Dear Diary,

Pearl gave me back my diary today, which was nice. Jet came over, too. He says diaries are for girls, but I'm pretty sure they're for everyone. Still no games or TV, though.

Breakfast was gross. Pearl made bacon and eggs, but all I wanted was an orange. Jet said I have to grow up BIG and STRONG like a boar. I asked if that's why people eat pigs, and he was like "Yeah, pretty much." Maybe that's why he acts like one. I don't think pigs eat other pigs to grow up, though. The bacon was so chewy it was practically oinking. It didn't taste good coming back up, either. And it smells rank on my face, as a layer of oil and zits. Yuck.

* * *

To Grandma,

Drew has food poisoning. Please make sure he has:

- Lots of water
- Hand-sanitizer & soap
- A bucket by his bed (for vomit)
- Warm clothes (he was shivering)
- Soft food only, nothing oily

Check on him once every hour, and keep the sink and counters clean. He's very self-sufficient and will let you know if he needs something.

- Pearl

* * *

To MOM, from JET.

I am VERY HUNGRY and I already ate all of the granola bars (sorry). Can you please buy more food soon? Maybe beef like in your meatloaf?

(Already ate all of the leftovers too, sorry again.) <3

* * *

Flint Herman, Jan. 12th
Mr. Wyld (Gr. 6)
Please explain each of the following terms in your own words. (1 sentence)

Food Chain:
The sequence of organisms eating others for energy.
Biodiversity:
Variety of life in an ecosystem.
Keystone Species:
A species that influences the development of others in an environment.
Producer:
An organism that makes its own food.
Symbiosis:
Cooperation between two species that benefits at least one of them.
Bio-uniformity:
Similarities between members of a species, or between different species in an ecosystem.
Extinction:
Death of all members of a species.

* * *

Dear Dad,

I heard you're coming home soon! I miss you a lot. Mom does, too. Maybe when you get back you can watch my hockey game! I'm a star forward on my team. You could probably still stand a chance in a 1v1 with me, for now.

Love, Shirwin!

* * *

Sid's Log: 01/12
Office, Preston Facility

Had plans, they seem confused as of now. My mind's fog, or clouded eyes (accursed cataracts). Factories running, sales going well. Pork production began today. Very few pigs able to fit indoors, may need to crowd pens to attain adequate stock levels. Low on feed, and weather not permitting deliveries. Might as well give them what we have, for now. Cold impacts heating bill for pens, but lowers for freezers about equal. Workers in Flatstone (Chicken) asking for 8-hour shift maximum, with overtime pay for 10 hours or more, and more heat indoors. Ingrates. Greased the squeaky wheels with bonus pay and laid off the "driver" of this little union bandwagon. Nobody can afford to sell meat for free.

* * *

Dear Diary,

I thought I was going to be sneaking a few games or shows in while Pearl was gone, but Grandma Britta's supervising. She wants to play checkers. I might just die of boredom. She's out buying soup right now, but I'd rather have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. So that's what I'm doing. I can just say I'm not hungry when she gets back.

Jet and I are having a sleepover tonight, he's got a bunch of Gotchimon cards. Some of them are mine but he's pretending not to remember. How convenient.

- Drew

* * *

Sid's Log: 01/06 @ 12 pm

Met the most enchanting creature at the grocery store whilst over-viewing stock at Dusty's General Store. A mother of three, caretaker today of one sick boy (guess who?). Beautiful as my wife had been, back in the day. An old, dead heart may have just beat again. Perhaps I may achieve my goals through peaceful attrition?

* * *

Dear Diary,

Pearl made breakfast again, steak and mushrooms, but I was "allowed" to eat fruit instead. Thanks, glad I can be told what to eat in a fruitier direction. Jet went straight for the meat, though. I swear, breakfast was actually mooing this time. Or maybe that's just his stomach. Or just him? He's just going nuts up and down the halls, and Pearl wants me to play with him outside in the snow once the sun is up. I guess we can build a snowman or something.

- Drew

* * *

Flint's Journal #5
Jan. 13

My dad and I spent yesterday getting the truck ready with supplies. Today, he took me trapping. Because there's snow everywhere, you can set snares and metal clamps (with chains) next to a little hole full of food, then cover it up with snow again. Dad says it's not good for the metal traps, though. He also said it's something kids should NEVER do alone, cause they might trap themselves, or someone else by accident, and you might have to cut off your leg to get halfway home (yikes). Good thing I'll be a man soon.

We have to go back tomorrow to see if we'll catch anything. I asked why we don't use guns, but Dad says we might next time if something's still alive when we get there.

* * *

Dear Dad,

I'm sorry if I made you mad last night by being annoying, and I'm sorry if leaving this note on your door is annoying too. We can play street hockey some other time. Mom says you might be sick, so she made some soup.

Love, Shirwin

* * *

To MOM, from JET.

I feel itchy all over, and my eyes hurt. Do you have any medicine for that?

* * *

Sid's Log @ 5 pm

Preparing a round of Pork for tomorrow, "limited edition" smoked flavor. Sundays are mine, and mine alone. Competitors have reduced stock on Beef and Chicken, running scared. Oh, how I love those shining, golden-red DEAL signs. Sweet beacons that draw moths to flame. What little markup is lost to clean shelves. Speaking of gold, I've a date with my new heartache this evening. A nice bracelet should round her lovely hand so well. Shall I live and dance once more?

* * *

Dear Diary,

Pearl's going out tonight, so Grandma's in charge again. Yippee. And she's having a date over for some reason. Nice timing, Britta! I'm sick, remember?

- Drew

* * *

Dear Secret Diary,

What the heck is Sid doing at my dinner table eating beef stir-fry with my grandma? And no, I don't want some. All I can hear from my room is them laughing, and like... more mooing? Does his phone have a cow ringtone or something?

I can't believe he gave her a bracelet. They just met! GET A ROOM, YOU DUST-BUNNIES!!

- Drew

* * *

Dear Secret Diary #2,

I was right. He asked about the cloak FOUR TIMES, and he's been acting shady since he got here. Grandma said to be nice and smile, but his smile is yellow and nasty. They're already kissing on the first date, and it makes me feel sick all over again. I don't trust him any more than I trust my parents. Meeting the guy once is an event. Twice is a coincidence. THREE times? He wants something, and I think it's the cloak. Pearl tried to throw it out too, so it's already in a safe place. Why does he want it so bad? I went to the bathroom and Sid was in my room, just "looking for something". He went through my normal diary AND my first secret one. I wrote convincing entries in both diaries to make it sound like I wasn't on to him. Good thing I kept this one hidden.

* * *

Dear Secret Diary #2,

Sid went home, just before midnight. Him and Grandma watched a movie. They seem to like each other, even if he smells like puke. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

I woke up just now from a weird dream, where I was dressed up as the Grim Reaper and my face was a skull. Pretty scary.

* * *

Flint's Journal #7
Jan. 14

Holy crap. Not only did we catch a deer, but we got a freaking wolf too! It was snacking on a corpse when we got there. And then the scariest thing happened! The wolf got out of the trap by BREAKING its own FOOT!! It came after us, and my dad put a shot in it, but it kept running, so I took my dad's side-piece and blasted that sucker in the head when he was a meter away! Now we have meat AND a pelt, so that's pretty sweet. Dad said we never shoot wolves or any other animal unless we have the tools to skin it, the need to kill it, and the trap to catch it (fairly). Otherwise we'll kill them all and there won't be any next year.

Oh yeah, and that corpse the wolf was eating? A pig. We had to chase this big, grey crow off of it, and it was full of worms. No good to eat. The wolf was probably sick from it, too. It must have been dragging the pig from somewhere when it got caught. Dad said it has a brand on the side, so it belongs to a farmer. Probably Sid. Crazy, huh?

* * *

Adina's To-Do:

- Go shopping
- Get throat-mints & anti-allergens (Gietto)
- Find missing bracelet