their eyes practically bulged out of their sockets. I watched
the whole Tiger King series to escape the misery of lockdown. It was spectacular
and still hard for me to wrap my head around. The one thing this lockdown
has taught me is (A) never cut your own hair and most importantly (B) always
be thankful for others especially the healthcare workers and shopkeepers constantly
putting themselves at risk for the benefit of others. We must never give up.
And when you read this, I hope you smile at the recollection of the time you
spent with your family and focus on those occasions when you weren't killing
each other and fighting over the smallest of things. Most importantly, when
you read this, you must reflect on the lives cut miserably short and pray
for the victims of the virus, especially the people with no next of kin.
Yours
Jack
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