Life As We knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Author:Susan Beth Pfeffer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: OpenOffice.org 3.0
Published: 2009-08-08T04:00:00+00:00

Life As We knew It

It was a very Peter speech. At least he's stopped saying we should be careful with mosquitoes because they vanished when the frosts started. Thinking about Peter made me think about the hospital. At least there'd be people there. I biked around an extra half mile or so to avoid going straight through town and went to the hospital. Things really were different there from the last time. There were two armed guards standing in front of the main entrance and another two by the emergency door. There must have been 20 people standing by the emergency door. I went to the main door. “No visitors allowed,” one of the guards said. “If you have a medical emergency go to the emergency door and wait for a nurse to admit you.” “I need to talk to a police officer,” I said. “I went to the police station and there was nobody there.” “We can't help you,” the guard said. “We're privately hired. We have nothing to do with the police department.” “Why are you here?” I asked. “Where are the police?” “We're here to make sure no one enters the hospital who isn't in need of medical care,” the guard said. “We keep out people who want to steal food and supplies and drugs. I can't tell you where the police are.” “They've probably moved out,” the second guard said. “I know a couple of them took their families and started south about a month ago. Why do you need the police? Has anyone attacked you?” I shook my head. “Well, it's not wise for a girl your age to be out by herself,” the guard said. “I won't let my daughters or my wife go outside anymore unless I'm with them.” The other guard nodded. “Times like these, you can't be too careful,” he said. “No place is safe for a woman anymore.” “Thank you,” I said, although I have no idea what I was thanking them for. “I guess I'll go home now.” “Do that,” the guard said. “And stay home. Tell your parents they need to be more careful with their children. One day a girl like you might go out for a bike ride and never come home.” I shivered the entire ride home. Every shadow, every unexpected noise, made me jump. I won't go to the high school. The only way of getting there is through town. But the only way of getting to Maple Hill is by back routes. And anyone could be there as well. It isn't like I can count on Jonny to protect me. When I got in, Mom didn't notice that the library books were the same ones I'd taken with me. She asked if there were any letters from Dad, and I lied and said there weren't. It probably isn't a lie, but I felt bad saying it just the same. I don't know what to do. August 30 At supper tonight, Mom asked Jonny and me what we'd decided to do.

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