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In the time of coronavirus

A collection of stories submitted by the public on their experience of living through the time of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives. Globally the scale of human suffering as a consequence of Covid-19 has been very great. Everywhere people are now reflecting on what this major and previously unimaginable global crisis means for us, as individuals, living in the 21st century. This forum offers a space for writers to reflect on their experience in Aotearoa and to consider questions such as: What might we need to remember and preserve? What has been my experience, my observations, how might my priorities have shifted, in a good way, as a result of the lockdowns? If you would like to contribute to the re-collective effort through any of the following life writing formats — journalling, nature writing, memoir, commentary, poetry, notes on work in progress during lockdown… — please make initial contact through my contact page. Next prepare a page of A4 writing, starting in the present moment and moving where you need to into the recent past and forwards from that point, with a title, brief bio, photo (optional) and your contribution will be added to the repository of important writings flowering in this space.

“Securing the memory of COVID-19 is the minimum we owe to each other in the aftermath of this catastrophe.”

Richard Horton, “Covid-19 and the Ethics of memory", The Lancet , 6 June 2020
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Tabby's Plague Diary by Rex McGregor

18/9/2021

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Author bio: Rex McGregor is an Auckland playwright. His short comedies have been produced on four continents from New York and London to Sydney and Chennai. His most popular play, Threatened Panda Fights Back, has been produced over a dozen times. Website: http://www.rexmcgregor.com/
 
Tabby's Plague Diary
A perceptive cat notices changes in her home environment.

TABBY
Something’s up. The big one’s packed the cupboards with food. Much more than I can eat by myself. Hey, maybe she’s getting another cat. With any luck, it’ll be a tom. A live-in mate. That’ll save me from sneaking out at night.

Weeks later and still no joy on the feline companionship front. But the big one’s home a lot more. She’s packing cupboards again. This time, with piles of paper rolls. I remember having fun, unravelling one of those things when I was a kitten. The novelty soon wore off, though. Hey, maybe she knows something I don’t. Am I finally expecting?

No sign of the pitter-patter of tiny paws yet. But the house is bustling. Both the big one and the little one are here all day long. My saucer’s always full. And they keep my bowl topped up with tasty treats. Hey, I hope they aren’t fattening me for slaughter! Surely not. Then again, they are carnivores. When I play with a mouse, I enjoy lulling it into a false sense of security before swallowing it. Better be on my guard. 

Things are getting tense around here. The little one’s throwing tantrums and the big one can’t control her. Unless this is all just an act. To cover their evil designs on me. The big one’s started hiding her face behind a mask. But I still recognize her. She spends an excessive amount of time brewing a dark brown liquid. While she’s out of the kitchen, I’ll take a quick sip from her mug… Yuck! Bitter. There’s no way I’d drink enough of the poison for it to be fatal. I bet she’s refining the recipe to make it more palatable. Then she’ll spike my milk. After I’ve given birth, of course. So she can make a feast of my whole family!

I’ll never be a mother. I don’t have an estrous cycle. Something’s wrong with my reproductive organs. There can’t be a cure. The big one takes me to the vet regularly. I’m sure they’ve tried everything to help me conceive. Perhaps I’ve been unfair. Accusing them of seeking to harm me—when all this time they’ve been praying I’d become pregnant. That explains the extra nourishment, the toy paper rolls, even the little one’s tears. 

They both look miserable. Obviously heartbroken at my infertility. I’ll comfort them. Brush my fur against their legs. Tickle their cheeks with my whiskers. After all they’ve done for me, this is the least I can do.

Follow this link to a Zoom performance by Kira Hoag in Los Angeles: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RUpxHaEsyo&t

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Deborah thanks Rangimarie Kelly and Pikau Digtal for website design and artist Karen Jarvis for her image ‘Writers at the Devonport Library,’ (2023)
Writing Memoir
Defining Memoir
The Participatory Model
Tips on Writing and Posting a Story
​From Writing Course to Book Publication
Your Writing Space
​Writing on a Theme
Reviews of Memoir
Writers Stories
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Events
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Testimonials
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Media
​Contact
Copyright © 2023 Deborah Shepard
  • Home
  • Books
    • The Writing Life >
      • Reviews & Interviews
    • Giving Yourself to Life
    • Her Life's Work
    • Translucence
    • Between The Lives
    • Reframing Women
    • Tributes
    • Personal Writings >
      • Conference Paper
      • Lockdown Journal
      • Travel Journal
      • Elegy for a friend
      • Christchurch - Post Quakes
      • On a residency
      • Deborah’s Love Letter to the Women’s Bookshop
      • Deborah's Q & A With Unity Books
  • Writing Memoir
    • Defining Memoir
    • The Participatory Model
    • Tips on Writing and Posting a Story
    • The Value of a Writing Class
    • From writing course to book publication
    • Your Writing Space
    • Writing on a Theme >
      • Window
      • Surviving a Crisis
    • Reviews of Memoir
  • Writers' stories
    • Writer's Stories
    • Covid-19 Stories
    • Writing Guidelines
    • From Being Mentored to Book Publication
  • Events
  • About
    • Testimonials
    • Media
  • What People Say
  • Contact