Summer Slow

Sleep in. Go for a run. See a movie. Have a swim. Drink a beer.

Family. Old friends. Strangers—new friends.

It's summer. No need to fret. No school, no stress. A job, a simple one. Scoop ice cream. Mow lawns.

This summer feels eternal. Eternally-fucked. No sleeping in. Too nervous. No runs. Bring your mask. No movies. No pools. Beer alone—never with friends.

Why now, why ruin me now? It's summer? Time for relaxation, time to take it easy. There is no easy.

I guess I'll go to Australia. Or maybe Brazil. Somewhere where it's winter. Or where summer is always. Jamaica. Enjoy life. At least there will be another summer to enjoy. Able to be enjoyed.

No-can-do. Stay-in-place. No planes. Walk. Ford the ocean. You'll make it in no time. They'll tell you to turn around. Sorry—you are irresponsible. You're the reason we’re stuck here to begin with.

But no! It wasn't me! It was the man with the flag on his chest. No! It was the arrogant ones, the careless ones, the bumkins in the supermarket without their masks. It's a conspiracy! It'll never end. Not till they want it to. Noooo—it was all of us. It was none of us.

Who can blame us? We just wanted to save our summer.

This summer feels eternal. Will it ever end? Will it ever start?

Take your time. Sit at home. Rent a movie. Phone a friend.

Pretend. Pretend you're happy.

Pretend it's summer.