Everyone in the World has Mysteriously Vanished

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The morning started with a cup of coffee and letting Sandy, my golden retriever out.  Saturday mornings are quiet in the neighborhood, as most of the neighbors work weekdays.  After a quick bite to eat, we went for a run.  I like waking early and being the only one out and about.  It is such a nice change of pace from my retail job where I have to be polite to people every day.

It wasn't until we arrived at the neighborhood park to throw the frisbee that I noticed no one else was around.  That was strange.  I snapped a picture and posted it on Facebook, just because no one would believe me!  Sandy caught the frisbee for 10 minutes or so and then sat down under a tree to cool off. Normally by now, someone has come over to ask if they can pet her.  It's a great way to meet people but this morning it seemed that we were off our game.  Where was everyone?

We headed home and I checked Facebook to see how many people had liked my picture of the park.  Zero.  Zilch.  That was when I noticed it.  my timeline appeared to stop at 8:05pm the night before.  There were no new posts, no new ways to cook a meal, no funny cay videos.  The only thing on my feed was ads and only posts.  I checked several more sites and started to worry that I had been hacked.

Then I started calling people.  My mom first.  Say what you will but I call my mom every Saturday and catch up on the week.  I started doing that after her heart attack last year.  No answer.  Friends, family, no one answered.

I have read enough scify books to know this is bad.  I knew I was overreacting but I started making a go-bag.  I could comeback to house later but I wanted some stuff with me.  A couple of gallon jugs of water, my pocket knife, my camping gear, and a bag of dog food.  Sandy and I got in the truck and started to drive.

There were no cars moving.  At 11am, there were no people out.  There were several cars sitting in the middle of the road but I worked my way around them.  Then I started to notice the dogs barking in the back yards.  No one was coming to let them out.  I imagine no one was going to let the pets inside the house out.

I drove to the 24 hour grocery store.  There were still cars in the parking lot and the doors slid open automatically but not one was there.  The checkout lanes still tried to push the groceries forward but no one was there to ring them out.  No one was there to pay.

I was the only one there.  Don't panic.  Don't be that person that flips out.  Gather supplies.  Plan long term.  What do I need?  Food, water, shelter, protection, fuel, answers.  I grabbed my first cart and went to work.  Protein, carbs, nuts, coffee.  I filled the cart with some food that could be frozen and most food that shelf stable.

Where was everyone?  Why was I left? No! Stay focused.  Survive.

Second cart I filled with water.

Third cart got two rifles and two handguns with ammo from the sporting section, a large machete (because I had always wanted one), several boxes of lighters, batteries, flashlights and a pack of playing cards.  I even peeked into the warehouse portion of the store but that still felt strange to go back there.

Fourth cart I filled with dog food.

After I had filled my carts, I looked around for generators and chest freezers.  They had them but I would have to come back with a trailer and a way to load them.   How long would the electricity stay on if I was the last person left?

*I planned on writing for 10 minutes but it was closer to 20.  This is without edits, just a brainstorm to help get the ideas flowing.  I enjoyed the exercise and was really captivated by the animals trapped in the houses unable to get out to find food.

If A New Continent Suddenly Appeared...

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Report: A new continent has formed in the middle of the Atlantic ocean.  Many nations are interested in what this could mean.  The US says they want to send scientists to study the phenomenon.  These scientists will study the way the land developed, how it will effect the ocean, and if there are any usable resources.  Of course, the US Navy will be providing transportation and support.

Several other countries are also sending scientists to study the island, including the UK, Brazil, Mexico, and Spain.  While all countries are saying, so far, that the island is free and should be preserved as a new habitat, there are some that look at is a new resource to be exploited.  If oil is found or a new form of geo-thermal energy can be harnessed, one can imagine the ramifications with so many nations interested.

There are also individuals that have expressed interest on living on the island.  Joshua Kennedy, captain of the ship that discovered the new island, has claimed it as his own.  He has planted a flag on the island (made from colored bed sheets) and his crew is supporting his claim in exchange for generous land grants and ocean front property.  They are currently disputing claims from other nations, promising to "retaliate" if anyone else makes landfall.  It will be interesting to see how 19 men plan to hold an island the size of Texas.

*Please note this is a 10 minute brainstorm to spur my creativity.  It does not relate to any real people or places.

Where He Disappeared

She was sure this was where he had disappeared.  There was nowhere else for him to go.  But how?

She had first caught sight of him several nights ago, at the edge of the forest.  Their eyes had met, then he was gone.  The next night, she had looked for him, but to no avail.  This night, she was ready, lantern at hand and when she saw him again, she followed.  It never occurred to her to call out.  He would not have stopped.  She did not feel afraid of him, though the forest at night was not a safe place.

At first, she could see him plainly.  His shoulder length hair moved gently in the evening breeze.  His clothes were that of woodsman, easy to blend in with the surroundings, difficult to tear.  He glanced back, maybe he smiled, then moved on.

Later, she caught fewer glances of him but she could hear his foot falls in the damp leaves.  They moved steadily, without pause, deeper into the forest.  She turned back once, a fleeting thought of giving up the pursuit, but a snapping twig brought her back to the course.

Finally, she was only following the dew track in the leaves.  They lead here.  At her feet was a hole in the ground.  It did not appear to be dug, but more of a sink hole, the earth caving in rather than being moved.  His tracks were gone.

Then, emanating from the hole at her feet, the question, "Will you follow me even here?"

Deck Hand or Librarian

Deck Hand or Librarian

If you were forced to spend the rest of your life as either a deckhand on a ship or as a librarian at a prestigious university, which would you choose and why?

I would choose to be a librarian instead of a deckhand for several reasons.  First, as a librarian at a prestigious university, I would be able to choose the books I wanted to read.  I read a lot and having free access to thousands of books has a strong appeal.  I could check out as many as I wanted and perhaps even read on the job.  Second, it appeals to my organizational side.  Not that I am always organized, but that I desire to be organized.  Third, I would probably have some say in what books were purchased, again going back to reading the books I wanted to for free.

Also, as a librarian at a prestigious university, I would have access to the university itself.  There is always something going on at a campus.  Free access to the gym and racquetball facilities, staff lunches, and the excitement of seeing students struggle through the semesters.  I do well in the academic year, with a nice christmas and summer off schedule.  

Finally, it would allow me to pursue my true calling as a superhero.  The mild mannered librarian is simply a cover for the secret exploits of the Jade Warrior!  My martial artist skills are unparalleled.  My gadgets and gizmos give me a strong tech edge over villains.  But, my secret power sets me apart from all the other superheroes.  When I gaze at a cat, both our eyes glaze over into jade.  We communicate, I can see what the cat sees, and ask the cat to do certain tasks.  This allows me to infiltrate tough secure areas and mess with the enemy's mind in untold ways.  

Yes, the life of the librarian is the life for me.  Mild mannered, never assuming librarian by day, Jade Warrior by night!

* Please note that this was written as a 10 minute brainstorm.  If there is a copy write Jade Warrior somewhere (there must be, the name is too cool), I apologize.