Hello Diary,

Yesterday I was caring for my sick grandchild when my phone started ringing. And who else should call but a handsome gentleman I met at Dusty's? Sid himself, the meat farmer, wanted a date. I was so flustered, but I still said yes! I couldn't go out, because of my duty to the youngin'. So he came over to me! That old tom was a lad again for some steak and wine.

I can't remember the last time I had so much fun... not since Kyle. Sid reminded me of him, were he still around! He was old and grey as a storm, but strong and firm. Should I see him again? Say no if you can, my dear diary, I might ignore it.

~ Britta Beau

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Dear Secret Second Diary,

Did Sid use my toothbrush? No way, that's crazy. It smells weird though. Like meat. I'm not so hungry for meat anymore.

I don't want to sound extra insane, but I keep hearing this squealing whenever bacon hits the pan. Or when beef gets cut up and ground into patties, I hear it moo. And the chicken is the most annoying. You ever think about how we just call it "chicken"? Not "squawk-meat" (or "foul" like we used to), but "chicken". Like we don't care if it knows, or if we have to think about it when we see one that's alive.

Urgh, I'm gonna puke again.

- Drew

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Flint's Journal #8
Jan. 15

I thought things were bad at school before. Now everyone's beating each other up, yelling and screaming, girls are running around trying to steal kisses from boys... does everyone have cabin fever or is there something in the water?

I can barely hear myself think, and I definitely can't do my homework here. I can't do it at home, either, cause Dad's taking me trapping again. I'm going to the library, it's better than class right now. Mr. Wyld can come and find me if he even remembers I'm here.

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Jan.15

To the Preston Medical Council,

You may have heard that there's a sort of flu going around, with symptoms such as fatigue, soreness, dehydration, fever, nausea, and most notably aggression.

I myself have experienced this sickness take my body like a fire, and can confirm that while the fever is dreadful, the pit in my stomach and the rage in my bones is worse.

We may need to lock the city down, and begin recording cases. There is a potential epidemic here that we cannot allow to interrupt our daily lives, including the upcoming mayoral election.

Surely the members of PMC can recall my personal pledge to fund operations up to 46%, as opposed to the 0% promised by other candidates. We would not want to lose such a vital service to catastrophe.

Sincerely,
Mayor Maame Ladonna "Mamalade" Thompson.

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Sid's Log: 01/15
Truck, Outside Legislative Building

Finally sat down with Preston's mayor today. Had forgotten her name, but was quickly reminded that it is Mommy Thompson. Seems to idolize my manner, may have rubbed off some on her.

Very fortunate, things once again fall in line for the man with the meat. (That's not to imply intimate relations, mind you—I've got my cloudy eyes set on a delicate flower.)

That said, pork debut was missed. Should get sales numbers within the hour regardless. Perhaps my operation has grown to allow me some freedom?

Many a year now I've slaved my dry bones to this mill of flesh. Soon I may simply stand at its end and receive for all my tireless turning.

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Dear Diary,

So I may have exaggerated earlier when I said Pearl shoved and smacked me... it was more like a push and a slap upside the head. She did get really upset with me though, and she got that way again when I told her I couldn't eat the breakfast she made.

I'm just trying to eat right. I used to eat triple burgers with bacon and mayo, but something feels different now. I don't want meat shoved down my throat. Nobody does. Except Jet, I guess, cause he keeps asking for it. I keep giving him my lunch cause I'm tired of getting sick. He made some joke like "thanks for putting your meat in my mouth", which sounds pretty funny when you put it like that.

Anyway, Pearl needs a chill pill, and I need a good fruit salad or something.

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Dear Secret Second Diary,

I'm just so tired of hearing animal screams, all day and all night. They're coming from my plate, from my food, and when I think it's okay to eat because they stop, I hear them from my stomach! It's insane and horrible and I HATE IT!!!

That's why I'm only eating vegetarian for the rest of my life. I don't care if I have to get big and strong, I'm afraid of what's happening to me. Why doesn't anybody else hear this?

- Drew

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Jan.16
To Parents,

Preston Elementary Staff extend our sincerest condolences for the recent illness that has reached many of our students and homes, which has kept them not only in a state of distress while at school, but also bedridden in many cases. We will, in light of this, be offering take-home study packages and will postpone graded tests for the time being.

We ask that if your child is ill, that they please remain home until they are better, as our facility is only built to handle education, not healthcare. If they are healthy, they may attend a reduced-size class grouped by their grade.

Thank you for your understanding, and we wish everyone affected by this illness a speedy recovery.

Sincerely,
Preston Elementary School Staff

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Sid's Log: 01/16
Preston Pork Facility

Pork sales for Sunday: 6000kgs, $5/kg.
$30 000 income, across Preston, Flatstone and Hillwood.

A resounding success which has crushed competition. My brand, my world.

* * *

Pearl's Datebook

Treatment for Drew, Grandma watching him on days. Need more cough syrup and Vitamin C tabs for myself.

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Flint's Journal #9
Jan. 17

Caught a moose for the first time, Dad says in a few weeks I'll have a hat. Hoping he isn't serious about using its nuts as ear-flaps.

Drew wanted to hang out, but I had to tell him I was busy " growing up". I know that sounds mean, but he can be so annoying! It's like, damn, were you born a pest or did you sprout wings later?

Wildlife guys don't want us hunting right now, won't say why. We'll be quieter.

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Dear Hidden Tome of Thoughts and Feelings (Second Edition),

Been playing games, trying to figure out what might explain my hallucinations. There's Gotchimon, where you catch monsters and train them to fight, or feed and pet them, or whatever. You can listen to their "cries" in the Bestiary. They don't really sound like real animals! Also, you don't eat them. Then Pearl put on a movie called Dead Waters, about a crew of pirate ghosts trying to find the "golden fleece" from Greek myths. I thought that was interesting for four reasons:

- Pirate movies don't usually happen in Greece.
- My Language Arts class is about Greek Myths this month. Hephaestus and Hades are my favourites, but I got stuck writing about Demeter.
- The golden fleece turned out to just be a normal wool blanket with gold stitching, but it still gave the pirate ghosts their lives back. I guess because it's a movie and that's just how movies work.
- The ghosts were invisible, but they could be heard by the living, except on full moons when they became visible again.

Maybe these animals I'm hearing are ghosts!! But we already had our full moon on the 3rd, so I can't see them. Maybe I'm some kind of medium? As far as superpowers go, hearing ghosts is pretty cool, even if it sucks.

Also, Pearl made popcorn with chocolate, so I didn't have to eat any meat. I still threw up, though. I guess even plants can be unhealthy.