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John went downstairs, and found that there was nobody there; at least, there was nobody in the kitchen. He went into the living room. No one. He went into his parent's room. Nada. He checked his brother's rooms. Empty. He checked his sister's room. Quiet. He went out into the yard. Silence. Where could everybody be? They couldn't all be gone at this hour! But there was nobody there, so they must be!
Oh well, John figured. It didn't make any sense, but at least he could get ready in peace.
So, John took his time getting ready that morning. He would probably be late, but he didn't care. He never got the whole house to himself! He took his sweet time in the bathroom; about 45 minutes, to be exact. Then, he made himself a very creative breakfast. He made instant oatmeal, mixed with corn flakes, topped with chocolate syrup and marshmallows. Then, he poured himself a tall glass of root beer to wash it all down. Then, he put a great big pile of generic food in the dog's bowl. Where was the dog this morning anyway?
After that, he got his winter coat and put it on. He didn't bother with his hat or gloves, since his mother wasn't here to scold him, and tell him he'd catch pneumonia. Then he opened the door, and went outside to begin the long trek to his school. Seven miles. On foot.

It was a crisp fall morning on October 7th. John loved the smell of the fall air, and the feel of the cool breeze on his skin. It was a shame he couldn't feel the breeze though, because his winter coat kept it from him. He hated having to wear the thing when the weather wasn't below 50 degrees. His mother was so overprotective; sometimes he wished she didn't worry about him at all.
The sun was glorious this morning. It was shining from a cloudless, pale blue sky. It was a shame that John's winter coat only made him resent the warmth radiating from the happy ball of gas. He was sweating all over, and he hadn't even walked half a mile yet. He felt he ought to just take the coat off. But he knew if he did that he would be spotted by one of his mother's friends. He didn't know why his mother liked having such busybodies as friends.
Perhaps it was these thoughts that kept John from noticing the peculiarity of his surroundings. He had been automatically looking both ways when he crossed streets, but there had been no need. There was nobody out. Not a soul roamed the streets of John's neighborhood. There was nobody waiting for buses on the corners. There was no traffic. There were no hostile dogs in people's yards. There was nobody coming out to pick up the morning paper. On John's way to school that morning, he didn't see a single living being outside, inside, or anywhere in between. He was completely alone.