3:00 p.m.

I did not see anyone as I left the alley behind the house. The streets appear to be absolutely empty. I walked down the sidewalk toward the market and the library, where I've walked so many times before. There is no one here. This city is empty. The library is located down the same street as the library. The market was a lot further down the street and I was really hungry. I decided since it seemed deserted to see if there was any food along the way. Most of the doors are closed. A few were open, looking like someone had kicked them in. I didn't see or hear anybody to I went in to a couple of the open doors. It looked like people threw everything around looking for something in those places. There is no food left in either the small bakery or the candy shop. Even the sacks of flour and sugar were gone.

I am nearly to the library now. Mrs. Browne's friend, Josh Martin, who owns the little cafe on the way to the library keeps his extra key around the back under a cement flower planter. I know this because Mrs. Browne had me help her take care of the place when Josh, I mean Mr. Martin was ill awhile back. It didn't look like his door was open, so I went around the back and let myself in with the key. He wasn't there, and it didn't look like anyone else had come in. There was a pile of dust on the floor, a lot of dust kind of looking like the wind had blown it in. That was really strange, because his cafe is usually really clean. I found some food and filled my backpack. I'll have to find a way to pay him back later. I sure wish I could find Mrs. Browne. I am worried about her.

After eating some bagged potato chips and some canned fish, I locked up the cafe again, noting there was still food left, in case, I needed to come back again later, and hid the key again under the concrete planter. I hadn't realized how weak I was getting until I ate the food. I felt much better by the time I'd reached the library steps. I still did not see anyone at all. I am getting really anxious now. What if there is no one else alive? I told myself not to panic, that there had to be someone else around and headed in to the library. The doors were unlocked as they usually are during the day. There was no one at the checkout desk though and no security guard at the door. It was really silent, no giggling kids, no tapping of shoes on the marble floors, no shusshing librarians. Weird!

I sat down and decided to drink one of the bottles of fruit juice I'd appropriated from the cafe and think for a minute. Then I remembered Mrs. Browne's favorite section was the mystery room on the second floor. I started walking up the stairs to the second floor. When I got to the landing, I saw the familiar knights armor display in the glass case, and turned to go towards the mystery room, when I thought I heard a noise, some talking. I quickly hid behind the knight's case, peeked my head around the corner and turned toward the noise. It was voices. It sounded like two people having a conversation, a medium voice and a higher one, maybe young. I could not make out quite what they were saying. They weren't yelling and there wasn't any other noise, so I decided to go see who they were. I found myself getting really excited, at the idea of seeing people again. I was feeling quite lonely and hoped I would find someone to talk to soon.

When I got up to one of the side rooms, I slowed and waited, listening to them talk. They could not see me yet. I wanted to be sure of who they were before they realized I was there. I heard a girl's voice telling of how her whole family was gone, and a boy crying, at least it sounded like he was. I peeked around the door and saw two strangers. I'd never seen either of these two people before. One was a boy, and the other a girl, a little younger. I thought they were both younger than me, upon looking at them. I guess I should have said something because when I stepped into the room, the girl saw me first and let out a bloodcurdling shriek. The boy turned aorund suddenly then, and they both stood looking at me frozen, their eyes wide open. They looked really tired and frightened. I remembered how bad I felt from the hunger. I walked toward them slowly, opening my backpack. I had plenty of food for now, and I knew where there was more. They looked to petrified, I said, "Hi. I'm Arthur. Would you like some food?"