December 29, 2077

That all happened yesterday. This is what's happening now. After I left the Vault I walked down a little path that led to where I used to live, Green Oats. It was just a little Texas town that was nothing good or bad. I saw the town from a distance and it looked just how I remember Green Oats, but as I got closer to the town it was obvious that it was a different story up close.

Almost all of the buildings were burned down and those that remained were hardly recognizable, I thought that the ground was softer than I remember until I realized that I was not stepping on ground but I was stepping on ash. The remains of buildings and those who lived here. I needed a moment to take it all in. I decided to find my apartments to see if they were still there so I could hopefully have a place of rest for the night.

I found them and they were damaged but not so much. The gates to the place had disappeared which I thought was pretty strange until I realized that they had melted due to the force of the bombs. I quickly found the apartment that belonged to, Number 2299; I opened the door and went inside.

Although some stuff had fallen down and broken, the place was the same as I remembered it. I found my bed intact, most of the dishware not broken and almost everything in good condition. But there was something still here that I needed. I walked to my bedroom and moved the bed to look under it. Yep it was still there, my safe where I had hidden my most important possessions. I put in the pass (2299) and it opened quickly. There I found a couple of Stimpaks, some Nuka Cola, and my keys to the Safe in the bar where I worked. I was about to walk away when I noticed something else in my safe. I reached inside and pulled out a pornographic magazine. "American Girls International". I looked at the cover; it depicted a blonde with large breasts on a bed sporting an American flag theme. I had forgotten the magazine. I had found when I was placing items in the Lost and Found box at work. It was just sitting there and no one was looking so I just took it. I still remember lying in my bed at night and looking at it for the first time. Ah fond memories.

I opened my bag and placed my newly found supplies inside along with the magazine because, hey you never know.

Afterwards I left my apartments a thought came to mind. There was no one here to enforce the law and there was a whole town in front of me. I don't know what it was but all of a sudden this feeling of want came to me and I realized all of the things I had ever seen at stores that I could have never gotten all mine now.

I ran to the nearest store, Mickey's Hardware and Tools. I walked inside and found the cash register. It was locked and I was about to leave when I realized that I had the means to open it. I took out my 10mm pistol and shot it open. It burst open revealing the green inside, I took it all and placed it in my bag. I left the store and saw night waning across the landscape and then I remembered something that the Overseer had told me in a training session.

"This is not your country as you remember it, radiation can create new species overnight beware what's out there."

I ran back to my apartment and closed the door. I went in my room dropped my bag and went to my bed. I thought I would never sleep until my eyes dropped as soon as I got into bed.

December 30, 2077

I decided that I should probably get a move on so I decided to leave Green Oats today. I packed my things and left my apartments, aware that it was probably the last time I would see them. As I was leaving the apartments I heard something growl. I got out my pistol and aimed at where the noise had come from, I could feel my heart beating quickly. Then the thing barked. BARK!

I realized that it sounded familiar; I went to where the bark had come from. There was a locked door and I broke it open. And a blue heeler breed dog ran forward except I knew that bark!

"Taylor!" I cried.

The dog came up to me and licked my face. He used to be my neighbor's dog and I would take care of him while they had things to do. I loved him and he loved me. He locked as if he had not eaten a lot so I took out a bottle of my precious water and gave him some. He quickly had a face of satisfaction and I thought "Oh what the hell?" I gave him the rest of the bottle. He quickly drank it all but he looked up at me and whined. The poor little bastard must still be hungry I thought. I went inside my neighbor's house and found some boxes of dog treats. I feed him 3 and I could see his tail wagging.

"Good boy", I said.

I was leaving when Taylor ran up to me. I could still see his tail wagging.

"You want to come with me Taylor?"

His tail wagged some more.

"Alright well let's go."

I now had a companion for my journey.