FO4 | Book 0: The Diaries of Anarchy ✔️

September 10, 2281

It was bad news all around.

At eight o'clock this mornin', I had to say goodbye to one of my oldest friends, and my employer — Randy. He collapsed on the bartop as he was opening shop. The server and I tried to drag him to the doctor at first, but I knew we weren't gonna make it. The way he clutched his chest told me he was havin' a massive heart attack. The server ran out to get the doctor, and I performed chest compressions when I realized he wasn't breathin'. By the time the doctor got there, he was already gone. Started off my day with a fuckin' funeral.

To make matters worse, Mayor Thompson came out today and announced that he was down in his health, too. He also felt the need to apologize for adding onto the bad news, but he had planned his speech a week in advance.

"I will be stepping down in December while the city council arranges an election for the new year. Fear not, my citizens, for 2282 will be a wonderful year, and I trust your judgment. Whoever you decide to elect will be a fine Mayor. As for me, I plan on enjoying what time I have left with my loving family."

While the mayor told his speech on the wooden stage past the community garden, the other citizens and I sat on benches facing the stage, listenin' with heavy hearts.

Ol' Thompson was lookin' rough. He walked with a cane, and his hair had turned white. He had a hunchback and a softer voice than he used to. I recalled the time that he yelled at me and had me thrown in jail for three months. Damn, had it really been that long ago? So much has changed since then.

I glanced over at Guy who had nearly begun to mirror our old mayor. His hair had turned gray, he put on a little weight — no thanks to his beer gut — and his hands were getting wrinkles. There were smile lines and wrinkles around his eyes and nose. I felt for the guy — his hair turned gray faster than I expected. Hell, I was waitin' on mine to start turnin' any day now if genetics have anything to say about it.

Piper on the other side of me was furiously jotting down notes on her notepad. She wasn't gonna miss a thing when it came to the mayor's speech. This was gonna be in her paper for sure.

"You gettin' all this down?" I whispered.

She hid her notes from me and whispered back, "Yeah. No peeking, though. I'm adding notes as I go."

"You afraid I'm gonna steal your material?" I chuckled.

"That'll be the day."

"The day when...?"

"The day when Thompson comes down here and beats your scrawny ass with his cane. Now shut up and pay attention."

"What are you two whispering about?" Guy hissed. "Grow up, both of you."

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After the mayor's speech, I invited Piper and Nat over to hear me play a bit of guitar in Randy's honor, wishin' I coulda learned a little more from him before he passed.