MONSTERVIRUS

Hi there, my name is Ellie! I live in Portland, Oregon and I am in first grade and I go to Sunnyside Elementary. My best friend’s name is Molly, she is my neighbor.

Today was just a regular day. I got up, got dressed, and headed off to school. After school, I played outside with my friend, Molly. Later, I ate dinner and went to bed. As I was lying there, I thought about the great day I had with Molly. I can’t wait to see her again tomorrow!

The next day, I woke up and told my mom how excited I was to see Molly! Mom seemed down and she told me schools, stores, and parks are closed because there is a virus going around making everybody sick! Mom says this means I can’t play with Molly for a very long time. I’m so upset!

My Mom told me things are going to be different for a while. She says “your schoolwork is going to be online. We have to wear masks that cover our nose and mouth when we go out. Some mommies and daddies have lost their jobs and will be at home more. Also, we must sanitize and wash our hands A LOT!”

Today, my mom and I are headed to the grocery store. Mom says “we need to wear our masks when we go to the store. Also, make sure you aren’t touching everything so we don’t spread any germs or bring any germs home”. I put on my mask and held my mom’s hand while we were in the store. I whispered in my mom’s ear “I don’t like this mask, it’s itchy and my face is hot!” Mom said “I am sorry sweetie, but we have to wear them to keep ourselves and others safe from the virus. We will be done soon”. I sighed and we finished the rest of our shopping.

When we got home from the store, mom started sanitizing everything we had just bought. I asked, “why are you cleaning all the food?” She replied, “we have to disinfect everything to make sure there aren’t any germs, now please go wash your hands”. I washed my hands and went to my room to play.

All these changes have been scary and stressful for my mom and I. It is tough not seeing my friends and doing school at home is difficult. I feel trapped! I love spending extra time with my mom but she is worried about her job and wonders when she will go back to work.

I am getting bored! Being stuck at home is hard! I told my mom “I miss Molly and I miss seeing grandma and grandpa!” Mom suggested “Hey, I have a great idea! Why don’t we set up video calls with them this week!” I replied “that sounds great, thanks, mom!

Most nights when I lay in bed, I think about the virus. I call it the MONSTER-VIRUS! You can’t see it, but it’s out there, changing everything and making some people really really sick! Everything is different and I’m afraid. I just want this virus to go away! I decided I would find a way to slay the Monster-virus! But how? I snuggle close to my teddy, I am going to start my plan tomorrow.

The next morning I told Mom about my fear of the MONSTER-VIRUS.  She reminded me that there are many things to be thankful for. She reminded me “we are safe at home, not stuck at home”.  We can still go for walks outside, play games, do puzzles, color, watch movies, cook, read books, and video call our family and friends! I told Mom, I’m still scared!  She said, she’d help me with my plan to slay the Virus!

I ran downstairs and grabbed my colored pencils and a notebook and started brainstorming! Mom and I came up with a few ideas. In order to slay the monster-virus, we’ll stay six feet away from others, wear a face mask when we go outside, sanitize, and wash our hands when we come inside. I also decided I wanted to draw pictures for people for when they go on walks like mom and I do.  That way we can keep the virus out of our house and put smiles on the neighbors’ faces! I told my mom “I’m going to become a monster-slaying hero!”

Once my plan was complete, I video called Molly to tell her about how she can help slay the monster-virus, too! I told her the ideas that mom and I came up with and Molly said that she and her family were doing those things too! Molly also told me she is going to draw pictures to put in her windows just like me. If we all do our part to slay the Monster-virus it will have nowhere to live and it will have to leave us all alone!

All these changes have been scary and it has been hard to stay inside, but there are many families with the same feelings. We are not alone and our feelings are normal. If we all stay six feet away from others, wear our face masks, sanitize, and wash our hands then we will  SLAY THE MONSTER-VIRUS and FINALLY BE FREE!