SHOW THEM A MONSTER.

“I have been waiting an eternity for a man of your strength to arrive. But what kind of man crawls into his own grave in search of hope ?” (Dracula Untold, 2014)

So, I work at Target and things have been a little insane this past week. I know these past few days have been stressful and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. I know people are panic buying in ridiculous amounts and it’s frustrating to not be able to get supplies. But please, please, despite your frustrationd, be kind to your local retail and customer service workers.

We know you’re stressed and scared. We know you’re frustrated because all kinds of stores are selling out of hand sanitizer, soap, disinfectant wipes and sprays, paper towels are starting to go, baby wipes, bleach, etc. We KNOW this is frustrating. We’re scared and frustrated too, because we also can’t get those supplies. But it’s also not our fault.

Please do not call us cunts because we told you we are out of toilet paper. Please do not accuse us of hiding hand sanitizer in the back for ourselves. Please do not scream at us in the middle of the store, in front of everyone, that we’re going to give all the guests in the store the coronavirus because you saw one of us briefly touch our cheek. Please do not yell at us because the lines are long. Please do not scream at us when we say we don’t know something. We don’t know when we’ll get more of any product in, or how much of it will come, or how quickly it will sell out. We are to the point where we don’t even stock the shelves anymore, we just leave the palates on the floor in the middle of the aisle until it all sells out. As soon as we get product we put it out.

Just be kind and extend some compassion. We are scared too. We are stressed too. We are frustrated too. But we continue to come to work and help you all so you can get the necessary supplies you need to survive in a lockdown or self quarantine. Because we can’t work from home. Because if we stayed home and stayed in isolation, you wouldn’t be able to get the toilet paper or the diapers or the food or the cold medicine you need so that you can stay home and self isolate safely.

Consider that retail workers are actually putting themselves at more risk of contracting COVID-19 by coming into work everyday, interacting with hundreds (sometimes thousands depending on the area) of strangers, touching objects and money and surfaces that hundreds of others have touched, so that you can get the supplies you need to feel safe. Consider that if your city or state or the whole country goes into lockdown, grocery stores will likely remain open during limited hours so you can get essential supplies, meaning we are still going to go to work and risk contracting the virus so that you can get what you need to isolate at home, safe.

now  it’s  been  nine  years  ,  and  he’s  all  but  lost  hope  .  the  kind  of  luck  needed  to  find  the  one  version  of  moby  he’d  known  on  the  one  planet  in  the  one  dimension  she’d  left  for  ——  kuro  had  never  had  that  kind  of  luck  .  nine  years  he’s  been  without  moby  .  it  feels  like  a  lifetime  .

he’s  wandering  again  ,  once  more  aimless  ,  on  a  planet  called  earth  .  it’s  so  similar  to  primus  that  for  a  moment  he  holds  out  hope  ,  but  this  planet  is  too  large  and  moby  has  nine  years  on  him  .  even  if  she  had  once  been  here  ,  she  is  surely  long  gone  now  .  it’s  nighttime  and  once  again  he  has  nowhere  to  stay  ,  debates  on  finding  another  aquarium  to  break  into  ,  when  feet  carry  him  to  the  ocean  .  the  sea  breeze  is  a  calmative  ,  the  salt  in  the  air  a  balm  to  his  troublesome  mind  .  but  then  ——  in  the  distance  ——  a  figure  ,  familiar  and  safe  and  home  .

     ‘  moby  ?  ’     it’s  instinct  ,  the  way  feet  carry  him  to  her  ,  treading  a  path  so  familiar  as  though  all  these  years  haven’t  passed  .  he’s  running  now  ,  feet  kicking  up  sand  in  waves  and  hair  billowing  past  .  he’s  desperate  .  moby  ,  moby  ,  moby  … .     ‘  MOBY  !  ’

but  then  he  stills  ,  looking upon  her  with  large  anguished  eyes  .  too  easy  ,  says  a  voice  in  his  head  .  too  easy  .  did  you  really  think  it  would  be  this  easy  ?  doubt  seeds  in  his  mind  .  how  many  times  has  this  happened  before  ?  how  many  times  has  kuro  come  running  only  for  “  moby  ”  to  look  at  him  as  a  stranger  ,  or  to  find  her  in  the  arms  of  another  ,  or  to  have  her  take  her  final  breath  in  his  arms  ?  how  many  times  has  his  heart  shattered  ?  how  many  times  more  can  his  heart  take  ?  feet  begin  a  backwards  journey  ,  taking  him  away  from  her  .  he  cannot  take  one  more  deception  .  he  is  much  too  weak  .  head  shakes  ,  disbelief  written  on  his  features  .       ‘  no  .  no  ,  you  ——  you  can’t  be  her  .  you  can’t  be  her  .  you  can’t  be  her  .  ’

moby was settling on earth just for a second this time. it would be another month before she returned to earth, she guessed... there was too much to take care of. why she decided to visit the beach, she could never guess right. maybe she visited it for the peace--- no one else, human or not seemed to be out here so late at night, instead filling the streets and basking in the neon lights. or maybe she came for the comfort. the memories that rose back to the surface with the scent of the sea breeze and salt water, the feel of the gentle brush of wind on her skin. it reminded her of the best parts of home, days she’d spend surrounded by the two boys she loved most and one in particular that made her feel like she could feel safe enough to be herself.

she lost herself to the light of the moon bouncing on top of the ocean waves. always vigilant, she paid mind to her surroundings; when she suddenly picked up a familiar scent, she chalked it up to memory playing tricks. when she heard her name called and her ears twitched, her head swiped right--- eyes falling on ... kuro?

moby stood up slowly, wary of any type of deception. this could have been an enemy pulling tricks, because how else would he be here? nine years since she’d seen him... how was he here now? how could he have found her, not just after all this time but with so little practice navigating the doors network.... just, how? had he even been looking or was this cruel happenstance?

she stared on, it felt like the air around her had turned ice cold. recognition flooded her eyes. she knew who this was. he was taller, bigger, older than when she knew him... but the way he spoke her name, called her. she debated considering this was just an alternate face of the man she’d loved, but the desperation... she could see it, smell it. like someone who hadn’t seen her in... years! this had to be him!

Peaky Blinders (2013- )