The Journal of Madie Beartri

Journal 43

It’s sad. Our parents and grandparents thought they had prepared everything. The wealthy-built fallout shelters to safeguard their families in case the unmentionable happened. I guess they weren’t expecting a virus. All their preparations to survive a global war were futile. An overzealous scientist let a science experiment escape out into the world. At least, I think that’s what happened. I’m not sure. My parents used to discuss the epidemic over dinner. I only half listened. I really didn’t know the severity of the situation until the epidemic spread to my neighborhood. Once the virus reached your house, it was only a matter of days before death raised his ugly head.

I think Mrs. White was the first casualty on our block. She died sitting in her rocker on her front porch with her cat sitting on her lap. Body retrievers were already in use by then. A phone number continuously scrolled across the bottom of the TV. If someone died in your neighborhood you were supposed to call the number. Only the stupid would come within 100 feet of a dead body. If a family member died you were supposed to place them on the curb next to the street. The body retrievers drove around in a big army truck. People dressed in chemical suits would retrieve the bodies. Old lady White was on her porch for days. I had nightmares every night for a week after she died. I kept dreaming she would come into my house and sit at the foot of my bed. By the time, my parents died the body retrievers didn’t come around anymore.

Capt Patel was in a hurry to see me leave after we reached the main room. Everyone was strangely quiet. Another communiqué was on hold on one of the big screen TVs. Capt Patel’s first officer looked a bit nervous and a little agitated at my presence. I tried to ask what was going on, but no one seemed interested in answering my questions. Red shirts escorted me out the front door. They threw me down the front stairs.

Journal 42

After a few minutes of negotiations, I agreed to hand over my fidget spinner and a window punch in exchange for two cans of canned apples. The fidget spinner was for Bubba. In hindsight, I regret giving up my window punch.

Capt Patel and I walked back out into the main room. The lights were on low. A computer game played on both big screen TVs. It looked fun. I stopped to watch. Capt Patel grabbed me by my shirt and tugged me along. He was a bit impatient. I followed him into the kitchen.

I was expecting Capt. Patel to open one of the cabinets in the kitchen and hand me two cans of canned apples. It didn’t happen. Instead, we passed through another security door, walked down a flight of stairs, walked down a long hallway, and entered a walk- in refrigerator. The refrigerator was huge. From ceiling to floor were stacks and stacks of canned goods. Capt Patel handed me the two cans of apples as we agreed upon and we made our way back to the top.

Capt Patel’s grandfather had been part of a secret society of survivalists. He built the underground structure of the house in the 1980’s. It was supposed to be a safe retreat in case of nuclear attack.

Journal 41

The flat screen on the wall said, “In Coming Communiqué.” Capt Patel had a couple of his security guards shuffle me off to another room. I played with the starship models displayed around the room for about 20 minutes. I lost track of time. Some of the ships had actual working lights. I don’t think Capt Patel appreciated me touching his starships. I was flying the Enterprise around the room when he walked in. He asked me to put his ship back where I found it. I went to put the ship back on its stand and tripped on a snag in the rug. I didn’t drop the ship, but you should have seen the expression on the captain’s face. I think I caused his heart to skip a couple of beats. If he didn’t want me playing with the starships he should have put me in a different room.

I had to stand there for about five minutes and listen to Capt Patel scold me for touching his ships. The ships he had been collecting and building for years, the ships that meant more to him than life. He went on and on with his tirade. I kept trying to interrupt. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I yelled “Do you have canned apple pie filling or not!”

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.