Becky’s Online Reading Group

Life As We Knew It
Day 7
Chapters 18-19

Chapter 18
This chapter starts off amazingly cheery. It’s December. It’s Christmas time. They’re finding reasons to be thankful for what they do have.

They decorate the clothes line and have a “horizontal Christmas tree.”

Carolers on the street.

Christmas. Miranda calls it “the best Christmas ever.” More food than usual. Presents. Recycled presents mostly. But it is the thought that counts after all. Miranda gets a new journal (a diary) and Mrs. Nesbitt’s watch.

Scrabble and schoolwork. Singing. Decorating the sun room. Practicing on the skis so they can get around outside.

January 5th. A hint of danger.

The chapter ends with Miranda being worried.

Chapter 19

“They’re sick.” (294)

January isn’t starting off so good. January 10th. Mom shows sign of being sick. Jonny and Matt soon follow suit. And when Miranda goes to the hospital she finds something worse. It’s practically deserted. It’s no longer guarded. Doctors and patients alike are dead and dying. The flu. An epidemic that hasn’t really been seen in such widespread terms since 1918. This is big news. Peter is dead. He died a hero. But dead is dead as far as Miranda can tell.

January 13th. What a scare! Miranda is the only one well enough to react. What a strain physically and emotionally and mentally to be responsible for three people. She handled it all on her own. Did what needed to be done. Trusted her instincts. This shows how much she’s grown, she’s changed.

January 21. People are starting to feel better. To recuperate. But she’s having to feed them three meals a day to get them there.

Miranda is now in charge and doing all the work, making all the plans.

Matt can’t even go up 4 steps on the stair case. He can barely walk without exhausting himself completely.

Just curious…has everyone finished up??? It seems a good many have. If you haven’t finished, that’s okay too. I know I sped up the postings because most people were ahead of schedule if not finished completely I’m hoping everyone will come back to say how they liked it! There is only one more posting to go…the last two chapters. I’ll be posting it tomorrow.