Blame Game – Jenny 26

 

[For back story go here: Story so far at 17 Sept 2020.]

[Further back story by following in-links.]

“Of course, it’s all our fault,” said Izzy. “We’re just complacent and stopped following the guidelines.”

“Glad to see you’re taking responsibility,” said Peter, launching into his second slice of toast. “They were very simple guidelines. I trust you’re going to apologise for your part in the Brexit negotiations too?”

“And for our slow internet speed,” murmured Helen, still in pyjamas.

“And the Presidential candidate debate,” added Izzy. “And that he got it.”

“I’ll take that one,” said Peter. “Intensive farming, global warming, plastics in the ocean. All yours.”

Jenny stared at the pdf letter on her phone. “Nope. Just says Helen has to stay off school for fourteen days. Not my fault at all. Blended learning…”

“Blended learning,” scoffed Helen. “Load of YouTube videos.”

“I hope not,” said Izzy, “We pay good money for that school. I expect more than a YouTube link.”

“Well, you can take that up with the Head if you want to,” said Jenny. “Helen’s got her own laptop and a desk to work from and the internet speed, for your information, is more than adequate for what you need it to do. Failing that just find a book. You know what books are, right?”

“I can recommended the loft,” said Peter. “Lovely space for isolating, plenty of distractions. There’s a bucket load of dolls up there you used to love.”

Helen smiled a cheesy smile and headed upstairs.

"Be fearless but use your common sense!" shouted Peter after her. "Whatever that means."

"It means she'll hide under the duvet while I shout at her," said Jenny.

“Do you think she’ll do anything?” asked Izzy.

“I’ll check on her,” said Jenny. 

“I thought you were out today?”

“Yeah, me too. Turns out I need to cancel.”

Jenny wasn’t entirely sure she needed to cancel as Helen could – and usually did – look after herself, but that looking after herself might not mean doing any work or even eating properly, so it would be wise to at least make sure a positive experience was had on day one. She got in touch with Claire, shifted a couple of social Zoom calls to later in the week and settled down to a day at home. With the others gone and some of the washing on she went upstairs to see how Helen was doing.

Helen was lying on her bed, studying her phone. Jenny wasn’t at all surprised by this and decided not to make a point about it. She sat on the edge of the bed.

“How’s it going?” she asked.

There was a long pause before she received an answer.

“’s OK,” said Helen. “Bored.”

It had taken three quarters of an hour. Helen had run through the social platforms where her mates were hanging out and had found everyone was pretty much in the same boat. There were a few who were taking the opportunity to go out to their second homes in the country for a couple of weeks but for the main part everyone was still in the city, doing nothing, wondering what everyone else was doing.

“Anything from your teachers?” Asked Jenny.

“Nah.”

“How are you feeling about all of this?” asked Jenny. “I mean, I know the pandemic’s been here a while now but Peter and Jude, and me changing jobs and things? Are you OK?”

“Yeah,” said Helen. “’S alright I suppose. Just getting on with it. I reckon it was Sophie, you know? I think she’s got it. She was bragging before about how they were going to Italy for like weeks and weeks and how they had this great place in the hills and once they got there they’d be all alone with just them and the pool and no one else and stuff. They still had to fly out there, didn’t they – go through airports and stuff so…”

“It could have been anyone though,” said Jenny. “It could have been picked up locally now…”

“Yeah, but what’s more likely?” said Helen, suddenly stronger. “Hanging around here doing nothing or going off to one of the countries where it was really big? I mean come on. Irresponsible. Everyone has the same information, the same choice of whether to act on it or avoid it and look at what they go and do. Tania reckons it was Sophie as well, and Danielle and I’m waiting to see what Kayla thinks…”

“Don’t you think you should avoid trying to work out..”

“Plus Sophie’s not answering my messages,” pointed out Helen. “She’s not. I’ve asked her directly – twice – if she’s well or not and she’s not got back to me. What does that tell you?”

Jenny hesitated. She wanted to say it told her that her daughter should really find something else to do rather than continuing down this path, but she didn’t want to risk an argument. Not so soon in the day, or in the fortnight they were now facing.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” she asked.

“No. Thanks. I’m fine.”

Jenny got up and started to leave. “Can we talk about your school work later?” she asked. “I’d like to find out more about what you’re doing.”

Helen looked up. “Sure,” she sighed, “That would be good. And you can tell me how to fix a toilet.”