The Journal of Madie Beartri

Journal 40

My alien friend was in trouble. A security team in red shirts surrounds me. A red shirt yelled at “Bubba” for not following the rules. I heard an order to let me go. The security team hesitates as Captain Patel steps up to me and says, “Let her go. She doesn’t look dangerous. She’s probably not too smart either. She followed Bubba into our station.” Everyone in the room laughs. (I am always being insulted.)

The captain gives an order to Lt Bryant to fix the security camera out front, so that Bubba couldn’t bring in any more unwanted guests. I get a gratuitous smile as the captain says, “Welcome to Earth Station 1.” Captain Patel steps up real close to my face “Why are you here?”

He smelled as if he had been eating tuna fish. At least I was hoping it was tuna fish and his breath didn’t smell like that all the time. I resisted the urge to grab my nose. I take a step back to relieve my nose from the nauseous fumes.

I explain my quest for canned apples as the captain and the rest of his crew stare at me in disbelief. Captain Patel asks me where I am from. I didn’t get a chance to answer. One of the flat screen TVs suddenly comes alive.

Journal 39

When my alien friend referred to friends, I was really expecting hamsters, a bird, a snake, and a dog. I had an image in my mind. All of his little friends would be dressed up like space aliens or altered in some way. My alien friend would be doing his best to take care of his little house of friends. The house would be a horrible mess. Over in the corner neatly stacked would be a couple cases of my canned apples. I was wrong. I followed my alien friend up the front stairs of the blue house.

The front door was like any other front door. The inner door on the other hand required numbers on a keypad and submit to a retinal scan. There was suddenly a feeling of uneasiness. The white door slid open to the left with a swooshing sound. My alien friend stepped forward. I just stood there staring into the room.

Working computers and two large flat-screen televisions filled the room. Everyone in the room was wearing space uniforms. I must have been a surprise because everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at me.

Journal 38

In all honesty, I have never seen a pig that large. My first thought was that the pig must have been eating well. My second thought was some genetic experiment exceeded its goal of making an improved pig. I was staring at the pig amazed at its enormity when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. The tap was unexpected, and I nearly jumped out of my shoes. I turn around to see a space alien looking down at me. It wasn’t a real alien but someone trying his best to be an outer space alien He had a weird haircut and even went as far as having his ears altered. He was a big boy with a voice as deep down into the cellar as anyone could get.

“Have you come to join my alliance of space people?” he asked. I almost felt as if I should be saying yes but I said “No.” Before I could tell this person why I was there, he asked if I liked his pig. I replied he was a nice pig. That’s when I noticed the pigs face had a few extra ridges on the top of his head. The poor pig.

My new alien friend asked me if I wanted to meet his friends. I did a little more staring at the pig. I didn’t mean to stare but I couldn’t help myself. You’re probably wondering why I didn’t just run away. I was hoping my large alien friend had canned apples stashed away somewhere. In response to the alien asking me if I wanted to meet his friends, I said yes.

Journal 37

I hate feeling guilty. I woke up early this morning and put everything I didn’t need any more into my backpack. After breakfast, I set out on my journey to find apple pie filling and condensed milk. I must have walked a hundred miles and asked a hundred people if they knew where I could find any. Most everyone looked at me as if I was crazy. (If you want canned lima beans, I know where to find some).

I went to every kiosk in the plaza. No one had any canned fruit. I did find a couple cans of condensed milk. It only cost me three pairs of socks and my bottle of shampoo from the Hamilton INN. I was getting ready to return home to Bear Country when I saw a boy pushing a cart filled with homegrown vegetables.

I don’t know why I asked him about the apple pie filling except that I was hoping there was some small chance he might know someone. He did! I was so happy I jumped for joy in the middle of the street. The information cost me my six superman comics. I spent the next hour walking to the edge of town looking for a blue house with a horse and a pig in the backyard.

Journal 36

Bear Country is so quiet. I think nearly everyone is still asleep. A few people are recovering from nasty hangovers. I have a slight headache but nothing else. I heard a couple of people attempt to make it to the bathroom during the night. I hope they made it to the toilet.

Central High School is on the verge of collapse. I am amazed that it is still standing. Half of the second floor collapsed onto the first. Pete, Matt, Jonas, and Victor put up signs cautioning people to stay out of the building.

The Central Bobcats held a ceremony yesterday afternoon on the front lawn of Central High School. The ceremony was a way of getting closer and disbanding the Central Bobcat gang. It was so sad. Poor Hemy, Central was her home. The Bobcats were her gang. Hemy spent the last couple of days saying goodbye to people. Most of the members of her gang left to seek out a new life somewhere else. Hemy hated having to say goodbye to her friends. I think it broke her heart. The remaining members of the Central Bobcats have become members of Bear Country.

After the ceremony, everyone went to Hyatt’s Arcade. We danced, played pool, and drank some of Hyatt’s finest. I think a few people drank a little too much. The only people that behaved themselves were the library trio, Marty, Gretchen, and Cecelia.

Journal 34

I went out looking for can goods this morning. I really wanted that shirt from Shanna’s Scraps to Clothes Boutique. I couldn’t find anyone to trade with me. All I had to trade was a battery, a box of crayons and a couple of antique hair clips I found in an abandoned apartment.

No one was interested in any of my stuff, so I borrowed a couple of cans from the food stores at Bear Country. Shanna was happy to receive the apple pie filling and the sweet, condensed milk. I will replace it later. No one really cooks anything around Bear Country anyway.

I put on my new shirt and walked out to Hyatt’s arcade. I asked Tony if he wanted to go with me but as usual, he was too busy for me. The Hyatt’s place is nice. I was amazed at how many people were hanging out there. Hyatt acquired a new pool table and several cases of slow gin, bourbon, sake, and vodka. I only had two drinks because most of that stuff tastes like rubbing alcohol smells.

I swear I have no idea how people drink that stuff all the time. The two glasses I drank made my head spin and gave me an awful stomachache. I had a fun time playing pool. I’m going to go back tomorrow. The person I was playing with said he would give me a couple of lessons to help improve my game. I can’t remember his name. I am hoping Hyatt knows because I don’t want to look like a fool tomorrow.

Journal 33

I went out exploring around Bear Country today. I don’t know why I went out except that there really wasn’t anything else to do. It is still necessary to cover up and wear goggles. The soot in the air kills my eyes. I’m thinking it probably isn’t very good for my lungs either.

There is more drama in Bear Country. While I was exploring a group of kids carrying banners were out parading around chanting that the world is ending unless everyone follows the will of Aloysius. Aloysius is the answer to all our troubles. There is always someone out there ready to exploit a situation and claim to have the answers. This really annoys me. Are we so desperate for guidance that we will believe anyone who claims to have an answer to our problems?

A few people have reopened their Kiosks. This is reassuring. People have started to try to put life back the way it was before the meteors and the earthquakes. I ran into Hyatt today as I was browsing through the goods at Shanna’s Scraps to Clothes Boutique.

Shanna is so talented. I love her designs. I asked her to put back a shirt for me until I could come up with the can goods to pay for it. Shanna agreed to hold it for a few days but only a few days. I guess that tomorrow I will be out searching for canned goods. Hyatt invited me to his arcade. I told him I would try to drop by tomorrow if I had the time. It was good to see him.

Journal 32

My fingertips are visible when my arm is stretched-out. It’s amazing. I was beginning to think soot would forever cover the world and the world would forever more smell like smoke. I went up to the roof this morning and looked out over Bear Country. There is more damage to the surrounding area than I had imagined. The meteors destroyed and reduced to rubble several of the buildings within sight of Bear Country. Unfortunately, through the haze you can still see a couple of fires burning in the distance.

I wrapped myself up like a mummy, put on goggles and walked out to the Spurs Fort. I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed to know if Joshua and his gang were safe. I wish I could tell you that everything was fine, but it wasn’t. The meteors caused an enormous amount of damage.

It was a sad site to see. There were dead cattle everywhere. Fire destroyed several of the bunkhouses. Luckily, the main house had minimal damage. I knocked on the front door of the main house. The guard wouldn’t let me. He thought I was a beggar looking for food. He told me to go away, or he would set his dog on me. I took my goggles off and told the guard my name. He didn’t believe me.

My nose is still sore from having the door slammed in my face. I knocked again. This time when the door opened a dog jumped out at me. It was Lost. She jumped right at my chest and knocked me to the ground. Joshua steps out of the bunkhouse and points his gun at me. He was a little disappointed Lost didn’t try to eat me.

You should have seen the expression on Joshua’s face when he realized it was his friend Madie lying there on the ground. We had a good laugh and a long talk. I told him my story and he updated me with the latest news around Bear Country.

Journal 31

Sleep is a good thing unless you spend the night having nightmares. I must be feeling guilty because last night I dreamt about Yates and his son all night long. I fought and chased Yates around the world the entire night. The places were familiar but all wrong. We crossed bridges, climbed walls, swam oceans, and fought evil gang midgets. Yates was being unreasonable. He wouldn’t stop moving and listen to what I had to say. I couldn’t seem to get my point across that he shouldn’t leave his son all alone at Ft Shasta. The dream ended when we came to an electric fence that reached up to the sky. There were adults on the other side. They were pointing and laughing at us. We were in a Zoo. Yates crumbled into dust before my eyes. I started to scream “Let me out,” “Let me out.” That’s when Tony woke me up to see if I wanted breakfast.

Every muscle in my body is sore. I must have been tensing muscles in my dream (nightmare). There have been stories and rumors that the virus didn’t kill off all the adults. If you travel far enough you can find them. Occasionally you will come across someone who knew someone, who knew someone, who ran into an actual adult somewhere. I think people are retelling the same story repeatedly to entertain the little ones and give hope to the older ones.