Summary

The parents “take turns” caring for their son “while the other works” (8). Although they are both “behind on everything,” the mother and father each volunteer to watch the boy full time (8). They do not argue over who has the more important job or who needs more time away from the boy to work. Being with the boy is the only time the parents feel a sense “of true happiness, genuine laughter, purifying evasion” (8). Sometimes they play ball with him, while at other times they draw monsters on the wall, play the guitar, or read stories and books with him (8).

Both the mother and the father would rather read storybooks to their son than work on their own book projects. Sitting at the computer, listening to “the awful news radio,” sending emails, and tracing the virus’s progress brings them no joy (8). The father...