There was a small window of opportunity.
Harley had messaged me to say he and the boys were meeting tonight under the bridge at 10pm.
We’d been in isolation for the past three weeks, and it was driving us nuts being locked up at home and sharing the house 24/7 with parents and siblings.
We were all aware of the constant advertising telling us to stay home, especially as we were now into the Easter weekend, and there was only so much Netflix and or streaming you could stand. There had been moments when I considered reading a book, but I wasn’t sure my parents could cope with me and a book spending time together.
Mum and dad had been strict about enforcing the social isolation. They stressed time and time again why we had to adhere to the policy. But my mates and I knew if we could get together once over Easter, it would make the weekend bearable.
At 9.30, I got myself ready, unlocked my bedroom window and was silently grateful I had a room to myself. Earlier I had ‘borrowed’ a six-pack from my dad’s bar fridge and was all ready to go when I heard the staccato beep from Harley’s VW.
Once in the car, I high fived him, and with a sense of adventure and excitement, we headed off in the direction of the river.
There was very little traffic as most people were observing the stay at home edict. We were on the watch for the police as they could pull us up and question why we were out.
As luck would have it, we saw no one and arrived at the river. We parked well away from the bridge and made our way along the riverbank. Under the bridge, there was a small fire burning, and around it was huddled, Casey and Todd.
We joined them, and soon we were enjoying our beers and catching up, not that there was a lot to catch up on.
After a few drinks what usually happened was, we got a bit louder. That was our undoing.
Next thing we knew there were lights, voices, commands and flashing lights.
“Well boys,” said the policeman, “not much social distancing happening here, lighting a fire on public grounds and disobeying the stay at home order. I’m sure you’ve got a good explanation?”
Our plans to escape, if only for a while, had been thwarted.
Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2020/04/09/tale-weaver-270-escape-9th-april/
Morpethroad 
I can commiserate with the boys wholeheartedly. My best friend (also a septuagenarian) haven’t seen each other for 2 weeks. We’re so desperate, we’re planning a breakout to each drive to Maccas for a takeaway coffee and chips or raisin toast and park next to each other in the carpark 🤗🍟☕
What about facetime? Its tough times isn’t it. Take care of you Lyn.
My friend is a bit techno challenged. Yes, it’s tough times, but others are doing it tougher. My daughter-in-law works in a childcare centre and one of the kids tested positive. Jo tested negative, but was confined to the bedroom for 14 days while my son and grandkids (8 and 9) were confined to the rest of the house. Very scary times, Michael 💕🙏
Certainly is Lyn.
That evil demon, alcohol, thwarts us again! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Yes will get you every time….isn’t thwart a good word!!
I love the word thwart… probably to the point where I overuse it.
That’s the trouble with being stuck at home, our minds wander….even though society thwarts every attempt to be sociable.
Thwarted at our every turn (not sure where that comes from). I find myself regretting the number of post-apocalyptic/dystopian books I read in my youth, for now my writer’s mind constructs the most bizarre scenarios to account for what is happening.
Short term consequences weigh heavier than the long term.
Most certainly
It is tough for youngsters. I see younger boys out they skateboarding and playing.
At night when I walk the dog, no one is around most of the time but on several nights I have seen a group of teens hanging out and think to myself what are their parents thinking.
You have to wonder don’t you?