Diary: Alone on Earth

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Diary:   Alone on Earth - Prologue

November 16th, 2016, will be a day of confusion. There will be distorted signals on TV and radio, with news commentators saying that it is a sunspot, that global warming is increasing, and presenting a multitude of excuses that can neither be proven nor disproved. Animals will be acting strangely. In fact, it will be reported on MSNBC that President Obama has put the U.S. military on DEFCON 3 due to an intermittent humming throughout the USA and the world. President Elect Sarah Palin will argue that the military should be placed at DEFCON 4. No one apparently knows what is causing the humming noise, but government officials are positive it isn't emanating from any single country, nor is it coming from outer space. No one - including David, whose experiences are being written into this diary - knows what to make of it.

David is a complicated man. He lost the only love of his life in an accident at home, and has never forgiven himself for not responding sooner to save his beloved wife. His reaction has been to cut himself off from the world and society at large by living in the small town of Axis, Alabama, pop. 341.   He lives a quiet, sedate life with Ralph, his beagle, concerned with no one but himself.

That all changes on November 16th, 2016, where David goes to bed hoping everything will be sorted out in the morning. For once, he allows his beloved dog to sleep at the foot of his bed. Both of them are feeling scared, a little sick for some reason, and tired. David believes everything will be cleared up in the morning.

He is wrong.

My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.

I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.

Psalms 120: 6,7

Alone on Earth – Entry #1

November 16, 2016

7:12AM

Dear Diary,

I awoke this morning to a slight humming noise, which I thought was coming from the communications center. But I turned it down low in case of any incoming calls or email. I went outside, and then it stopped just as suddenly as it had started. Ralph was whining the entire time. The humming lasted only about 2 or 3 minutes. A few years ago, I would have said it was coming from power lines, except there are no power lines any longer. I need to take Ralph in to town for a checkup, he’s been acting funny for the past few days.

9:30AM

Dear Diary,

The vet could find nothing wrong with Ralph, who is 8 years old now. I’m not sure what I’m going to do when he dies, I’m really attached to that animal. The humming noise started up again while I was in town, only this time it lasted longer…about five minutes. The vet and I stepped outside, trying to figure out where in the world it was coming from. The talking heads, those local TV news reporters, interrupted programming to tell everyone what we already knew: There is a humming noise that can’t be located, it’s coming from the sky is the best I can say. The sound lasted about 15 minutes this time. It irritates my ears more than anything, and seems to be hurting all the animals in the vet's office much worse. Note to self: I need to go to my sister’s house to pick up those tools she borrowed from me.

11:41AM

Dear Diary,

I don’t know how to explain this. On the way back home from my sister’s house, birds were falling out of the sky…dead as a door nail. Two landed on the hood of my truck and caused some minor damage. I counted about 27 birds lying on the road on my way back home before I gave up. Something is wrong, really wrong! MSNBC   has officials from NASA saying the humming sound has to be due to some kind of electronic synchronization that I didn’t completely understand. Two scientists said it was sun spots, one that it was due to global warming. Neither excuse made sense to me. How can any electronic malfunction cause humming all around the world, as they're now reporting on all major networks? I’m convinced no one knows what is causing this.

2:07PM

Dear Diary,

Power has gone out four times since my last entry. I’m very thankful I still have my old windup Big Ben alarm clock. People laugh at me for keeping old windup clocks and watches, but I am glad I have them now. I have probably made more entries in this old diary notebook than at any other time since I started over five years ago. When I called my brother on my wrist video phone, he picked up, but the picture was distorted and I could barely understand him. In fact, all TV and radio signals are distorted today. It has to be due to the humming noise that no one can explain at the moment.

5:17PM

Dear Diary,

Nothing on the communications center but talk about the humming noise, which is still ongoing as I write this. All major networks have someone with some kind of degree giving his or her theory. Internet II is almost impossible to access due to so many people being online at once. I counted 11 dead squirrels and 37 dead birds in my backyard a few minutes ago. Something is terribly wrong, and no one is telling us what this could be! Ralph is also acting strange, he actually growled at me when I started to pet him. He's never, ever growled at me in the 8 years I've owned him. Today, have had numerous relatives and friends coming over to my house, crying and in near hysterics about this humming phenomenon. My brother asked me to join him at his house tonight, but I declined. People are saying it’s the end of the world, an asteroid is headed this way, the rapture is about to take place…you name it, people are saying it.

6:09PM

Dear Diary,

President Obama has placed the entire U.S. armed forces at DEFCON 3. President-Elect Palin stated that with an unknown such as this humming noise, we should be at DEFCON 4…at least. Many people are theorizing that this is something Russia has devised since they are well on their way to losing the second Cold War. That doesn’t make sense: Animals have been dying at an alarming rate all over Earth, including Russia! Birds seem to be especially hard hit, they're like a continual thud on my roof. It has been reported that thousands of people all over the world have committed suicide due to this incessant humming. It's like when your ear rings, but more painful. Power went out about 5:30 and just came back on about 10 minutes ago. There are power blackouts like this all over the world.

7:48PM

Dear Diary,

This has been a day like no other in history. Nations all over the world are at their highest military alert waiting for something. Western nations are convinced Russia is up to something. Russia is convinced the USA is at the bottom of this humming noise. No one, and I mean NO ONE, knows what is causing this. Everyone is saying it’s not coming from outer space. But how do they know for sure? India has invaded Pakistan for reasons unknown at this time. The entire world is on edge. I admit it…I’m scared. I regret not taking my brother up on his offer to spend the night at his home. I tried calling him again on my WVP, but found it impossible to connect.

8:42PM

Dear Diary,

Humming noise has stopped again, the difference being that it has been over thirty minutes this time. I am hoping, praying it has stopped permanently.

10:05PM

Dear Diary,

Humming has still not come back. I have been dreading almost every minute of this day, thinking the humming would return after stopping for a period of time. Anyone has yet to be able to definitively explain what has caused this noise all around the world. Ralph seems to have calmed down as well. In fact, he is eating after refusing to eat all day. Networks are flooded with people discussing this. President Obama has been on TV twice today trying to calm people down, all to no avail. People are still freaking out. My neighbor of 12 years, Brenda, killed herself with her .357 magnum about 3PM today. They live about a mile from me, and we have visited each other quite often. They are my closest neighbor living out here in the country. Her husband, Mike, and their children are beside themselves tonight with grief - as are many other people, I would imagine. I hope this ordeal is over. This is simply unbelievable.

10:30PM

Dear Diary,

I’ve had enough for one day. I’m tired, I don’t feel good. Ralph acts like he is sick too. In fact, after eating for the first time today, he threw up on the kitchen floor. I can look out my back door and see dead squirrels, birds, opossum, and others I can’t make out. I have a mess to clean up in the morning. I’m going to bed. I’m going to let Ralph sleep at the foot of my bed tonight. I don’t usually do that, but I just need someone close by tonight. Hopefully, things will be explained tomorrow to everyone’s satisfaction. This has been a terrible day. It’s time for some sleep.

Alone on Earth – Entry #2   

November 17, 2016

6:51AM

Dear Diary

I have awakened to another power outage. There is no humming noise that caused such chaos yesterday. But there has been no power for almost four hours since the wall clock that was plugged into a wall outlet stopped at 3:17AM. Ralph was not at the foot of my bed when I woke up. He went out the little doggie door I built for him four years ago, but he is usually barking. I'm going to go outside and clean up the dead birds and other animals that I saw late last night.

7:42AM

Dear Diary

All the birds, opossums   and other dead animals have vanished! I have no idea what has become of them. Did someone come and haul them off while I was sleeping ? And where is Ralph? I can’t find him anywhere in spite of having called to him for at least 30 minutes. I have tried calling my brother on my wrist video phone (WVP), but either he isn't answering, the distortion of yesterday is back, or he didn’t charge it last night. This battery is weak on my WVP, even though I just charged it last week! I have tried calling the utility company and encountered the same problem, no answer. In fact, I've called about six different numbers and received no answer. I fear yesterday's distortion is back, but there is no humming today. It is in times like these that I wish I didn’t live so far out in the country, 26 miles from town. Still, I'm going to just get in my truck and head into town to see what is going on. I hope Ralph comes back from his morning trek into the woods. It is unlike him not to answer my calling him, so I'm worried both about him and the fact that I can’t contact anyone.

8:26AM

Dear Diary

Batteries in both my ’06 Honda Civic and ’95 Nissan Truck are dead! This is impossible! I went to get a flashlight that I put fresh batteries in two days ago, and the batteries are dead in that, too. I've checked all the batteries in my house: All size EE batteries are dead. These batteries last at least a year, they are only two months old. I am at a loss to explain this. Now, my AVP is completely dead. I can’t contact anyone, and my options are limited. My neighbor Mike, whose wife Brenda committed suicide yesterday, is about a mile away. I have an old Murray bicycle that I have not ridden in about six months. I suppose I will ride it to their house and see if they are still there. Mike said something yesterday about going into town to stay near the mortuary where Brenda was taken. I will get on my bicycle and ride there to see if anyone is home. No sign of Ralph thus far, and I am sick with worry about him. I thought I heard his barking a few minutes ago, but I can't be sure. I wonder if my fear is causing me to hallucinate.

12:17PM

Dear Diary

I went to Mike’s house. No one was there, I suppose he and his kids are in town. I’m not used to riding a bicycle, it wore me out. I am grilling some steaks on the grill. Being old-fashioned, I still prefer the old charcoal style grill. I am so hungry. Writing this, I am wondering what to do next. I can’t contact anyone; my AVP is dead, the communications center being down since I still don’t have power. Still no Ralph….that is weighing on my mind as much as no power and no means to contact the outside world. Those steaks are ready, I think. My freezer is starting to melt…I sure hope power will be restored soon.

4:02PM

Dear Diary

Still no power. I keep getting this sinking feeling that something is terribly wrong. From the events of yesterday, it makes me think a catastrophic event has taken place. But I have no way of finding out, no way to contact ANYONE. Power has never been out this much unless there was a hurricane here in the gulf. But this is November, and no word of a hurricane as of yesterday. Of course, we are now getting hurricanes in January and February. Those steaks were good, I was very hungry. I ate some potato salad I bought from Wal-Mart Tuesday. My freezer is continuing to melt.

7:36PM

Dear Diary

It is getting dark. If not for my Timex windup watch and my Big Ben alarm clock, I wouldn’t even know what time it is. I am crying as I write this in my old notebook by a candle. I am sick about Ralph. I keep thinking I hear him barking, but every time I call him, the barking stops. I think I could be hallucinating again. I haven't seen one person come down this lonely country road. You see at least 100 cars come down this road during the day, but I haven't seen one car. Something is wrong…really wrong. Plus, I have not seen one single bird today. Not one. I have not seen the raccoon that usually comes around dusk to raid my garbage can. I wish I could see him now. God how I wish I could see him. I have not seen one human being today. It may be the first time that has happened in my entire adult life. I am going to pray extra hard tonight.

10:34PM

Dear Diary

I am going to go to sleep now in total, complete darkness. I can’t even see the Moon tonight due to an overcast sky. I again thought I heard Ralph, who has a distinctive bark that only I can identify with as his owner. I have prayed and cried like no other time in my life, feeling so completely alone. But that is not possible. Is it? If only my brother or sister would come over. No batteries are working anywhere in my house, and there's no explanation for that which I can think of at this time. I am short on blood pressure medication. I must have that refilled soon. If nothing else, I will ride that bicycle 26 miles into Mobile, AL. That will completely exhaust me, I know. I will bring my diary notebook with me to record everything. I have a bad feeling of what I might find. I pray that everything will be normal in the morning. I pray that power will be back on. I pray that Ralph will come back home. I pray that God will make sense of this to me in the morning. I pray…

Alone on Earth – Entry #3   

November 18, 2016

5:14AM

Dear Diary

I am up this early with the knowledge the power is still out. I am very despondent with the realization of this fact. I had hoped Alabama Power   would at least have trucks out this way to the utility sensors to restore power. But thus far…nothing. In fact, I have not seen one vehicle go down this lonely stretch of road outside of Mobile, AL, in the past 24 hours. I am currently using candles as a light source. Every battery I have in this house, every size battery, is dead. There is something that has caused this from the humming noise of couple of days ago. That is my theory, anyway. I am quite worried about Ralph. My little beagle has been missing since yesterday morning. That is not like him. That is not like him AT ALL. If it wasn’t so dark, I would go out and search for him. I am going to start looking for him after I eat a cold breakfast of cereal without milk. Everything in my refrigerator/freezer is going bad.

7:37AM

Dear Diary

Still no sign of Ralph. I have searched and called to him for at least an hour now. I know I heard him howling at least once during this last search, but just as soon as I called his name and started running in the direction of the howl, it ceased. Breakfast was a bowl of dry corn flakes. I have to go into town for groceries. But the fact that there are no cars or trucks or ANYTHING coming down this road in front of my house makes me think that something is terribly wrong. There has to have been a catastrophic event taking place, but I have no way of finding out what it was. The only way I can find out what's going on is going into town, which means a bicycle trip of 25-30 miles. I am currently thinking of doing this now. I am taking my .38 special with me. I don’t know what lies in front of me as I leave, so I'll feel better with protection. I dearly wish I could find Ralph.

10:16AM

Dear Diary

I have decided to go into town. I have no choice. I am low on blood pressure medicine. I am low on groceries since everything in my refrigerator is now spoiled. I cannot contact anyone since my WVP is dead. The fact that both batteries in my car and truck are dead remains a mystery to me. All flashlight batteries, radio batteries…every battery I have in this house is dead. Why??? I don’t understand what is going on. I am taking a 10x12 tarp, which I have rolled as tightly as I can. I have it on the bicycle. I may need it in case it rains. I have the .38 special in my vest jacket. It is fully loaded. I have at least 15 rounds of ammo in my other vest pocket. I am bringing a canteen of water, light blanket, BP medicine, 4 cans of Vienna sausage, beef jerky, and my Bible. I don’t know what awaits me. I fear what awaits me. I am leaving as soon as I finish up this entry and tuck this diary notebook away in my satchel. It is bound to be slow going with everything I am taking on the bike.

11:07AM

Dear Diary

I am at my nearest neighbor’s house, Mike and his family. They are all still gone. I think he is in town to be near his wife at the mortuary, where she is at now. Her suicide a couple of days ago was just one more dire consequence of that humming noise all across the world. No word as to when Mike will be back. I'm going to rest and then continue my journey to Mobile.

5:35PM

Dear Diary

I am at the city limits of Mobile after an incredibly tough trip. Items I need for traveling on this trip kept falling off the bicycle. There were abandoned cars in the middle of hwy 43, so my worst fears are being realized. Something terrible has happened. I have no inkling yet as to what it could be. A white substance, similar to salt, has crept inside all the cars that I have looked at. Keys were still in the ignitions. Of course, they will not start…batteries are all dead. No sign of anyone. Not one person. This is gut wrenching on a scale I have never imagined. I am staying tonight at a condo that has no one here. If the owners come home, I will be delighted to have them call the police and have me arrested. At least, I will know civilization still exists. But tonight, I will be staying in this very nice brick condo just outside of town. All the food in their refrigerator is, of course, spoiled. I will eat a German Chocolate cake left on top of their oven, then make some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for supper from what they have here. I will read some comic books in the den for entertainment. I will not have to use any of my candles since there are many decorative candles here. I am sure they won’t mind.

7:05PM

Dear Diary

I thought I heard something just outside the front door of this condo. Thinking it was the owners, I raced to the door to let them know I was harmless. But there was nothing there. I KNOW I heard something. And, I might as well mention this…ever since I left my home this morning, I have been getting the feeling someone or something was watching me. I stopped riding the bicycle twice when this feeling became overpowering, but I saw absolutely nothing. Just as now…a noise, but nothing there. I don’t know if it is my imagination, my fear getting the best of me, or what. I just know that from now on, I will keep the safety off this .38 and hope I don’t accidentally shoot myself. Sleep will be restless again tonight, I fear.

9:48PM

Dear Diary

I am going to bed early. I want to get up early in the morning, then head into town. I want to see what has happened first hand. I fear I won’t like what I am going to find. It is just an innate dread I have inside me right now. I don’t know what has happened to everybody. Did everyone take off for an undisclosed spot that wasn’t announced due to the power blackout? I can’t imagine what that could be.

Whoever owns this condo did a great job of keeping it up. It is very clean, and I will try to leave it in the same condition as I found it. I will also leave a note of thanks with an apology for using their home for this one night. I still miss Ralph so much! Things would be much easier with him around. I haven't seen any animals; dogs, cats, birds…nothing. No people either. I cannot begin to understand what has happened. I want to believe that Ralph is still around somewhere, trying to find me. What could have happened??? I hope he is home waiting for me when I get back. That may be in two days, it may be in three days, I don’t know right now. It is so very dark. You can’t see anything outside. Skies are continuing to be overcast. So, no moonlight tonight once again. I have had a very hard day. I am tired. I am scared. I am confused. I need answers. Tomorrow, I expect to find the answers I seek. What I find may not be what I want to see. Dear God…help me.

Alone on Earth – Entry #4   

November 19, 2016

5:37AM

Dear Diary

I am preparing to leave the safe confines of this very nice condo, and am very apprehensive this morning as I gather my belongings to continue my trip into town. I have about 3 miles to go before I will be in the very heart of the city. I slept very little last night; kept dreaming Ralph was lost somewhere in the woods. He is weighing heavily on my mind. The fact that all animals seem to be missing, along with every human being between my home and Mobile, does not bode well for Ralph. I don’t know why, but I still think he's alive. It’s just a feeling. Or maybe it’s just hope, I don’t know. I have eaten some sardines and crackers for breakfast. Again, everything in the refrigerator of this condo is spoiled by now. What I wouldn’t give for a ribeye at Outback Steakhouse   about now! Yes, even at this early hour in the morning. I am just delaying the inevitable, I need to close out this entry and venture into town.

9:19AM

Dear Diary

The worst possible scenario has greeted me as I came into town just a couple of hours ago. The entire city of Mobile is a ghost town. Cars are all over Water St., abandoned. In some of them, there is that odd looking powder, salt-like in texture. But it is not in all the vehicles. I am afraid to speculate what this powder is right now. Newspapers, soft drink cans rattle down the pavement as I walk my bicycle down deserted streets. The few skyscrapers in Mobile