#107 疫中情 // Love in Pandemic

2021 01 19

作者 Article by Wilson Loo

安省頒佈『居家令』差不多一個禮拜, 笨驢站在屋簷下, 望著空無一人的街道, 車影也鮮見, 笨驢愁眉深鎖, 不禁嘆一口氣。小天使正在光禿的樹枝上跟松鼠追逐,停了下來, 走到笨驢面前, 問『怎麼樣啦?』

笨驢唉了一聲, 曰:『不是嗎。安省新症每日高踞三千以上差不多兩禮拜了, 以為寄望疫苗, 誰不知藥廠近幾星期要減低供應過半, 一方面醫院新冠病人泛濫, 深切治療部額滿見遺,醫護人員疲於奔命, 心力交瘁, 另一方面百多人聚集示威, 不理帶口罩, 社交距離的防疫措施, 反對居家令, 抗議自由受到剝削...我真的不太明白...』

小天使無言以對。良久。曰:『其實也真的很多有心人呀。在電視見到醫護人員的專業精神, 實在叫人心悅誠服; 學校老師, 幼兒日托的工作者, 超市的前線人員, 速遞服務員,還有很多...』

笨驢想起電視新聞很多正能量的報導,忘記剛才的牢騷, 面容稍微放鬆, 對小天使道: 『就在前一晚有個被稱為『新冠皮禮士利』的男仕, 不但打扮十足『貓王』的模樣, 舉手投足, 聲線表情, 也幾可亂真, 看他駕著車, 載著音響器材, 停在老人院前面, 拿著咪, 唱著貓王的名曲。院內的老人, 擁到窗前, 跟著唱,拍著手掌, 暫時忘記疫症帶來的孤單。『貓王』拿出自己所有的, 貢獻出來, 為疫情添一分溫暖, 添一分歡笑. 』

小天使曰:『對啊, 每人盡一分力, 世界多些歡笑, 自己也開心一些, 何樂而不為呀!』

跟著執起一堆雪,朝著笨驢掟出一個弧形球, 笨驢閃避不及,給打個正著, 好不狼狽。笨驢拔足追打小天使, 小天使邊跑邊唸著他最愛的聖經章節:『虛空的虛空, 凡事都是虛空....這些事都已聽見了, 總意就是敬畏神, 謹守祂的誡命, 這是人所當盡的本份。因為人所作的事,連一切隱藏的事, 無論是善是惡,神都必審問。』

Ontario has implemented its “stay home” order for nearly one week. Stubborn donkey stood under the eaves, staring at the empty street-no people, no car. He frowned and sighed. Little angel was chasing the squirrel on the bare tree branches. But he stopped and came to stubborn donkey. “What is it?” Little angel asked.

Stubborn donkey gave another sigh. “Is it not so? Ontario has more than 3000 new cases of Covid-19 every day for nearly two weeks now. So much hope was laid on the vaccines, but now, the manufacturer of the vaccine will cut down its supply by over one-half for the coming weeks. Hospitals are flooded with Covid-19 patients. Intensive care units are overflowing. Medical and nursing staff have their plates so full that they can hardly cope. But on the other hand, more than one hundred people are gathering, without masks, and not following social distancing rules, demonstrating against the “ stay home” order, protesting that their freedom has been curtailed.......I really don’t quite understand...”

Little angel could find no word to answer. After a long pause, little angel said, “ well, but there are also some really nice and kind-hearted people out there, aren’t there? We can see the professionalism of the medical and nursing staff at work; the school teachers, the daycare workers, the supermarket staff, the courier, and many more...”

Stubborn donkey suddenly remembered there were indeed many positive news he saw on TV. He put aside his frustration, felt a bit more relaxed, and said to little angel, “ Yes, actually there was a man nick-named “ Covid Elvis” in the TV news report last night. Not only is his clothing and make-up so Elvis-like, even his expression, movement and voices are so Elvis, it looks like Elvis is reborn. This Covid Elvis drove his car, filled with AV equipment, and visited senior homes and long-term care facilities around the province. He laid out his equipment, held out his microphone, and sang out Elvis’ favourite tunes. The seniors gathered in front of their windows, clapping and singing with him, and forgot their loneliness during the pandemic, at least for the moment. Covid Elvis used his talent to make the seniors happy. His work added a tinge of warmth in the pandemic, resulting in more laughter.”

Little angel said, “True, if everyone contributes one’s effort, there would be more laughter and happiness in the world. And one would be more happy oneself too. Like killing two birds with one stone!”

Little angel picked up some snow, rolled it into a snowball and threw a curveball at stubborn donkey. Stubborn donkey did not duck in time was hit hard and started to chase after little angel.

Little angel recited his favorite Bible passage as he tried to escape, “Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless...Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”