COVID in Denver: When Life Changes, #1

By Anne Fons

Every year, people flock to beautiful Denver, Colorado, with its majestic mountains and glorious open spaces.  This vacationers' dream is a prime destination for skiers, nature lovers, and soul seekers – except in 2020 when the entire world stopped.

The diverse and adamant reactions to COVID-19 are with us every day and everywhere we turn.  We are bombarded with contradictory thoughts, questionable statistics, hate-filled rhetoric, and positive that our own reaction should be the only reaction.  Why can't everyone see it the way we do?  Why is there so much discord over a physical disease?

COVID in Denver looks not at the physical ramifications of the disease, but the psychological impact that faces every person who is alive in this time period.  Each person is unique, and with that comes individual thoughts and feelings.  What makes some people feel the way they do, and why are so many people so certain they possess the key that unlocks the door to make everything right again?

If you want to understand beyond yourself, if you want to explore what some emotional reactions are capable of harvesting, read COVID in Denver.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anne Fons
• Release date: Oct 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393615484

Book preview

Also by Anne Fons

~FICTION~

A Pineville Easter

A Pineville 4th of July

A Pineville Valentine’s Day

A Pineville Memorial Day

A Pineville Summer

A Pineville August Wedding

~NON-FICTION~

Monthly Prayers of Gratitude and Hope

The

WHEN Life Changes

Series

NEW IN THE ANNE FONS LINE!

IN THIS NEW LINE, ANNE Fons takes the reader to areas of challenge, discomfort, and discovery.  This branch of her writing tackles topics that often end sentences such as, Her life was never the same after...

These books are designed to be thought-provoking and touch on the rawness of reality while staying in a fictional realm.  They invite the reader to read and explore, not only their own opinions, but why others may feel the way they do as well.  When Life Changes will focus on the kinds of topics that can bring us to our knees with sadness or concern.  These are situations which can demand huge lifestyle changes to those whom they touch.  They make us cry.  They make us angry.  They knock the wind out of our sails and force us to look for different solutions to make things right again.

When Life Changes books are fiction but will be set in a location that is real.  For life, and the challenges that come with it, exist in every real place throughout the world.  These are real-world issues set in places that exist.

Anne is not leaving Pineville, nor its beloved characters, for she believes that we need more of that type of living and reading, more kindness, more gratitude, and more love.  So, when you are ready to return, Pineville will also be there.  It will welcome you back with its gentle spirit and the comfort that exists in that other part of our minds; the part that says, Why can’t the world just be like that?

Still,  then we return from that peaceful Pineville respite to our daily lives – our families, our jobs, the real world that surrounds us all with both comfort and challenges.  It is in those challenges when we seek answers.  With those, come our own ‘life changes.’

Forward

About this book...

This book is written in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The author is not a scientist, a counselor, nor a medical professional of any kind.  This book is not historically precise in timeline.  It is written in generalities of progression; not true, or adhering to, individual dates or sequences.  While based on the pandemic of 2020 and its enormous impact on every human being, it is a book of fiction.  Though it is fiction, this book touches on some of the very real feelings and fears that exist(ed) during this time.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone.  Whether you require physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual care or support, the author encourages you to reach out to a professional with the skills you need for help.

a note from the author

The majority of my books are planned ahead of time and scheduled on my calendar for up to a couple years in advance.  On occasion, however, a ‘book’ wakes me up and demands to be written.  This is one of those writings.

May we never, ever, see anything like this again.

Acknowledgements

My sincere thanks to the following people...

Winter Travers, my writing mentor and friend, thank you for continuing to be there for me whenever I need a wise and experienced mind.

Valdas Miskinis, my cover art designer, an amazing man with talent and kindness, who gives my words a visual pop.

My Advanced Readers for this book: Jennie Amato, Rachel Auberger, Tina Carlson, and Sharon Hartlaub, thank you for catching so many errors.  You make things better - always.  Any errors that remain are mine.

My Colorado friends and family who graciously helped me with details of the area: Sally Brogden, Ginger Burt-Stowell, Jeff Jachowicz, Sheila Schlederer Thompson, and Daniel Walstad, you helped bring the area to life with your knowledge of geography and life in this beautiful state.

To all of you who read this book, thank you for your time and interest.  Without you, I write for myself.

And, as always, thanks be to God, who quite literally woke me up to write this book.

Dedicated to Kandis Voelske

who asked me about putting words to the feelings

&

to Sheila Schlederer Thompson

DENVER, COLORADO

Located in the Mountain area of the United States, east of California, and north of New Mexico, Denver is not only the capital city of Colorado, but also boasts the highest population in the state.  There are a number of ski resorts, plus other areas of extreme beauty in the larger surrounding area.  Many people plan vacations there to feel the awe and majesty of those mountains and to soak up the adventures and the ambience found at all altitudes in this scenic wonderland.

While this book could be set in almost any city in the world right now, I chose Denver for all those reasons and more.

Thank you, Denver,

Anne Fons

chapter ONE

Camera 1 on Davis: Good morning, Denver.  It’s 6:01, and I’m D’Jaun Davis.

Switch to camera 2 on Harris-Michaels: And I’m Crystal Harris-Michaels.  Welcome to Denver at Dawn.

Back to camera 1: In news today, President Trump speaks out about the latest concerns of one top Democratic presidential candidate.

Camera 2: A local Denver community meets with an aim on curbing school bullying.

Camera 1: And a winter storm moves through the mountain area threatening to dump up to ten inches of snow before the end of the day.  We’ll check with meteorologist, Chuck Meelers, for information on your afternoon commute.

Camera 2: That, plus more news, weather, and sports.  Stay tuned, Denver.  She smiles at the camera.

Camera 3 has the two-shot on the entire anchor desk: Pans out on the desk as they go to commercial.

THE PEOPLE OF DENVER, like those from most of the country, didn’t know it would be the last day of normal.  People went to work, went for lunch with their friends, fell in love, got divorced, grumbled about traffic, or ignored the barista who made their morning coffee.  For some people, their co-workers annoyed the spit out of them, and truth be told, a number of them weren’t too fond of seeing some of their family, either.  So many irritations of life.

Judith, where the hell is the Thompson report? asked a lawyer as he emerged from his multi-windowed, high-rise office.  The hall between the managerial and the clerical staffs made it clear, windows equaled power, center desks had neither view nor prestige.

His peers at the legal firm viewed him as a no-nonsense sort of man.  A number of them thought he was a jackass as well, but since his name was on the door, and he wielded a fair amount of clout, they kept that opinion to a small circle of trusted junior lawyers.

A few of the women from the paralegal and clerical staff at the company wondered what he was like away from the office, spending the vast amounts of money they believed he earned.  One or two wondered what he was like in bed.  Far more of them either didn’t care about any of it or simply couldn’t stand him.

Neil knew he was important at the firm, and he had no problem showing that.

He held some papers in his hand.  The papers matched him, crisp and white.  So did his shirt.  Cotton, heavily starched so a wrinkle dared not form to mar his appearance.  Everything he wore screamed confident and in-charge; gold cufflinks, red power tie with gold clip, a charcoal gray suit, and black shoes shined every other morning by the man with a chair and a small stand in the lobby.  His reading glasses were perched halfway down his angular nose.  Yes.  Yes, Neil Amandsen was an important man.

DO YOU THINK, JUST maybe, you could have the house picked up by the time I get home from work tonight? asked the guy in black pants and a pullover V-neck sweater as he walked to the kitchen sink of his modest, but comfortable, three-bedroom Littleton ranch.  I try to be quiet when I come in at night, but that’s a little hard when I am tripping over stuff in the middle of the floor.

He drained the last of the coffee from his cup.  He put the cup, bought as a souvenir when they were on vacation the previous summer in Yellowstone, in the kitchen sink while his wife balanced a screaming baby using one hip, one hand, and one arm.  The other hand poured orange juice for the five-year-old.  Once the ski season is over, he said to her, I can do some of this, but I’m a little too busy right now to be worrying about toys on the floor and dishes in the sink.  The bar and coffee shop make the house payment.

I’m busy, too, you know, she replies, bouncing the little guy on her hip.

Yeah, I know.  Reply.  Flat.  Grabs the keys from his pants’ pocket and heads out the door.

Yes.  Yes, Todd Tillerie was a busy man trying to build his business .  He still charmed his customers.  His personality was perfect for an entrepreneur.  He used to charm his wife, too.

BABY DOLL, SAID THE guy in the jeans, flannel shirt, and trucker’s cap as he sat in the cab of his eighteen-wheeler, I’ll be back home tomorrow before dinner.  Looking forward to a few days’ off.  Weather’s crap, but everything’s good otherwise.  Kiss the kids for me, and I’ll see you tomorrow.

He dropped the cell phone in his shirt pocket and headed for breakfast at the gas station’s diner.  He went inside and blended in with the rest of the truckers.  Some days he wished he would have stayed in the army or went on to school for something, almost anything.  He had a decent life, but his wife, she deserved a ‘somebody;’ not just another blended-in trucker.  He was a high-school graduate who enlisted after school in the military and then came home to marry his girlfriend, and to try to find a job that paid decently without having to try to qualify to get into a college.  His wife came first, though, so until they paid off Suzanne’s nursing school debts, he wasn’t going anywhere but back on the road.

Yes.  Yes, Kyle Yardborough knew he would never be a ‘professional man.’  He was a ‘C’ student with the occasional ‘B’ in high school, pretty much content with being a ‘basic working guy.’  As long as his wife and kids could be proud of him, wherever he pulled an honest day’s wage was fine with the truck driver.

HEY, DR. GOLDBERG, said the produce clerk at the local co-op store, how’s retirement?

Good, Joshua, said the doctor.  My wife’s already complaining I’m around the house too much, but, ah, those grandkids!  They’re the best.  Last weekend, I took them fishing at Market Lake.  The nine-year-old caught the biggest fish, but I’ll tell you, Joshua, I had the biggest smile.  So wonderful.

Do you miss being a doctor? the produce clerk asked.

I will always be a doctor, just not a full-time practicing one.  I am still an active part of the business.  Goldberg and Nurhim Medical will still have my posterior in the chair for business meetings, but I’m seventy-years-old now.  It is time for my wife, my family, and myself.

Are your patients upset you’re leaving?

Oh, a few, I suppose, the doctor said.  "I’ve been tapering back for a while now.  I’ve only been seeing my regular patients for a couple of years already.  New referrals have gone to other pulmonologists.  I’m not giving up my license.  I can go back to the office if I am needed, though I think once they get used to the