I got this idea after watching the show "Connecting" & thought about how everyone would be trying to stay close despite being apart during quarantine. Anything in Italics is text messages.


Day 0- March 16th

Raj- Did anyone else see the email the university just sent? They're closing for two weeks because of this virus.

Leonard- I just saw it. They're encouraging us to work from home if possible.

Howard- The daycare is closing, too. That means I'm gonna be stuck at home with two kids under the age of four. Bernie's already working extra hours because of this thing. I'm going to lose my mind before the next two weeks are over.

Sheldon- You have to have a mind before you can lose it, Howard.

Raj- What if the university is closed longer than two weeks? I read that China has been in complete lockdown for months.


"The university is closing for two weeks. Howard says Bernadette is working extra hours because of this virus. Do you still have to go to work? Surely, you can't be going to doctors' offices with everyone being sick," Leonard asked Penny following his texts with the other guys.

Penny looked up from her phone. "You're gonna be home for the next two weeks? I still have to go into the office, but they aren't having us make sales calls to doctors' offices. We're working on some new materials and sales strategies for when this is over."

"They encouraging people to stay home as much as possible. Are you sure it's a good idea for you to continue going to work right now?" Leonard questioned his wife.

"I'm only going to work, Leonard. I'm not going out. I'll go straight to work and come right home. We have plenty of hand sanitizer at work. I haven't been going to visit Bernie since she's on the team working on a vaccine for this thing and I don't want to be in that close of proximity to someone who is working with the virus. I know they don't have the live virus, but it still freaks me out knowing she's working with it," Penny explained.

Leonard crossed the apartment to the kitchen. "I still don't like the idea of you continuing to go to work. Is there any way you can ask about working from home for a few weeks? You can Skype the other people on your team if you need anything. You're pregnant. I'm sure your boss will understand you wanting to work from home."

Sighing, Penny gave into Leonard's pestering. "I'll ask if it's possible, but I'll wait until I go in tomorrow; I'm not texting him about this. Besides, if they agree to let me work from home, I have things at the office that I'd need to bring home."


"Amy, the university is closing for the next two weeks because of this virus. We should stay home and isolate ourselves from others," Sheldon shared.

Continuing to make dinner, Amy took a breath before responding. "I saw that email, as well. I agree with staying home as much as possible, but I think it will be fine if we see our friends. Penny and Leonard live ten feet across the hall. What are you going to do to avoid them? Lock yourself in this apartment and not leave for the next two weeks?"

"If that's what it takes, yes. I don't exactly trust them to take this seriously."

"If you lock yourself in the apartment, how will you get the mail every day or do the laundry on Saturday night? We haven't been to the grocery store in nearly a week. We don't have enough food here to last another two weeks. I see you lasting two days before you leave this apartment for something," Amy bet her husband.

"I need some time to think about this, but I will figure out a way to do all of those things without leaving this apartment," Sheldon replied.


Howard sat staring at his phone, having just hung up with Bernadette. She confirmed to him that she would be continuing to work long hours, leaving him home with Halley and Michael while the university was closed.

"Hey kids," he said looking at the toddlers playing across the living room, "I know you like going to daycare and playing with your friends all day, but how do you feel about staying home for a few weeks?"

Without looking up from the toy in front of her, Halley replied, "No thank you, Daddy. I want to go to school."

"I know, but school is closed for a few weeks. Remember how you didn't go for a week when it was Christmas?" Howard was trying to figure out how to explain this to his three-year-old daughter. "This is going to be like that, but without the presents and seeing everyone. I'll be home with you the entire time. We can play all day.

"Is Mommy going to be home, too? Can we go to the park?" Halley asked excitedly.

Shaking his head, Howard knew he was about to upset her. "Mommy's going to be working a lot. There might be a few days when she leaves before you wake up or won't be home before bedtime. She's working really hard right now to try to help a lot of people. I don't think we can go to the park, but we can go in the backyard and play in your playhouse every day if you want."


Raj held his phone in front of him while waiting for his outgoing FaceTime call to be answered. "Hi, Dad," he said when it was finally answered.

"Rajesh, this is unexpected. How is everything there?"

"The university is closing for a few weeks and everyone is being encouraged to stay home as much as possible."

"That's good that they're closing so people can stay home. Are you going to be alone the entire time? Your apartment isn't that big."

Raj nodded as he replied, "Yep, it will just be me and Cinnamon for a few weeks. I thought about asking Howard if I can stay with him and Bernadette, but they've got the kids and Bernadette has been bitchier than usual since she's been working a lot. Leonard and Penny have a spare room, but Penny's pregnant and they're starting to get that room ready for the baby. That leaves me here with Cinnamon, but that's okay since it will only be for the two weeks the university is closed. I think having some time alone might be good for me."

"Very well. I have to go, but we'll talk more later," Raj's father said as he ended the call.