I went over my checklist one final time, making sure I was brining everything I needed to bring.
Over the past five days, I had gathered various pieces of lumber and the old wagon axle that was still sitting just behind our trailer. I'd have tried to take from one of the cars that we had around back, but it probably wasn't worth the effort needed. Although it was rather difficult to do with hooves, I manages to pieced together a wobbly makeshift wagon. It would have to do until I got to Dauphin, the nearest major city, as I remembered that there was an old, rusty wagon in an abandoned farmyard a few kilometers from the city down Highway 10. It was a long journey, and quite a few kilometers between here and there. Had I been a normal pony, I'd not have thought about going there, but being a huge pony, I figured I'd be about the right size to use something made for the average horse.
Sighing, I went over my checklist. "Canned food, check. Dog food, check. Something to sleep on, check. Tent, check. Laptop, check. Generator, check. Jerry cans, check. Lights, check. Candles, check. Blunt Weapon, check. Teacup....TEACUP!"
At the calling of his name, my dog, a German Shepard Blue Heeler cross, appeared from behind the trailer.
"Check," I said, a cool breeze sending shivers through my body, to which I responded by grabbing a quilt and throwing it over myself, fastening it around my neck with a pin. It would have to do, as my old shirts and coats didn't fit me anymore.
Of course there were a bunch of other things I had grabbed, mostly personal stuff, but had left them off the list, as it was for the essentials.
I turned to Teacup. "So, ready for an adventure?"
Teacup nodded in response. In the past, I'd always found Teacup to be able to respond to anything I said to him, be it a nod or a smile. What's more, it was odd he wasn't barking at me, despite the fact I wasn't exactly the 16 year old boy I was a month ago. Still, I wasn't going to question it. If anyone, or thing, tried to sneak up on me, he'd start barking like crazy, and I'd know something was afoot.
Content with the completion of my checklist, and with Teacup's response, I clumsily managed to get myself harnessed to my makeshift wagon, and, taking one last look at a home I would likely never see again, set out, Teacup close behind me.
It took me and Teacup the better part of two hours to get to town, but the journey seemed to be fruitless. The streets were all empty, as was the first place I thought to go, my Baba and Dedo's. They, too, were gone. I hoped beyond hope they were in a better place. I think of everyone to go, I'll miss them, and Great Baba Pasternak, the most. I mean, Baba Pasternak was in her nineties! If it weren't for the end of the world, she'd have probably just kept on going!
I decided that the next stop was to be Main Street, where all the grocery stores were. Most of the food was expired by now, but I took what I could get. Canned products from LB's, and all the booze from Bird's. Who knows, maybe I've taken a liking to alcohol? At least I don't have stomach problems any more, or at least, so far.
Too bad about my size, though. Being able to drive would be nice.
After getting what supplies I could from main street, I went on to the gas station at the edge of town, crossing Podolsky Honey Farms as I did. It was empty and quiet, save for the chirping of the birds. It seemed that the bees had all but up and left now that there was nobody to attend to them. I sighed. One of my uncles used to work there.
At the gas station, I filled up the jerry cans so that I could use the generator when the time came. I'm not sure, but I do hope there are solar panels in Dauphin. I'm sure Canadian Tire or Home Depot has some lying around, or on a rooftop somewhere.
Once again harnessed to my makeshift wagon, I took one last look at the place that I had called home since I was a child. Thoughts of memories long lost, and friends I would never see again crossed my mind, for it was true. Everything I had ever know was gone, leaving nothing but a trace. It was a fact I was only now coming to understand, though I still didn't want to accept it. They were gone, all of them, but here I was. Sighing, I looked back into my wagon. In town I had come across an old gramophone and some blank vinyl records. I figured that in the future I might find a way to put music I had on my laptop onto the records, just to break up the monotony of quietness. Perhaps I might need to go as far as Los Angeles to do that, but that could wait, I suppose. For now, I jest need to get to Dauphin and get that wagon.
A thought occurred to me right then. I can't be the only person left. Perhaps there's someone in Dauphin? Or maybe in Winnipeg? There HAS to be someone! Then again, what are the odds there's someone else who got turned into a pony within a hundred miles of me?
I sighed, lowering my head. It was hopeless, yes, but I still had to hope for something, for someone, to be out there.
Taking on final look over the home I would never see again, I set off, Teacup close behind me.