Edwin P.O.V.
It is early to mid-March, and it seems that the weather seems to be improving, but only by five degrees.
The past few weeks, my lab's research has been fine, we have been close to finishing a paper on our lichen genetics research to be published.
Jasiri's work in the fossil preparation lab is going well, Makini and Beshte have been seeing each other since that game night a few weeks back and are now officially dating.
So far things seem to be doing alright….except that the spread of coronavirus has become much more rampant across the world. It came to the extent that Jasiri and I each know one or two people who have tested positive to the virus.
There has been panic that has been visible in people's grocery tendencies…the stores have been running low on toilet paper recently.
Also, several public places have been closing indefinitely, along with spring and summer festivals getting canceled.
Recently, Jasiri and I have been getting suspicious about what will happen with the museum.
Anyway, it's a typical Wednesday evening. Jasiri and I both returned to our apartment. Immediately after we came in, Jasiri made a beeline to the bathroom to take a shower, while I went to our bedroom to change into some more comfortable clothes, which consisted of black sweatpants and a gray T-shirt. After this, I washed my hands and started to boil water for the pasta we are going to have for dinner. While what was going on, I was also listening to a podcast on my phone.
It is getting darker out, so I assume that Jasiri will be changing into her anthro hyena form anytime soon.
I heard two rings from my phone indicating thatI was receiving emails.
Several minutes passed and I finished putting some oregano and garlic cloves in the sauce that I am making. And with the water starting to boil, I grabbed a box of Orecchiette to pour into the boiling pot of water.
As I was boiling the pasta and stirring the sauce, when Jasiri, in her anthro hyena form, came into the kitchen wearing a lavender shirt and black pants.
She had a nervous and serious look on her face.
"Edwin! I just got an email from the museum administration. Because of the seriousness of the spread of the coronavirus, the Field Museum is being closed indefinitely until the spread dies down." Jasiri said.
"Wait-what?!" I blurted before starting to look at my phone.
"Yeah, I think I heard on the news that it's basically a pandemic now. There will be meetings of all departments to determine what course of action to take before officially closing the museum into some 'transition period' before it is safe to reopen. After Friday, we're getting a two-week 'vacation' before transition is figured out. Plus, since there will be no tourists entering the museum, there will be budget cuts affecting many departments, including mine, that will have the potential to literally cut salaries in half." Jasiri nervously said.
"Aw man, I see it here. I got the same email; my department is affected too!" I replied with my nerves in rapid fire at the moment and every possible thought just zooming by in my brain right now.
Like, our salaries are going to get cut in half. How does that affect our ability to pay our rent, how does that affect our ability to pay bills. Or what about groceries, do I have to make another larger pot of pasta to last throughout the week. What the fuck is going to happen to us. Are we going to end up on some psychological rabbit hole that will end in some version of rock bottom….and….and…
"Edwin? Edwin?! Are you okay? You were in a trance there for a second…." Jasiri asked me in a nervous yet calmer tone.
"Oh yeah….it's…it's just….I'm just concerned about the uncertainty this places both of us and almost everybody we know. I'm just nervous. I just don't know what is going to happen to us with us being in the midst of the pandemic and such." I replied just having an agitated yet depressed demeanor and tone, with a facial expression to match as I began to lean on a kitchen counter near the stove.
"It's okay. I'm nervous too. I'm not sure what is going on nor what is going to happen. I'm also worried about the financial obstacles this may cause. But it's going to be okay, we have each other." Jasiri said, trying to put a positive spin on this situation.
"Yeah, we have each other. And possibly because of the indefinite cuts to our salaries, perhaps we can try to find side jobs to make some extra money. For example, perhaps I can see if I am eligible to help out with COVID testing stations with my genetics and molecular bio background. Also, perhaps I can also provide online tutoring services to students as a way to make some extra money. Or who knows, perhaps I can even teach for a little bit. I was a TA for a portion of grad school." I replied, but in a calmer tone while Jasiri and I started to hold each other.
"Okay, that sounds like a good idea. And I can do the same, trying to see if there are tutoring opportunities available online, or try to help scientific illustration jobs, online curation, specialists, review papers or even also teach because like you, Also did a little TA work to help with grad school." Jasiri said.
"Yeah, as long as we are there for each other, that's all that matters. I will commit to my part to make sure that we communicate with each other and keep an eye out for each other." I said in a more reassuring tone.
"Yeah, I will make sure to fulfill my share of communication too." Jasiri said.
"I guess later we can- oh shit, I forgot about the sauce and pasta!" I said, as I headed to the stove to check on the pots.
Soon after that, Jasiri and I ate our dinner and discussed both what happened during our days along with what is going on with the COVID-19 pandemic. We've been getting messages left, right and sideways, including from colleagues, friends and family members.
After dinner, Jasiri and I just relaxed on the couch to watch some TV for the rest of the night.
The next day or two has mostly been conferences in planning on the type of work we are going to do during the transition period. For example, one component of mine and my colleagues research will be mostly analyzing qtPCR results online of samples the lab has collected over the years that have been stored in a lab and department-based database. I will also be analyzing old sample chromatograms, along with old PCR data, papers and other analyses. Jasiri's lab has faced similar alterations, with her work being changed to writing papers, analyzing photographs of specimens, helping facilitate communication between her lab, the museum, other museums, paleontologists and archaeologists to discuss specimens among them and how that relates to the species they once belonged to.
Our lunch break was full of frantic discussion about the uncertainty of what's going to become of all our jobs during this 'at-home' transition period. In fact, it's so stressful that Kiara and Kovu even joined us at our usual table. Almost all of our salaries have been cut to either half of what they were or three-quarters of what it was.
So far, the only one of us whose job has not changed significantly is Beshte and others in the security department, their only change is that they have less work outside of surveillance and they have to be at least six feet apart from each other.
After that, we had a two week 'vacation' before we started work again through a virtual format, with communications with our colleagues mostly being done through this app called Zoom. I never heard of it before, but apparently my sister told me that she has used it before with long-distance business conferences. It was confusing at first but I eventually got the hang of it. At least with these, there is a lower risk of anyone contracting COVID compared to if we still had in-person meetings at the time.
Over a month has passed by since we started to work at home. Now whenever Jasiri and I go outside, we have to wear surgical masks, this at least helps lower the risk of spreading COVID and other potential diseases to other people.
Now it's a Saturday afternoon in mid-April. Jasiri and I were just doing some chores around the apartment, you know like laundry, washing dishes, groceries, taking out trash and other stuff. After getting those chores out of the way, we decided to workout with one another in the living room. Since we can't afford Peloton or other brand name stationary bikes, we purchased these cheap bike stands online that help convert our personal bicycles into makeshift stationary bikes.
We then sat down on the couch drenched in our own sweat.
"Man, that was intense." I said between breaths.
"I know right? I think I beat my personal record on the amount of time and distance I traveled compared to last time." Jasiri replied.
"Yeah, so did I. Though I need to check my phone because I think I heard some text and email tones coming from my phone." I said as I got up to look at my phone that was charging at the nearby coffee table.
"Man Jasiri, I've just received several more requests for weekend tutoring sessions." I said.
"Really? I should check to see if I have any new ones too!" Jasiri said.
Recently since the worldwide health emergency declaration of COVID-19 and our museum research being reduced to online and remote tasks, Jasiri and I have been taking weekend virtual tutoring and side jobs to make extra money. For example, I occasionally help with COVID testing sites, and I have been tutoring people ranging from elementary school students to undergrad biochem/biology students in subjects ranging from biochemistry, biology, chemistry, algebra, trigonometry, and French. Jasiri has several weekend side jobs including reviewing papers for geology and paleontology magazines and publishing, alongside tutoring gigs to make some extra money just like I do. She also does tutoring in STEM areas like I do, but she also hosts tutoring and classes in Swahili, Spanish and even virtual art lessons for interested individuals.
"Yeah, I've gotten several of them too. And I thought that the past two weeks have been mentally draining." Jasiri said, letting out a sigh beforehand.
"I know right? When are we ever going to catch a real break?" I replied.
The next week or two passed by pretty routine in regard to the tasks we are doing. But even if everything seems to go well work and side-work wise, we are both mentally exhausted.
Then one Saturday, I came back from the grocery store since it was my turn to do groceries for that week. I walked through the door, closed it and placed the bag down briefly to take off my mask. And I started to head to the kitchen to put away the groceries.
"Hey Jasiri, I'm home. I'm putting away the groceries if you need me." I said loudly.
I then heard footsteps with Jasiri, in her human form, coming to the kitchen to see me unbag the groceries. She had an exhausted expression on her face.
"Hi honey, how was your trip?" Jasiri asked calmly.
"That store was a nightmare today, I swear the lines were so long and there were empty shelves in some aisles. I managed to get the last case of toilet paper, and for some stuff like garlic powder and paprika, they were out of our usual brands so I just got the store br- Jas are you okay?" I said as I paused from putting groceries away to check up on Jasiri.
"Yeah, it's just that…just that…..who am I kidding me ... .I'm exhausted, all ways stressed and just…just…burned out frankly. I've had to host five tutoring Zoom conferences and still have more to do tomorrow. I just don't know when or even if this is going to end. Almost all the things that I did to manage my stress are gone. I can't work on specimens in my lab with Makuu, go to the gym or out for jogs, or even go out with friends. Though yes, sometimes I talk with them through Zoom but it's not the same. Sometimes I wonder why I even fucking exist. Who knew that human existence was going to lead to this. There are some days where I just wonder whether or not it would have been better if I just died in that drought with my sister and…" Jasiri said in a depressed tone, raising her voice after each sentence. I was just shocked at the last part of what she said. It seems that she entered a dark place and I need to help her out of it.
"Jas, Jas, Jas….come here, come here. Let's talk. You don't mean the last thing you said, do you?" I asked as I grabbed her hand and led the both of us to the couch.
"Well I…I….I don't know, I guess recently I don't really know what to think anymore ... .I'm just gettin sick of this routine, the constant extra work, and especially the isolation. I guess that aspects of my life that once had some degree of certainty no longer are certain anymore. I've just been really questioning myself a lot recently. Like what exactly is my purpose of existing? Why did I survive the drought and chaos of the Outlands while the others didn't? All that survival just to be trapped at home all day glued to a computer screen all day. What's the point of it all?" Jasiri said as she then placed her hands on her face.
"It's okay Jasiri. Look at me, look at me. You are one of…if not the strongest person I have ever met. You deserve every one of your accomplishments. Based on what I was told by both you and the other former Pride Landers, there were not really many ways to control or determine who was going to die or survive. You survived because you are strong and determined. I'm not saying that those who passed away weren't strong and determined, that's not what I am trying to say. The point is that you have gone through so much, but you are still standing getting through every one of those challenges, and I am certain you are going that you ... .actually I mean we ... .are going to go through this together. I will always be here for you whenever you need someone to talk to when you have days that are tougher than others." I said trying to comfort Jasiri
"Also with the pandemic, I totally understand how you feel. The isolation sometimes drives me crazy too! I also miss being in the lab, going out with friends or going for a jog. That's kinda why I have been overly excited or obsessed with either exercising, grocery shopping and cleaning around the house. All the extra tutoring gigs I host on weekends and some week nights are pretty exhausting. Doing preparations for these sessions is basically homework. Gives me flashbacks to my school days ranging from elementary school to grad school." I said.
"I know right. For a while, I was getting flashbacks to middle school and high school! Plus I understand being obsessed with the grocery store. It's almost like a scavenger hunt to find each item on our list, one of the few sources of screenless entertainment since the pandemic started." Jasiri said.
We just continued to talk to each other for hours and just expressed our emotions about the uncertainty the pandemic is bringing to both our lives and the entire world.
Outside of remote work we do for our jobs and the occasional tutoring sessions we host for extra money, we still have virtual Human-Hybrid Alliance meetings every other Friday night. Though the first twenty minutes to half hour almost always consists of us helping Rafiki trying to figure out Zoom. Also there have been some cases where Jasiri and I started a group and Zoom chat with couples that we know to check up on each other's lives during the pandemic. These chats typically include couples such as Kendall and Jamal, Kovu and Kiara, Makini and Beshte, Fabian and Anga, Timon and Gary, occasionally my mom and Nala, and Twiga and her boyfriend were initially there for the first two or three chats but after that they ended up breaking up due to to each of them wanting different things out of their relationship. Based on what it looks like, it seems like most people we know have also experienced similar emotional and occupational obstacles as us since the lockdowns. We have also discussed stuff about other people we know and how they seem to be fairing the pandemic. In fact, we all know a few people who either tested positive or have been sick with COVID.
During one day in late April, I was analyzing some data on several Excel spreadsheets when all of the sudden Jasiri placed a small store-bought chocolate cupcake with a small unlit candle in it. I looked at the cupcake and then turned towards Jasiri behind me and told me Happy Birthday. I was confused at first, but then I realized that today was the 28th, also known as my birthday. I completely forgot my own birthday. Can't believe I'm 29 now. But to be fair, my birthday has never been a really a big deal in my life anyway. I thought it was pretty sweet that Jasiri remembered it. I should plan something nice to do for her birthday next week.
The next week, when Jasiri's birthday came up, I decided to make her breakfast in bed. It consisted of a spinach and tomato omelet, two slices of whole wheat toast, a small bowl of fruit and a cup of yerba mate tea. It's not five-star hotel level but she seemed to have enjoyed it.
Later that night, I started setting up two easels, a canvas for each of us and some paint trays, along with a tarp on the floor to prevent any paint stains from getting on the floor. Earlier that week, I asked Jasiri if she wanted to do anything special for her birthday, and she said that she wanted to spend some time together and we agreed to try out painting on canvas since neither of us have really done that in a while. So, Jasiri came into the living room, in her anthro hyena form, in some comfortable clothes. We took seats by our individual canvases to start painting as we played calm music from my Spotify account. Two hours have passed before we placed down our brushes and showed each other what we painted.
Jasiri showed me hers first. She had painted a very intricate landscape which included an oasis in the middle of a forest, surrounded by trees, other plants, and several large rocks. There was also a small waterfall to the left of the body of water. The plants and water in the painting had such meticulous details. It looked amazing, but that doesn't surprise me knowing Jasiri's hobbies and interests in the visual arts.
"Wow Jas! This looks amazing!" I told her.
"Thanks Ed! With all that has been going on with the pandemic and such, I just wanted to paint something calm. I remembered that during dry seasons in the Outlands, Madoa, a younger me, and other hyenas in our clan, used to fantasize about occasionally sneaking away to an oasis in the jungle that we can stay in to cool and hydrate ourselves before returning to the Outlands for wet season. But we were never able to do it in real life when I was younger because it was at a time when hyenas were still not welcomed in the Outlands…..Man it's been a while since that memory came up." Jasiri said.
"Interesting…I've never heard that story before." I replied.
"Okay Edwin, let's see your painting!" Jasiri said cheerfully.
I turned around my canvas which displayed just an abstract painting with multicolored concentric squares and triangles. I am not exactly the best painter. I'm not horrible but I'm nowhere near Jasiri's level of detail and artistic skill. So I just decided to do a geometric piece because if I attempted to paint a landscape or portrait, it would have looked like a fifth grader painted mostly consists of squares and triangles in varying colors on a black background.
"Cool, I see you went for a more geometric piece. I didn't know you were into geometric and abstract art." Jasiri said.
"Well yes and no. Yes, because I do find abstract art interesting, but I predominantly chose to paint this specific piece because I am not particularly good with landscapes or portraits. Whenever I tried them, they looked pretty rudimentary. You've seen me and when I try drawing people, the fingers of the person I draw look more sausage than human. You've seen me at Telestrations and Pictionary." I replied letting out a light laugh afterwards.
Jasiri just let out a laugh after this.
"Oh come on, don't underestimate yourself. You are not a bad artist. Kiara on the other hand, she's a terrible drawer and painter. Remember her rounds of Telestrations? So don't worry, you are not the worst artist I know." Jasiri said.
"Also, Ed?" Jasiri asked.
"Yeah Jas?" I asked back.
"Thank you. This has honestly been the best birthday I have had in a while. It's nice to finally get some time with just the two of us outside of our work and screens. Along with just the opportunity to be able to talk and do stuff with each other." Jasiri replied.
"Yeah, I do too." I said.
After an hour or more of talking as our paintings dried, I started to put away the easels and paints after we finished, going to sleep right afterwards since we both have work tomorrow.
With all that's going on in the world right now, it is nice to have those occasional calm nights when we can just have each other.
Outside of that, I am honestly unsure when this pandemic is going to last, I hope that a stable vaccine will be found eventually. I wonder what is going to happen with us, people in Chicago, Illinois, the US and the whole world considering how this year has started.