Tim, Carolyn, and Betsy all had measles, chickenpox, and then mumps. Now it was Tucker’s turn.
There were no vaccinations for these diseases
in 1946. Tucker had to stay in the house, 24 hours a day, to keep it from
spreading. This is just like you have to do during the coronavirus pandemic. What
was he going to do? In his usual way, he got creative.
Here is something you can do: Beat the Virus. Ask your parents to help you with the
supplies needed.
Blow up a balloon. Tear some newspaper into strips. Add a
little water to white glue to thin it. Put the strips of paper in the glue and
cover the balloon with them. This will be a model of a virus cell after you
have painted it. It looks like a round, blue ball with many red spikes sticking out. If you
don’t have glue, paint the balloon just as it is. If you don’t have paint, use
markers to draw the spikes on the balloon.
Now, take it outside, to the garage, an open space, wherever
your parents think would be best. Now, hit it with a baseball bat, a stick,
Grandpa’s cane, or whatever your parents allow you to use. When you hear the balloon
inside pop, you have beaten the Coronavirus. In your everyday life, you can do
it by staying in, away from others. Also:
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Wash
your hands for 20 seconds. Singing Old MacDonald’s farm as you wash with soap is
20 seconds long:
Old MacDonald had a farm
Ee i ee i o
And on his farm he had some cows
Ee i ee i oh
With a moo-moo here
And a moo-moo there
Here a moo, there a moo
Everywhere a moo-moo
Old MacDonald had a farm
Ee i ee i o
Ee i ee i o
And on his farm he had some cows
Ee i ee i oh
With a moo-moo here
And a moo-moo there
Here a moo, there a moo
Everywhere a moo-moo
Old MacDonald had a farm
Ee i ee i o
Have fun staying at home. I
can’t do it, never accomplished anything. You are strong and you can choose
to be happy at home.
Doris Gaines Rapp, PhD.