The Journal of Madie Beartri

Journal 121

We all have choices. Sometimes choices are easy and sometimes they are not. Sheriff Pete said several of the gang leaders from our gang association want to join the followers of Aloysius. How do you argue against a group of people who offer cures from sickness, food, and shelter to those in need? We are in one of the coldest winters I have seen in a long time. Life is hard especially since the meteors and the earthquakes. The followers of Aloysius are offering a chance of survival to those who would not survive on their own. The only thing they are currently asking for in return is a little worship. (Just a little worship.)

I have always had bad feelings about the followers of Aloysius. Something about them has always rubbed me the wrong way. Now that I know the followers of Aloysius manipulate people with drugs, I dislike the followers even more. Lisa and Tyson’s change in attitudes with life makes more sense now.

Kate said when the followers of Aloysius offered her gang help, she gladly accepted what they had to offer. Without Anna’s help, more people would have died from the flu. Kate is thankful for Anna’s help, but Anna and her fellow followers of Aloysius have taken over the Spurs Fort and made it their own. Except for Joshua, no one from the Spurs Fort is in any position of authority. Joshua is in his position because he is drugged and under the influence of Anna.

Kate wants to show us what is happening inside the Spurs Fort. We will have to be very sneaky. Kate said we could enter the fort through the cellar underneath the main house.

Journal 120

I was still in bed hiding from the cold when Kate and three of her friends stumbled through the front doors of Bear Country. They looked like beggars covered in blankets from head to toe. The guards covering the front doors tried to push them back outside. Poor Kate, out of desperation she started yelling my name. I sleepily stuck my head out from underneath my covers. I was thinking to myself that it better be a good reason if I must get out of my bed. It took me a few moments to figure out who exactly was calling my name. I pushed Tony over and sat up.

It took a couple of cups of hot chocolate water before Kate and her friends were thawed out enough to tell us about everything that was going on at the Spurs Fort. The Followers of Aloysius had totally taken over.

Kate was sure Joshua and most of her gang mates were under the influence of some sort of drug. Anna placed the drug in the drinks given during the ceremonies. I asked Kate if she had met this Aloysius person. I was curious about what he looked like. The answer was no but Anna was calling most of the shots at the Spurs Fort. Anna has a few key officers that help maintain order.

Kate said the Spurs Fort has been receiving supply shipments from an unknown destination. Food, computers, various equipment, and lumber filled the trucks. Anna has most of the people working on construction projects in and around the Spurs fort.

For reasons they couldn’t explain Lynette, Travis, Pepper and Kate remained unaffected by the drugs.

 

 

Journal 119

Shake, rattle and roll. The quakes continue although much milder than yesterday. It’s extremely cold. The earthquakes broke out several of our windows in several of the classrooms. Sheriff Pete divided chores. About a half a dozen people spent the day trying to seal up those classrooms with broken windows. We closed and sealed the unused rooms. Matt, Pete, and Jonas when looking for fire barrels or similar items. Victor, Hemy, Lisa and I went looking for items to burn.

I hate the cold. I hate it more now that I must go out and play in it. There are several new buildings collapsed around town. It’s sad we used to have a beautiful town. The area around Bear Country looks very much like a war zone. A snow-covered war zone.

While out searching for items to burn, we ran across several people looking for food and a place to stay. I hate beggars, they make me feel uncomfortable. Every time we saw a group of people begging, we went the other way. I know it’s hypocritical. I have been a beggar, but Bear Country does not have the resources to help everyone in need.

We must save ourselves and survive this winter. I can’t think of anyone who hasn’t been a beggar. It is an unpleasant fact. There are times when the weak are going to die. I was feeling awful about ignoring the pleas of the beggars until I saw a group of Followers of Aloysius offering food and a place to stay to those who needed help.

Journal 118

The ground has once again started to shake. It has been a very unnerving day. Everyone is on edge. I was sleeping very soundly next to Tony this morning when the entire building started to shake. For a few moments, I thought the entire roof was going to come down on our heads. Everyone panicked. The big oak tree out in the front of the school uprooted from the ground. This tree is a hundred years old with a circumference of at least six feet. It hasn’t fallen over but it’s close to falling. What a shame the little ones love to climb that tree.

I climbed that tree once before the virus ruined everything. I ended up with detention for a week. My detention would have only been for two days, but I was a little mouthy. I should have just climbed down when Mr. O’Hara asked me too. Instead, I stood up on one of the branches and boasted of my courage and defiance against the school’s dumb rules. Mr. O’Hara didn’t have a sense of humor.

The teachers didn’t allow us to climb the tree, but it was another rite of passage that half the school aspired to. You had to get to the school before the teacher who was on yard duty got on patrol but late enough for other students to see you up in the tree as proof of your bravery. It took me forever to get brave enough to climb the tree. I got detention but I also got lots of praise and pats on the back from the other students in the school. It was my 15 minutes of fame.

Journal 117

I feel so incredibly obsolete. I think I miss being a gang leader. I miss people coming to me and asking me for advice. I miss other gang leaders asking for my input on community situations. Sheriff Pete is doing a wonderful job as Bear Country’s gang leader. He is more organized than I ever was. I think Bear Country has benefited from Pete’s guidance. The people living inside of Bear Country elected Sheriff Pete to his post and he deserves my respect and support, but I still wish I were Bear Country’s leader.

Earlier today, several gang leaders from our gang association arrived at Bear Country to talk to Pete. It must have been a scheduled meeting because Sheriff Pete wasn’t surprised when the other gang leaders appeared on our doorstep. It was a private meeting. They didn’t invite me to attend. I tried to attend the meeting, but Pete pushed me aside. Pete said he would discuss the issues of the meeting later with everyone living inside of Bear Country. I didn’t want to hear what the meeting was about later. I wanted to hear about things firsthand. I vented my anger on Tony. Tony gave me no sympathy at all.

Journal 116

I slept well last night. I can’t remember the last time I slept without some sort of difficulty. If there was any noise through the night, I didn’t hear any. I don’t even think I dreamt about anything. Tony and I snuggled the entire night. I had been sleeping alone with half a dozen blankets wrapped around me but still the cold was there. I was nice to feel warm for a change.

Lisa and Tyson brought a couple of friends home to Bear Country today. Sheriff Pete was not happy. Pete doesn’t like Tyson and with good reason. Tyson had not been good to Lisa in the past. Pete cares for Lisa greatly although I don’t think he has actually told Lisa this. I really don’t know, maybe he has told Lisa how he feels. I really haven’t heard any rumors on the subject.

I could see the anger stirring in Pete’s eyes as Tyson and the Followers of Aloysius entered Bear Country. Pete was getting ready to have Tyson and his friends forcibly thrown out of Bear Country when they uncovered a box of food. The whole room gasped, including me. They revealed an entire case of Spaghetti with meatballs. It was the most glorious site. Bear country has food to sustain us through several more weeks but most of what we have is boring and lacks taste.

There was silence as everyone in the room stared at Pete. I was secretly hoping Pete would set aside his disdain for Tyson just long enough for me to get a can of the Spaghetti. To make a long story short, Pete allowed the followers of Aloysius and Tyson to stay. We ate well. My stomach is full.

Journal 115

Everyone is lying around listening to the radio. I like this Daedalus person. He can be funny, and he plays decent music, most of the time. Daedalus has begun to sell airtime. If you want a certain artist or group to play, go to the station, provide the CD and barter for airtime.

I’m in charge of preparing the main meal today. We are having beans. I hate beans. The only other thing I have eaten today is two spoonfuls of peanut butter. Sheriff Pete sent Matt and Hemy out looking for food. Of all the chores we are required to share I am thankful that today I don’t have to do that one. I know I’ve said it before but it’s so frickin cold outside.

The snow continues to fall. You can’t tell where the street and the front lawn begins or ends. The temperature inside Bear Country isn’t much better even though we keep the fire barrels burning at all times. We are a sad looking bunch. A clean bunch but a sad looking bunch.

The stench inside of Bear Country was getting awful. Not able to stand the smell any longer, Hemy suggested we all take baths. The question was raised about how we were supposed to do that when we had no running water and the air inside Bear Country was near freezing. I don’t know why I didn’t think about the solution myself. Hemy suggested we gather snow, lots of snow, melt it, and then heat it over the fire barrels. We could bathe in the heated water.

Victor and a couple of other people weren’t thrilled about having to remove their clothes to bathe but Tony said that anyone who didn’t freely choose to bathe would meet his wrath. We all took turns. Life smells a little better now.

Journal 114

I had another nightmare about Aloysius. I don’t remember exactly what happened in my dream. I just remember being overwhelmed with panic. I know my dream was scary, frightening, and very disturbing. I must have been crying and making a fuss while sleeping because both Sheriff Pete and Tony woke me from my nightmare. I had a few moments of confusion. Sheriff Pete got a little too close to me. I bopped him hard and gave him a bloody nose. Tony in return slapped me across my face to bring me back to reality. His handprint is still on my cheek.

After apologizing to Pete and helping him clean up his nose, I sat out on the front steps and talked to Tony. We talked about nothing. I’m not even sure how long we were outside. I ignored the cold. Tony suggested we go back inside and go back to bed after he couldn’t keep his teeth from chattering.

Journal 113

I woke up early and put on a dozen layers of clothes. The walk out to the Spurs Fort was a cold quiet one. I knew something wasn’t right the moment the Spurs Fort was in sight. The sign that used to read Welcome to the Spurs Fort now said Aloysius is the Way.

I walked up to the gate and asked the guards standing in my way if I could talk to Joshua. I didn’t like the reply I received. Joshua was doing the will of Aloysius, and he couldn’t be disturbed. I wasn’t amused. I told the guard that Joshua would talk to me because I was his best friend. I tried to run past the guards, but they tackled me to the ground before I reached the main house steps.

I yelled and fought off my attackers the best I could. The ruckus I made out on the front lawn brought Anna out to the front porch. Anna told the guards to let me up. I told Anna I wanted to see and speak to Joshua. Anna repeated what the guards had said. She said that Joshua was busy and couldn’t be disturbed. I told Anna I wasn’t leaving if I couldn’t talk to Joshua.

I don’t know if it was the determination in my face or my anger that I was spewing all over the front lawn, but Anna instructed the guards to let me go and invited me into the house. She had redecorated the main house. It looked very much like a religious shrine. A shrine dedicated to the will of Aloysius.

I waited by the fireplace for an hour before Anna brought Joshua into the room. Joshua looked as if he was feeling better, but he had a blank stare on his face. I asked Joshua how he had been. He said he was feeling much better now that Aloysius had healed his soul. Joshua smiled a little smile and asked me if I had come to join the love that was Aloysius. I think my heart broke a little at that moment. My Joshua, my friend, was no longer the Joshua that I knew. I excused myself and then walked the long way back to Bear Country.

Journal 112

I am so glad this day is almost over. Tempers have been flaring all day long. Matt and Jonas had a dispute over how to stack the wood and scrap burning materials against the wall. Matt wanted everything separated out and Jonas just wanted to throw everything into a heap. The whole thing was like watching a childish game.

Then Matt and Hemy got into an argument over PDA (Public display of affection). I guess Matt was in the mood and Hemy wasn’t. Matt wanted some long-awaited attention and Hemy didn’t feel like giving any. Matt suggested they go upstairs to their room for some solitude. Hemy said it was too cold and mentioned that Matt needed a bath. The yelling match that ensued was enormous. Insults flew in every direction.

Pete got in a yelling match with Lisa about a couple of visitors from a neighboring gang who wanted to take up residence inside Bear Country. Lisa was in the mood to give goodwill and sanctuary to those in need. Pete said we didn’t have room or the food resources to feed anyone else. Lisa demanded a gang vote. Most of us voted but the vote kept coming up a tie. We voted and we voted again. Then everyone started yelling at everyone. We have new guests, but our guests are going to have to go and find food and bring it back to Bear Country.

Marty and Cecelia didn’t make themselves known until everything was out of hand and all of Bear Country was into a knock down drag out fight. Marty climbs out of his tent and yells for everyone to be quiet. I have never seen Marty lose his temper. I guess the stress of the last few weeks has changed Marty into a more aggressive person.

I need to go out to the Spurs Fort and check up on Joshua. I am worried about his health. If it doesn’t snow in the morning, I’m going to walk out to the Spurs Fort.