Entry Eleven

Dear Diary,

          I've been sick, really sick. I couldn't update with my head in a bucket. At first I thought I had the virus, but although I look like a zombie and feel worse, I think it's more food poisoning, less pre-living death.

         Joe's been amazing, he's been looking after me and all the kids. Casey's been so good with April, and Thomas, well Joe found him a Optimus Prime sleeping bag, so I didn't have to vomit in my HAZMAT suit.  The kids know to stay away from me. Vanessa is my protector, she tells everyone- "Don't go near Jenny, 'cuz you'll 'fect her!" Non-stop all day. Black eyes can convey a

surprising amount of expression. But it's Vanessa's 5yo foot stamp that really gets her point across.

       If I wasn't so preoccupied with feeling disgusting, I would have room to feel impressed by her commitment to her task. I don't think in all my 17 years that I have ever been so dedicated to a cause. Here, my spate of naked selfies spring to mind again. But, this is a diary about apocalyptic events, not

adolescent attention grabs. Wouldn't want to step on Bieber's toes!

         Vanessa and the other kids come from a foster housing unit across the street from Joe's house, but they were in his house when he went to look for his Dad. Apparently his Dad had come back, and helped these kids, told them to wait there until he returned. Joe had wanted to wait, but then cats had started appearing, massive amounts of them filling every part of the street, followed by a hoard of reanimated over 10s.  These were different, changed. They were loping along the street on all fours, howling. Screeching to each other, sniffing the air.

        Joe got lucky, he said. Got the kids to stay real quiet and wait for the wave to pass by the house. He thinks the only reason they weren't found was because there were so many BEKs outside. If the reanimated were hunting, they didn't need to flush more prey. After the street was empty, Joe got the kids' community bus and I already said what happened after that.

        We are still in the Jewellery Shop but now that I'm strong enough to write, I think we will return to the bus tomorrow.  We have to get out of the city, away from people. Joe got some tourist guides from Walmart and thinks we should head over to a national park not too far from here. After spending the last days with my head in a plastic bucket and my bum on a porcelain toilet seat, anywhere else sounds perfect to me. Joe's been packing the kids BOBs -- camping equipment, marshmallows, he even has a guitar.  Everything needed for a round of Kumbya at the end of the world camp fire we will start with the 160 boxes of Redhead matches Joe has stuffed into my jacket pockets.  Fingers crossed the bus is still there. In appreciation of Joe's work ethic, here's the mountain of branding I just woke up to. Good job Joe, you certainly put the Disney in disease!

Update soon.