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Member: Squire Tatum Copeland
Service Number: 10000299
Date of Birth: 04-18-2211
Date of Death: 09-02-2222
Place of Death: Lost Hills
Chapter: West Coast
Duty Stations: Lost Hills
Archive Submission: Journal Entry

[Due to the Squire's young age when diary was written, Journal Entry needed editing and transcription to legible/literate format for archive submission]

[Displayed are only the selected journal entries for Squire Tatum Copeland - See Senior Scribe Jonas Eckler for original full journal entry.]

07-23-2217 (Age 6)

Hello Diary! Teacher Scribe Rollins gave us these notebooks for schoolwork, but I'm using mine for my own writing. She's nice, but I don't like having to go to school. I told mom that I didn't want to go a lot, but she says I have to. I don't understand why all the grown ups get to do whatever they want, and I have to go to school to learn about silly things. Dumb Squire Ben is mean to me.

08-10-2217 (Age 6)

School is fun sometimes. Everything we learn seems dumb, but Teacher Rollins says we need to know everything to be good members of the Brotherhood when we grow up. Mom and Teacher says I'm really smart and that makes me happy. I got Dog stamp (A Grade) on my test about the big war. Mom said that she was going to make me a cake with her food stamps for that. Dumb Squire Ben only got a Cow (C Grade) on his test and when I told mom, she said he was going to be a Paladin. Mom's a Scribe and said she wants me to be one too when I grow up. Dad's a Paladin but he's super smart. Not like dumb Squire Ben. Mom said Dad is going to come back from outside soon.

08-29-2217 (Age 6)

Dad came back today and was in the dorm when I was done with school. Dad scooped me up and gave me a thousand kisses. He said he wasn't allowed to tell me where he went until I get older, but mom told him how good I was doing in school.

I like school when I do good. Teacher Rollins says I'm the smartest in class and thinks I'll be a good Scribe just like my Mom. School is getting hard too, but I like it if I do better than dumb Squire Ben. He was mad at me when I got another Dog on our test about the Brotherhood Orders. He called me stupid, but Teacher Rollins kept him after class to talk to him.

10-12-2217 (Age 6)

We are doing family histories today until the Bomb Day. We had to go home after school and talk to our parents about where our families come from and we are working on family trees. When I talked to Dad, he told me that my great grandpa was Roger Maxson's best friend. Mom came from the families back then, but her Dad died at the mutant base when she was young like me. Dad and Mom say that I'm smart because my great grandpa was so close with Roger Maxson. I'm way smarter than dumb Squire Ben.

04-18-2219 (Age 8)

I can't believe Mom gave me a party with balloons and confetti like I was 5. I love mom though and the party was fun. I wish Dad was there for it, but he had to go out again like all my birthdays. Thank goodness school is cancelled for the next week for the security drill, but since we're having to stay put soon, everyone wanted to go to my party. Alisa gave me a shiny brass buckle for my robes as my present that said "BFFs" scratched into it. I love Alisa. Everyone else was nice and wished me happy birthday or gave me and mom more ration coupons. It was a good birthday though, and everyone was nice. Even Squire Ben came, but he was nicer than he was normally. I think he just wanted cake. I was nice to give him some and he said thank you.

07-09-2219 (Age 8)

School is going well. Dad came back and he brought me some boxing gloves to practice with him now that we're going to be learning fighting. We do have a big test coming up about the Master and I had to ask dad about Super Mutants. He fights them a lot up top, and says they're mean and ugly just like the stories. Scribe Rollins showed us the lab below us and we got to see one of the monsters up close. It was gross. I'm glad Dad gets to drive them away from us.

08-01-2219 (Age 8)

We got to fight each other in school and try our moves on each other. I watched close in the classes and Dad helped a lot when I come home. Squire Ben chose to fight with me and I was scared because he was really good. I beat him! I felt good when I beat him but he was smiling and happy. Knight Instructor said he wasn't trying, but he was and I beat him anyway. Dad was so happy and showed me more moves and mom gave me a hug.

02-23-2220 (Age 8)

We're almost done with school for a while and that last exam was hard. I wrote a whole paper about the reason we had trade a mainframe with Vault 13 in 2180 and only got a B+! It was perfect and I even talked with Scribe McNeely who sees our library and was there for it. Scribe Rollins has been strange since her brother went to level 6. I didn't even know we had a level 6 here. Squire Ben is really funny and knows how to make me laugh.

05-05-2221 (Age 10)

I spent last night in the Rec room with Squire Ben. He's been my best friend for a long time. I read some of my old diary entries about him and it makes me blush when I see some of the things I wrote. But, Ben and I were really young. Since we're both ten now, Squire School is coming to an end. We won't be Initiates until we're sixteen, but when we're eleven, we'll pick our pathways and mentor under a Scribe or Knight.

Ben and I talked and had fun for a long time in the Rec room. We even hid behind the couch when Head Paladin and some of his buddies came in to drink and listen to the radio. They were so busy chatting loud about stuff that Ben turned off the radio from behind the couch. Every time the radio turned off, a Paladin would turn it on again. Then, Ben would turn it off again. They got so mad but it was so funny! One of the Paladins snapped and followed the cord behind the couch where he saw us laughing. Head Paladin told us to leave and we ran away while he said he would tell our parents. It was so funny as we ran away. Squire Ben was so funny. It was a fun night. In the end I gave Ben a peck on the cheek for making me laugh and he left. I hope I didn't make him uncomfortable.

06-11-2221 (Age 10)

Me and Ben worked all day on our group project. Ben picked Energy Systems for it, thinking I'd be smart enough for that. It's hard! He should have picked Bunker Support Systems! That's way easier.

04-20-2222 (Age 11)

I was the last one to turn eleven in our Squire Group, so everyone was waiting for me to turn eleven before Scribe Rollins graduated us from Squire School. Mom and Dad were so proud of me, and Ben's Dad was there too. His Mom went to level 6 a long time ago, but Mom and Dad were close with his Dad since he's been my best friend for so long.

At the end of the graduation, Scribe Rollins had us come aside to tell her which pathway we want to go. Ben and I talked about this a lot. I wanted to be like Mom, but I wanted to be tough and strong like Dad. We could change our pathway at sixteen, so I don't think it mattered too much what I chose. I wanted to go wherever Ben went, and he really wanted to be a Paladin like both his parents were. I told Scribe Rollins that I wanted to be a Knight, and she asked if I was sure. She said I would be better as a Scribe, but I know Ben chose Knight.

05-01-2222 (Age 11)

I didn't know they'd make me cut my hair when I chose to be a Knight! I don't think I ever cried more in my life, but I kept it back the best I could since Ben was there too. I wanted to change to Scribe, but Paladin Ford said I had to stick with my choices. I asked why Initiate Knights don't have to cut their hair, and he said that the child size environmental helmets are very tight around the head. I didn't feel too bad when I saw Alisa cry in the barber chair. I wish I went with Sarah as a Scribe. That would have been the worst day of my life if Ben didn't find me after and tell me I was still pretty. He's either too sweet, or a good liar.

06-15-2222 (Age 11)

After weeks of preparing and training with Knight Lord the Squire Instructor, he said he was giving us the first patrol. That was our initiation into Knight mentorship since Knights can become Paladins. We were going to be following Paladin Acosta II on a short patrol around the bunker up top. None of us ever seen the wasteland before, so I was scared. I know Paladin Acosta II was strong and smart, but I asked if I can go with my Dad or Ben's Dad. Both of them had bunker duty, and so we had to go with Paladin Acosta II.

06-24-2222 (Age 11)

We went up top last week, and the wasteland was scary. It was good we had tinted goggles on our helmets because the sun was so bright. I never thought it would be that bright before, but all that nothing was overwhelming. I saw pictures in school about the Lost Hills bunker, but I didn't believe it when I saw it as a little bunker surrounded by so much sand. I thought those pictures were just for stories.

We followed Paladin Acosta II and his men around for a long time, but they had the big suits with air conditioning. They stopped for the Squires and let us study a half buried "Car" on something that used to be called a "Highway." Ben and I ate our lunch on the car and the others walked around. Alisa and Ben asked about the Paladins' laser guns, but I was too hot and tired. I didn't think the sun would be so hot until the sun went away. Paladin Acosta II told us to head back and led the way as a big dust storm came in. We made it back before things got too bad, but since then I've been a little sick.

07-06-2222 (Age 11)

Most of our Knight training was about machines and stuff. We learned about bunker systems and how to fix basic gizmos. Ben struggles with a lot of it since he always said I was the smart one, but I help him. I was good with the indoor stuff. Then, Knight Lord said we were going to get to go out again since our trip to the top was short because of the storm. I was excited to do it, but, I've been feeling groggy since then. Tomorrow we're going to start practice fighting again for that.

07-09-2222 (Age 11)

I fainted in the training room the other day. I don't know what happened. All I know is we were practicing moves and paired up. I picked Ben again and we were about to start when my eyes went blurry and I fell. I woke up later in the sick bay with Mom and Dad and Ben and Knight Lord standing over my bed. Knight Doctor came in when Mom told him I woke up and he said he didn't know what was wrong. They said I would have just been dehydrated if I didn't start coughing blood when I was asleep. Knight Doctor told Mom to bring my things to the room since I was going to be here a while. I felt weak. I feel too weak to write anymore.

07-14-2222 (Age 11)

Doctor says he still doesn't know what's wrong with me. I keep coughing and I feel so tired even after I was asleep for days. I wake up to see Mom and Dad or eat. Ben is here too. Everyone's been great to me.

07-22-2222 (Age 11)

Hello Tatum's Diary. This is Squire Ben Vaughn writing. Tatum is doing ok. She's still sleeping most of the time and she told me I could write in this for her. Her Mom and Dad are here all day and all night, and I try to be here when I can. I come first thing after my training and stay till my Dad gets off his shift. Doctor came back the other day with news. It wasn't much news. All he said was that she had some immune system disorder and her lungs got infected somehow. I wish I paid more attention in school to know what that all meant because her Mom and Dad won't tell me. All they do now is cry, but they stay strong when she's awake. Her Dad did get to stay here and not go on that mission since Tatum was so sick.

08-17-2222 (Age 11)

I try to write in this when I can for her, but she's awake less often and she doesn't say much. She was awake when I was here yesterday, and her parents finally told her that she didn't have much longer. I wish they didn't tell her, or me because that was too much. Tatum was too weak to cry but I saw her face and I held her tight next to her. Her parents were so sad and held her with me. Tatum was sad but she was happy we were with her.

08-30-2222 (Age 11)

4 days ago was the last time I saw my best friend awake. She doesn't get up for meals anymore, and coughs most of the time when she does and then passes out again. I talked to her that day and she said she knew she was going to die soon. I don't cry in front of my pals, but I love Tatum. Her parents were sitting beside us and tears came from her eyes. Before closing her eyes to sleep again, her Mom and Dad got close to hear her talk and she said, "I love you Mom" "I love you Dad" and "I love you Ben." Before her eyes shut, she said, "You made me happy."

I had to leave after that since I didn't want to cry like a baby, but I gave her a kiss on the cheek and I hope she felt it. I don't know what to do. The machines say she's still alive, but she hasn't talked since then.

09-02-2222 (Age 11)

Tatum died today. My best friend and her parents only daughter is gone. I got to squeeze her hand one more time before the doctor took her away. I heard about something called "Prayer" once from my Dad. I don't know how to do that, but I know she's with me right now in this book. Tatum, if you're reading this somehow, you had a wonderful life and parents who loved you so so much. I love you too, and I'll always remember you.

Legacy: The illness that took Squire Tatum Copeland on 09-02-2222 is still unknown. Our Brothers and Sisters do not always leave us at such a young age, but when they do, it is every member's duty to remember them and honor the future that they could have had in our organization. This diary was found in the possession of Paladin Benjamin Vaughn who perished during the Siege of Navarro in February of 2245. Paladin Benjamin Vaughn never forgot his Sister of Steel and we can only hope the two are finally reunited.

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