Day 1 to day 126
DAY 1
Well, the Big A is over and I survived. I made my way down to
the Kingdom
Hall this morning. By the end of the day, most of the
congregation had
gathered at the Hall. Some brothers and sisters are still
missing. Ed
Thorn, our presiding overseer, told us that those who were
missing should
have spent more time in field service.
DAY 2
Brother Thorn called a special meeting this morning. He
announced that he
and the other elders would now be assuming full authority over
our new
community until contact was reestablished with headquarters. All
decisions
regarding community regulations, living arrangements, work
assignments, and
other matters would be at the sole discretion of the elders. Sam
Greene
objected to this dictatorial policy until Thorn pulled out a
letter from
the Society dated several months ago which stated that, after
Armageddon,
the local body of elders would be responsible for all decisions
until
otherwise directed by te Society. Sam voiced no further
objections. The
rest of also accepted the new arrangement. The first new rule
was not long
in coming - all brothers and sisters were required to report to
the Kingdom
Hall at 8:00 every morning to receive work assignments and other
instructions.
DAY 3
Brother Thorn has assigned me to the burial detail. It seems
that most of
us single brothers have been assigned this unpleasant duty. The
dead bodies
are already starting to get to me. It sickens me to watch the
birds and
other animals scavenge the corpses. I actually saw a raven pluck
out an
eyeball today. Disgusting! Rob Johnson got a bulldozer running
and has
begun to dig a large common grave. My job is to go around
collecting bodies
and load them into the back of a pickup truck.
DAY 4
We had our first judicial hearing today. Larry and Sue Winters
had moved
into the McRae mansion in what was once the exclusive Cypress
Oaks
subdivision. The problem was that Sister Thorn had already had
her eye on
the place and, as wife of the presiding overseer, she figured
that she
should have first choice. Brother Thorn told Brother and Sister
Winter that
they had no right to claim anything without approval of the
elders. They
were ordered to get out of the house by nightfall. The Winters
were very
disappointed but they agreed to move out.
DAY 5
At the morning meeting, the Thorns announced that they would be
moving into
the McRae place. The Winters were livid, but they didn't say
anything. It
was also announced that the surrounding estate homes had been
assigned to
the other elders. Position has privledge, even in the New World.
Some of te
brothers have started calling the area "Elder Hill". It was also
announced
that anyone wanting to appropriate a home must first file a
request with te
elders. I have decided to stay in my own house. It doesn't seem
right to
move into someone else's home, even if they were worldly. It
makes me sad
when I go into someone's house and see the family pictures and
personal
belongings. Most of the others don't feel this way, it doesn't
bother them
to loot the dead.
DAY 8 The elders announced a new meeting schedule at the morning
meeting.
On Sunday, we will still have the public talk followed by a
study of old
Watchtower articles (until we get new magazines). On Tuesday
night, we will
have a congregational book study. The Service Meeting has been
canceled (no
need for it anymore) along with the Ministry School. They have
been
replaced by an instructional session to be held on Friday night.
This new
meeting will instruct us on how to conduct ourselves in the New
World
Society. The best thing, of course, is no more field service!
DAY 10
This burial work is taking a heavy toll on me. I can't help but
feel
saddened at the waste of so much human life. Why couldn't
Jehovah have
found a way to save more people? The children are the worst, I
can't stand
to see their little bodies anymore. I don't think I'll report
for work
tomorrow.
DAY 11
I didn't go to work today. Ed Thorn came by later in the morning
and asked
me why I wasn't at work. I told him I didn't feel well. He told
me to get
to work, that everyone feels well all the time in the New World.
He also
told me that depression and mental anxiety were things of the
past. Of
course, he doesn't have to bury the bodies.
DAY 14
It's been two weeks now. I really miss things like electricity
and running
water. I wonder if we'll ever get those things working again.
Rob Johnson
and I borrowed a generator from the Hall last night and hooked
it up to my
television and VCR. We had a great time watching some "Star
Trek" videos
and a tape of last year's Superbowl. I really miss television.
DAY 15
At the morning meeting, Brother Thorn publicly reprimanded Rob
and I for
watching television. The elders have decided that, henceforth,
watching
videos is prohibited since we do not want our new paradise to be
contaminated by the old world. Thorn speculated that one day we
might have
"theocratic television" from the Society. The Watchtower
Channel?! Spare
me!
DAY 20
Still no word from the Society. We have spoken to
representatives from
surrounding congregations but the elders are not allowing any
travel. Carol
Woods wanted to visit her sister in the next county to see if
she made it
through okay, but Brother Thorn told her to stay put and be
patient. After
all, she would have plenty of time to see her sister later. I
think that
was a cruel thing to say.
DAY 30
We finally finished most of the burial work. I am so relieved.
The
scavenger birds are still hanging around. I have grown to hate
the sight of
the fat, disgusting creatures. One of the damn things attacked
me today. I
guess they have acquired a taste for human flesh.
DAY 45
Many of the brothers and sisters are getting sick of being
bossed around by
the elders. They run things like an old South plantation, we are
the
slaves, they are the overseers. I have been reassigned to work
on the
communal farm. It is hard work, but it beats the burial detail.
Sam Greene
is organizing a committee to speak to the elders about some of
the
complaints that we all have.
DAY 47
The elders found out about Sam Greene's attempted "rebellion".
At the
morning meeting, he was publicly reprimanded and told to pray
for a humble
spirit. No one is to speak to him until he has shown proper
repentance. I
can't believe that we are disfellowshipping people in the New
World!
DAY 51
Today a messenger finally arrived from the Society. Wade Peters,
a young
Bethelite, arrived on horseback. He told us that the Society has
moved all
headquarters staff to Patterson after the destruction of New
York City. We
also received the first post-Armageddon Watchtower (now issued
quarterly).
Many of us had hoped that it would contain information allowing
us more
personal freedom but we were disappointed to read that we were
to keep
following the instructions of the local elders until further
notice. He
also gave the elders a copy of a new procedure manual (titled
"ORGANIZATION
FOR THE NEW WORLD"), but none of us were allowed to see it.
DAY 69
My best friend got married today in a shotgun wedding! Rob and
Sally
Kennedy were discovered together while engaged in a heavy
kissing session .
Sally's blouse was unbuttoned and Rob had his hand on her
exposed breast.
After a judicial meeting, Brother Thorn announced that they were
now
married, without a ceremony or anything! Rob objected
strenuously,
explaining that he and Sally had not had sex. Brother Thorn,
however,
declared that the decision was in keeping with the new elder
procedure
manual. Sally seems happy enough but Rob is in a state of shock.
I remember
he once told me that he liked Sally's body, but thought that she
was as
dumb as a box of rocks. Now he is married to her forever. I'll
have to
remember to keep my hands in my pockets when I date any sisters.
DAY 80
The newlyweds are not getting along. There has been a lot of
gossip about
their horrible spats. Rob confided to me today that he went to
the elders
in an attempt to get the marriage annulled. They told him that
according to
the Society's new procedure manual, no divorces or annulments
would be
allowed for any reason. In addition, all marriages now have to
be approved
by the local body of elders.
DAY 81
Sam Greene was reinstated today. He is still unhappy, but keeps
his
thoughts to himself now.
DAY 89
We are all in a state of shock! Rob committed suicide today. I
guess te
idea of spending eternity with Sally was not acceptable to him.
The elders
refused to let us hold a funeral service. I volunteered to bury
my friend.
Brother Thorn instructed me to bury him in the common grave
where we had
put the worldly persons. No one came to the graveside, not even
his widow.
I said a prayer for my friend. I will miss Rob greatly.
DAY 100
Life is becoming miserable for many of us. The elders keep
placing new
rules on us every day. We are told we must lead holy lives of
service and
submission. No dissent or discussion is allowed. It seems like
we had more
freedom before Armageddon. I never thought I would be nostalgic
about the
old world!
DAY 111
I can't take it here anymore. I am going to travel to my
brother's place,
about a hundred miles from here. Traveling on foot, I think I
can make it
in about five days. I wish I could get gasoline for my car. I'll
have to
sneak out, since the elders still aren't giving anyone
permission to
travel. I have stored some food and plan to leave tonight after
the curfew.
I hope my brother is still alive, maybe he will know if Mom and
Dad are
okay.
DAY 112
I made it out of town today. I wonder if they miss me yet? The
destruction
in the countryside is incredible. How will we ever rebuild
everything? I've
seen quite a few skeletons already. I guess there is still a lot
of burial
work to do before we build a paradise.
DAY 113
I ran into a group of brothers from Westview congregation. I was
detained
at gunpoint! Brother Thorn had gotten word to them to be on the
outlook for
me. I am furious! Why can't I visit my brother?
DAY 114
Ed Thorn and two ministerial servants arrived today to escort me
back
"home". They were all carrying guns.
DAY 115
After my attempted escape and several other disciplinary
problems involving
other brothers, the elders have now set up a gun-toting police
force. I
was, of course, disfellowshipped at the morning meeting. I have
been
assigned to latrine duty.
DAY 116
I was instructed to report to the Kingdom Hall after work for
"additional
instruction." I saw Sam Greene and a couple of other
"troublemakers" there.
We were subjected to an hour of "reindoctrination," mostly the
usual crap
about maintaining a servant's spirit and not to think too much of
ourselves. We were told to come back next week for more of the
same.
DAY 123
I blew up today at the reindoctrination meeting. I told Ed Thorn
that I was
sick of him acting like a theocratic Hitler. I also told him
that I was
leaving the community and that he better not try to stop me. Big
mistake.
Thorn called his police force in and had me arrested. I am being
detained
under armed guard in a makeshift jail cell in the Kingdom Hall
basement.
DAY 124
My judicial hearing is scheduled for tomorrow. Sam Greene came
by to see
me. When the guards were out of earshot, he told me that his
efforts to
contact the Society about the local elders had done no good. He
had been
told by the Society to keep quiet and obey the elders without
question. Sam
is very depressed about this and about my situation.
DAY 125
My judicial hearing was held today. Ed Thorn acted as lead
prosecutor. I,
of course, had no defense counsel and could call no witnesses.
After te
hearing, which was held in secret, I was judged guilty of being
an
unrepentant apostate. I was solemnly informed that according to
the
Society's instructions (as contained in "ORGANIZATION FOR THE
NEW WORLD"),
te punishment for apostasy is death by stoning. My execution is
scheduled
for tomorrow.
DAY 126
Well, this is the end. Later today, I will be led out for my
execution by
stoning. I would rather be shot in the back of the head, but the
Society
obviously feels that stoning provides a better object lesson. If
I get a
chance, I will throw one of the rocks back at Ed Thorn! The
funny thing is
that I don't really feel so bad about my impending demise. This
New World
Society is not my idea of a paradise and I don't want to live
with these
people for all eternity. From paradise lost to paradise regained
to
paradise lost again.
EPILOGUE
Everyone turned out for my stoning, even the kids. Ed Thorn
solemnly
pronounced my death sentence and then quoted scripture telling
everyone to
"not to let their eye feel sorry." No one did. My only regret is
that they
tied my hands behind my back so that I couldn't return any of
their rocks
with interest. Not very sporting. The last thing I saw before
the lights
went out was a sickening smirk on Thorn's face. Then I woke up.
In Heaven.
And there was St. Peter.
"Welcome to Paradise, my child" he said as he gently took my
hand.
Confused, I said "But I thought paradise was back on Earth with
the
Witnesses."
"No," explained St. Peter, "That was Hell."
Author unknown
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