1.7 - Teenagers in an Apocalypse

Dallas' Dairy

Hi. My name is Dallas Gentry. I am 10 years old. My twin sister is Paris and my older brother is Houston. My baby brother is Austin. I am writing this because I read most of my mother's journal and I figured since I like to write, I would try to keep a journal like she did.

Paris and Austin like to play chess but the man came and took our lights so they have to play in the dark. 

Houston said if I start writing books that I will get money for them then we will be able to pay our bills so the nasty man doesn't come again and take our stuff. He said we would even be able to buy a new light when the supplies come in. He said I am very important to the survival of the family. 

Houston as a teenager

Houston used to go to school with me, Paris and Austin, but he is all grown up now and doesn't go anymore. He said he has to work hard to get in shape so he can earn money like me. 

Paris

Dallas

Today is mine and Paris' birthday. We can no longer attend school. Only Austin still has to go. Not sure how I feel about that. There is still so much to learn. At least mom made it so we can use the library when we come of age.




I have learned that we will be assigned jobs when we 'come of age' or prove ourselves to be old enough. We all have settled into routines trying to learn as much as we can until then. 

Mom just watches and asks stupid questions that make no sense. 

She continues to get weirder and weirder. I learned she has a disease called "ES" that is making her crazy. It seems it has something to do with the nasty environment. 

She knew it was coming but that doesn't make it any easier to be around her. She is constantly yelling at me and Paris.

When we aren't getting yelled at for no reason, we each have our assigned chores. 

Houston is the repairman and fixes anything that is broken.

Paris is our cook. She does a dang good job with those things they give us called hot dogs. I don't even want to know what is in them. And her PB&J sandwiches, well I wrote a book about them!

Pairs really does a pretty decent job with our rations. Most of the time they don't have flies so seeing mom yelling at her just gets under my skin

And me, yes, I write. I have published quite a few books and would love to be a famous author. I am getting over $1,000 per week now.














We all try to workout daily. 

"Paris - you are out of sync - get with the program"

"It's not me - it's you and Houston!"

Austin is finally no longer the 'baby'. I had a talk with him at supper and tried to explain to him about mom. He wanted to know if there was anything we could do. 

I thought about it. I had heard if you tax their brains, sometimes it would help them break through the dementia. I had an idea. 

I found her outside in the snow where she liked to be. Personally, I hate the outdoors. It is cold and stinky. But I went out anyway to talk to her. Maybe I could shock her out of it. 

I started asking her things and she answered mumbo jumbo because they were too easy. So I gave her a challenge to divide by zero. That should make her work her brain. She started thinking. I could actually see it in her eyes. 

Then something unexpected happened.  

She slapped at her rear and began to scream. I think she was losing what was left of her mind. Maybe that WAS the cure. They wouldn't know anything. Kind of sad really.

She then fell into the snow.  That is when I knew...it had been more than she could handle and it pushed her over the edge. I had killed her. 

It was really a sad time for all of us even though we were free from her yelling all the time. I felt so guilty but my siblings knew I was only trying to help and held no ill will towards me.   

It won't be long before Houston and the rest of us are ready to start work. Once we all get over mom and are settled in our new jobs, I will write again. 

Dallas

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