As a child of two very busy parents, I would know that they most likely have to travel. Whether it’s Commonwealth Games, Pacific Games or just one single meeting, my parents have to travel. The worst time to travel though is during the Covid pandemic. Why? Because there’s a huge risk of getting stuck overseas and nobody wants that! 

My mom though had to go to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games. Of course she had to travel from one country to another to get to Birmingham, but isn’t that kind of risky? The fact that she’s leaving while borders are still closed worries me, because there is a chance that the borders will open late and even though they have information that the borders will open in August, doesn’t mean there won’t be a change of plans. This gives me the benefit of the doubt.

The Day Mum Leaves. Today is the day that my Mum leaves and of course I’m upset. I am not used to my family members leaving, but one day I will have to get used to it. It is not a choice for me. This is a day that my mum will leave for three weeks. THREE EXACT WEEKS! Now I know that seems kinda short, but if you’re the child of the person who is leaving, it’s much longer. My mum hasn’t travelled in years due to the Covid pandemic and that is the only use of Covid.

What is it Like Without Mum? It has been a few hours since mum left and I am pretty upset about it. Mum is still on the plane and that upsets me even more. Since my mum is gone my dad can’t handle both me and my brother so we have to make a plan. Me and my brother have to get up early, go to school, then my dad has to pick me up from school and pick my brother up too. On Saturday’s, me and my brother have to stay the night at my grandma’s and I help my uncle with the cooking at the house. Things got a lot harder without my mum with us. I missed my mum so much I even slept on her bed, counted how many days or weeks until she was back and tidied up her side of the couch she sat on. Nothing was easy without her. 

Mum Returns. I had two more weeks until Mum got back, TWO MORE WEEKS! I still had to wait a fortnight without her and little did I know the future I was after was isolating for two weeks. Why? Because I was about to get Covid from my dad. 

Isolation was boring. I had to scoop my own food and social distance while video calling my mum. I was told to do a Covid test every three days so I did. My second Covid test was much better and then I had to wait three more days until my next test. BUT WAIT! In three day’s time Mum is back. I was so excited for my mum to come back but also to see my results. After three days it was finally time, my Covid test was negative. I was happy to go to the airport and pick up my mum. AAAHHH! It was so exciting. Finally my mum was the fifth person to come out of the gate. She had a brown hand bag and had an ula around her neck from the airport staff. This was the best day of the year!

• Angel Vaea, a Year 5 student at Vaiala Beach School, is this author of this entry in the Tusitala Short Story competition which earned her 2nd place in the English category.