Page 21 - C.A.L.L. #47 - Winter 2020/2021

The group had to figure out how to balance its collective well-being against the needs of two

of its members: Truck driver Will Furbush, the group’s only “essential” worker, whose
livelihood requires him to be out in the dangerous world, and Dalina Furbush, his 14-year-old
daughter from an earlier relationship, who was about to leave the safe circle to spend time
with her mother.

The Bristows, Roths and Furbushes had
vowed to support each other through the
dark time ahead. After all, they’d had each
others’ backs for years. But the choices they
would make had the power to shatter the

tight bond that held them together.

Kristen Bristow had spent nearly two decades
teaching third grade in the Riverside Unified
School District. So, when school ended
abruptly on Friday, March 13, she knew she
Allison Furbush cheers thinking that PE is next on had to do something to keep her family from
the schedule after science class. lolling around in pajamas for weeks at a time.

Starting on March 16, the three Bristow
girls had six and a half proscribed hours a
day: 9 a.m. classwork; 10 a.m. physical

education; 11 a.m., more classwork; noon,
lunch; and on and on. The Roth kids joined
in a few days later, bringing the student
load to six.

Then came spring break, and with it, the big
decisions. Gov. Gavin Newsom had put the
whole state on lockdown. Dr. Cameron
Kaiser, the Riverside County public health Music producer Gabe Roth teaches rhythm to
officer, had banned all gatherings of more Allison Furbush while his son Sylvester Roth keeps

than 10 people. the beat on the drums during music class.

And Gabe Roth asked Kristen and her husband Dave if the Furbushes — Will, who is married
to Gabe’s sister Samra, and the three Furbush children — could join the collective home
school. All of a sudden, there would be 16 people in the quarantine commune, a half-dozen
over the limit.

Kristen’s sister-in-law sent her a text: “I guess your whole ‘school thing’ is out the door.” A
few weeks later, Kristen recounted her hopeful response: “But families are not subjected to
that.”

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