By: Primrose V
Kansas, Grade: 5

Her forehead is burning once more. and i fetch the medicine. i poor the last drips of it in her mouth and begin wetting a cool wash cloth for her. my sister, mary-joy is ill. i saw the way my other siblings died. jack from working to hard. hope from the dust at our old location. heather from the cold. and little baby thomas from the pox. all i have is ma, pa and mary-joy. i cant leet her go too. i have to help her recover from the illness she picked up. mama stirs the pan of grains, and they boil over untill they are soupy, she feeds them to mary-joy. mary-joy coughs and turns a bright blue. mama tells me in a hushed voice to go to bed. pray for mary-jayne, harder. im scared. i hope she is okay. goodnight.


oh help! mary-joy died last night. i cried myself to sleep when i woke up this morning. i didnt go to work today, mama sad she thought it was too big of a risk no matter what. she couldn't lose another soy she is taking on my job too. i hope she comes back tonight all fine. pa shouts when he is sad, so his shouting is increasing the more these days. i wish i could help him. if i give him a drink or grain, he shouts at me, cause we dont got enough to eat.i hear mama. goodnight.


its been four days since mary-joy died, and yet another tragedy appeared, papa vanished in a factory fire. mama got out in time, but is very hurt. i cant help but wonder when it is my time to leave this world. i am only 10! i hope that some one will pop out and tell me this is all a joke. it never has. ma is groaning again, let me go help her!goodnight!

ma got staff infection a few days after the factory burnt down. she is now living an uncomfortable life. i hope she leaves this world in peace. i hear crackle outside! im writing as fast as i can, but if i dont make it out of here alive, i hope my journal does! men are coming, big guns and things. ma just past, i saw when i went down stairs! im alone and raiders are here. goodbye.