“Anyone that came across the border has to go into self isolation until stated otherwise-“
“But everyone who crossed the border yesterday is fine.”
“I know, rules changed following the announcement at 5 yesterday-“
“I heard that announcement, that’s why I came back. It’s like a five hour trip for me, I couldn’t just make it across the border before midnight by then.”
“Look, I know. I’m sorry it was such short notice, the situation is still developing-“
“I came from a green zone. There were no cases there yesterday, and anyone who crossed then was fine. Now I need to go into isolation?”
“These are the rules. You can only leave the house to get a test and from there we’ll let you know when you’re good to stop isolating”
“Where do I get a test? All the sites have been overrun by people returning yesterday. I drove past one on the way in and they were turning people away-“
“I understand, and I know it’s hard, but you’ll have to get a test as soon as possible-“
“Will you open more sites to deal with demand?”
“I can’t say, but I know resources are stretched thin as is-“
“So I need to get the test, which you can’t say when I’ll be able to do so, before I can go outside again?”
“Ending your self isolation is dependent on getting the test, but we can’t say when you’ll be able to end self isolation. With how things are going it will probably extend beyond the regular 14 days-“
“How long will I have to isolate for, then? After I get the test?”
“I can’t really say. With the way things are going you probably wouldn’t want to go outside anyway.”
“Are you able to go outside? Are you able to work from where you are? Because I need to pick up a laptop to start my new job so I can afford to isolate.”
“I had a test… a while ago. And yes, I can work from home. But I understand how hard this can be-“
“No, I don’t think you do. I’m gonna end the call now, talking to you is pointless.”
Well, I figured I better call my new work and let them know what’s up.
“Hi, yeah, I just got told that I need to self isolate for… an indefinite period because I crossed the border to come back here. Could you send the laptop to me again? I know it went back to the post office, that’s because I was back home visiting family.”
“I’ve been meaning to call you. You see… with what’s been happening, the new outbreaks and everything…”
“Are you cancelling my role?”
“It’s more… we’re putting that role on hold. Just until things calm down again.”
“This is all website work. Why does it need to go on hold. What difference does it make?”
“Look, we’re struggling on our end as well. We’re trying to find work for the permanent staff we already have on board. Most contractors are getting laid off, things are expected to slow right down-“
“Sounds like the perfect time to build a new website to me. I can just do this in the background. Just send the laptop to me and I’ll plug away at it whilst I’m here.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t do that. This came from higher up. We’ve all been ordered to cut back.”
“Can I talk to who decided that?”
“I’m sorry, you can’t. I’m- I’m not sure who exactly it came from, but even if I did, I wouldn’t be allowed to let you speak to them. We’ll still keep your details for when things pick up-“
“As an employee?”
“Uh, what?”
“Will you keep my details as an employee? So I can get the higher support payment?”
“No, I mean, you haven’t even started with us. We’ll keep your details for when we’re ready to pick up again.”
“Because I need to figure out how I’m going to live while I’m stuck in lockdown, and the unemployed payment isn’t enough, and the government are cutting it soon.”
“I’m sorry. I know this is hard-“
“Do you? Because you’ve still got your job, right?”
“Well, I mean, yes, I do. But we could get suspended on the payments-“
“That’s more than I’ll be making, and you’ll have a job to go back to. How about you talk to me when you’re willing to pay my rent.”
“Okay, we’ll do that. I’ll let you know when things are picking up again and we’ll set things up.”
“Sure…”
I hung up. The whole reason I crossed the border and came back to this city was for this job. They tried to send me a laptop, which I missed because I was back visiting family. It’s the end of the year, what do you expect me to do? But I cut that short to be here for the laptop, so I could work.
Then shit got worse and I’d have to go into self isolation if I crossed the border. I thought that would be fine, I’m crossing the border for work, I’ll pick up my laptop and I’ll have a couple of months work, enough to ride out the worst parts of this pandemic. Then I could move out of this place and go back home.
See, this was the year I planned to pack it all in and move back home. I’ve had ongoing problems paying the rent where I am, as in, I’ve had problems finding work to be able to pay the rent. I was ready to give up and move home last year, then, well, you know what happened.
I thought this job, building a finance company’s new website would be the perfect sort of work to just cap things off and give me a bit of money when I moved back to my home town. If I’m going to be perpetually unemployed, I might as well do it where my savings won’t get eaten up by rent.
Speaking of which, I better call my real estate agent.
“Hello, Parasitic Symbiosis Realty.”
“Hey, yeah, can I talk to your finance person? I’ve gotta self isolate indefinitely and lost my job because of the pandemic.”
“I’ll put you through.”
After a moment of royalty free hold music I got a woman with a UK accent.
“Hello, Parasitic finance.”
“Yeah, I’m stuck at home and I can’t work. Rent is too high for me to cover with the unemployment payment and I was wondering what you guys had set up for people like me?”
“Oh, we’re assessing everyone’s situation on a case by case basis.”
“A case by case basis? Everyone’s being affected by the same thing. Why do you need to assess everyone individually when you know the cause and the reason why?”
“Well, some people have a harder time covering costs sooner than other people.”
“Is that what it is? You’re going to wait until I can’t afford to pay my rent and then decide what you’re going to do with me?”
“No, not at all. You just let me know when you’re going to struggle to pay rent and we’ll come up with a plan then.”
“I’m struggling to pay rent now! I can afford a couple of months, but rent is going to take more out of my bank account than what’s going in.”
“How many months rent do you have left?”
“What? A couple. That’s excluding other things like food and bills. I’m not going to be able to pay rent pretty soon if we don’t do something about it now!”
“Well, when that happens we’ll talk about it.”
“So until then you’re going to pretend everything is normal, bleed me dry of all my money, and say nothing can be done even though it’s because of the same thing impacting everyone else right now?”
She seemed to get quite upset at this. Who knew the finance person at a real estate agent didn’t like being the bad guy?
“Look, I know things are tough, and I can’t figure out what should be done about it. I know things are tough right now-“
“I don’t know about that. You still have a job and I imagine you can still pay your rent-“
“And what do you want me to do? I’m just trying to get by myself. This pandemic is hard on me as well and we’re all just trying to get through it together.”
“Yeah, but your job is to take rent from other people, which makes it a lot harder for me to get through this pandemic-“
“I know it’s wrong, but these problems are too big for my little head to figure out.” She was practically crying now, “Why are you doing this to me? I can’t do anything about it.”
“Okay so you know what you’re doing is wrong but you continue to do it? You’re also in a prime position to help other people but choose not to-“
“I don’t have a choice, this is my job. What would happen to me if I just cut everyone’s rent?”
“Some landlords that are doing alright would miss out a little bit. Look, this is getting me nowhere. I’ll call you when I’m tossing up between food, electricity, and rent.”
“Talk to you then.” She sobbed into the phone. I hung up.
Well, I expected my real estate agent to be useless, but they managed to limbo under my low expectations. That cut my savings considerably shorter that I’d be paying full price on this mouldy shithole until I literally couldn’t. That left one call left to make.
“Hey baby, so I have to go into self isolation. I’m not sure when it will end, but I just need to do that and get a test and I’ll be fine.”
“As long as you’re good. Do you need anything?”
“No, there’s food here and I can order groceries online if I have to. Are you coming back down to our place soon?”
“Actually, I was going to stay with my parents a little longer, given what’s going on.”
“Are you able to work from their place?” I looked to my girlfriend’s desk and noticed it was empty. She had taken her work laptop back with her.
“Yes, I am.”
“I just noticed your work laptop is gone.”
“I thought something might happen so I brought it with me.”
“So I take it you’re not planning to come back here at all?”
“If I come back I’ll have to self isolate as well. It’s easier this way and I can stay with my parents. I can bring you food if you need it as well.”
“Alright, thanks. I guess. I’ll let you know if I’m running low and can’t get anything from anywhere else.”
“Alright, I’ll talk to you soon, love you baby.”
“Yeah… love you too.”
Okay. So now I’m at home, I don’t have a job, a predatory real estate agent is going to bleed me dry on behalf of a landlord I’ve never met, and I’m alone.
This is fine. It’s okay. I’ll figure it out. I mean, if I don’t, I’ll be thrown out onto the streets in the middle of a pandemic and an economic downturn. Nothing can be done about that. No, there’s no way to avoid that situation… apparently. I just have to… figure something out.