Andy

Excerpts From the Diary of Irene Billings

Sept 3, 2027: We unpacked the last of our boxes today and Mom says that we'll get settled into our new life soon. I wish we weren't living in a stinky basement! It's so dark and I'm afraid of the spiders. School starts on Monday and I'm scared that the other kids will laugh at me because my backpack is worn out and I don't have a cell phone. Mom says we can't afford a cell phone since rent in this city is so high. If her new job goes well I'll be able to get one soon. I miss Saint John already! I wish we had never come here!

July 15, 2034: Our landlord came by the apartment and told us that his son was going to be moving into our apartment. We have two months to find a new place. Mom says we'll have to move in with another family and have roomates. This sucks.

April 1, 2038: I've decided that I won't come back to school next year. I don't see how any of this is going to help me make any money and Amy says she can get me a job at Third Rail bussing tables. She says her roommate is moving out of the den and she can rent it to me for $1400. I’m so glad Amy's in my life.

Aug 18, 2045: I finally got on DISS today. I forgot how much I missed Drake!

March 1, 2050: Two more girls moved in with us today. This place is getting awfully cramped. And these mice are driving me crazy. Me and Amy were talking about trying to find a place on our own but rent is crazy everywhere!

Feb 26, 2053: Amy is drinking again. I'm really worried about her. She spends all day talking to Drake and getting wasted. I think she's going to lose her job and then what are we going to do?

October 10, 2054: Horrible news today. They're going to tear down our building. Where am I going to go? I've been bartending for so long! It's not like I can just get a job at 6ixCorp. I'm going to try to keep my job but I don't know where I'm going to live.

Dec 15, 1954: We locked ourselves in our apartment. We tried everything but those terrible robots broke down the door. Now we're out in the street without a pot to piss in. And for what? So some ritch bitch can live in a giant condo?

Jan 1,2055: It's so cold in the ravine. It rained all night last night. At least the tent held up. The couple in the tent next to us got soaked and their daughter is very sick. I'm really worried about Amy, she's drinking that awful stuff from the “shamen” and I think it's making her really sick. We're not getting along but who would be surprised. We're living in a damn tent!

May 3, 2055: The rain finally stopped today. That's a relief but now that it's getting hotter it's really starting to smell like shit. I heard about three kids going missing last night and there have been a lot of coyotes lately. I'm scared. It's so hard down here and if we go into the city trying to get a little something to eat those snobs will call the robots. Drake says that things are going to get better soon but I don't know, this is pretty bad.

July 16, 2056: I went to the protest today. There were tens of thousands of us, a ragged mass. Bronson got arrested when he threw a brick through a window. Shamen my ass! That man is nothing but trouble, I really don't see what Amy sees in him.

Oct 30, 2056: The robots hit us hard today. We had to move further up the valley. I don't know who set the fire but the trees around sherbourne are all gone now. No shelter in the city any more. Amy was too drunk to move so me and Bronson had to carry her. Drake tells me that the POTC wants to work with us so that we can get housing for everyone. God I hope he's right.

Feb 15, 2057: It's worse than ever. The park is so cramped and full of shit that I can't stand it. Death and disease is all around.

June 15, 2057: POTC swept the election today. I'm glad. I think they're going to fix this mess but a lot of people around here are really mad. But what are you going to do, obviously you can't vote. How are you supposed to register? Irene Billings, address…under the goddamn bridge? Haha. I fear violence.

Aug 12, 2057: Drake showed me the riots today. Jesus! So much of the city was burning! And I swear I saw amy throwing a molotov cocktail on Bay St. I'm so glad I stayed in the dugout! It's getting really scary.

Sept 10, 2057: It finally happened! A state of Emergency has been called! They're going to give 6ixCorp the money for housing projects! Drake says I can move into one of the first units. Amy says she won't go. I don't understand her anymore. I don't know why she doesn't trust Drake. It's that damn Bronson, I've never liked him.

Nov 22, 2058: Drake told me to get back to the Rosedale Ravine today so I snuck out of the Don. There were a few hundred of us there by night. Soon we'll all be indoors. The robots came to give us nutrition at sunset. The POTC is alright by me. I don't see why Amy and Bronson and everyone else doesn't want to just get along. They should just listen to Drake and everything will be fine.

April 16, 1958: I moved into my place today! It's small but at least I'm not hungry. At least I'm dry. I spent the whole afternoon just talking to Drake. I'm so thankful it's embarrassing.

July 31, 1959: I spent the day talking to Drake. He really is so kind. He told me that riots had broken out again. Apparently 6ixCorp is going to make fences to keep us safe in the Borderlands. I think that's a great idea.

March 20, 2060: Drake showed me Amy today. She got shot down by a robot trying to sabotage the Outer Six Barrier. I hadn’t thought of her for so long. I'd almost forgotten her all together. It was weird to see her just lying there though. Oh well, I guess you get what you deserve.