Monday, June 16, 2008

The Voice of Generation Dead

I was at the Haunted House the other day with Karen. We were looking at the "Wall of the Dead", where we post up all of the photos of zombies that we've taken or that people have sent us, and I commented that there were about twice as many as there were just a couple months ago.

Takayuki was playing cards on the floor with Tayshawn and this new kid everyone calls Popeye. Popeye is kind of weird--he never takes his sunglasses off, for starters, and he thinks he's an artist or something. Anyhow, he hears me make this comment and says "And we owe it all to you, Tommy Williams--the voice of Generation Dead." Imagine your most sarcastic friend using his/her most sarcastic tone, with a few speech pauses, and you'll be pretty close to how Popeye sounded.

Tak told him to shut up and play. Tak and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of things, but there's a grudging respect between us, I guess.Popeye did like he was told but his words got me thinking. I was standing there, looking at all these zombie kids, most of them lost or forgotten or abandoned, and his words rang in my ear. I almost felt dizzy.

"Don't be mad, Tommy," Karen said, like she could sense what I was feeling. She's got a habit of knowing my thoughts. "Even though he was being a jerk, he's right. And it's a good thing."

I hope she's right. There's more kids on that wall every day.

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

i can see you being the voice of the generation dead because you never think of yourself you are always thinking of others and caring for others if you saw someone that needed help you would not think twice about helping them but hay thats just what i think how i wish to one day be on that wall

Anonymous said...

psh what does this popeye person know anyway? your awsome, Tommy.

Anonymous said...

TOMMY! you're such an amazing writer this was my first piece of your blog that i ever read and i loved it!! You're a real inspiration!

Camilla Price said...

Can Karen, like, read minds or something? And I don't know what any of this has to do with each other...
But more kids are up there, because more kids die every day, is sad, really. Scary, almost.
But you are a good guy to have represent who we are. The zombie --Race?--I guess that's what I'll call it.

Camilla Price said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anna Banana said...

Your such an inspiration Tommy. IF I ever died I'd want to find myself or your doorstep, not some crazed white van driver. Ookay I'm not making any sense anymore, it's late and I'm tired....cuz i still have to sleep *eye roll* BUT HEY I HAVE GRADUATION TOMORROW! yay me!


Bye T-man.
Anna<3

Anonymous said...

Jeez, is Popeye always like that? And you do represent so you really are the voice of Generation Dead. But I don't know what Popeye has to be imbecile about it. I mean, you helped him out basically. I would have probably retorted some sarcastic comment to Popeye. But luckily you had Karen and Tak there. Just keep up the awesome thing that you are doing, Tommy.

~FrozenInsomniac

Kelsey said...

Phoebe, Karen, and me could be a real telepathetic group

Anonymous said...

Tommy you are such i great writer!!!
im almost done with the book but not quit soo idk wat happens but i was wondering if you still talk or hang out with phoebe or Adam??

Anonymous said...

Tommy you are such a good writer!!
and i havent finished the book yet but i was wondering if you still hang out or tal kto adam and phoebe??

Anonymous said...

Hm. Strange that that boy should feel so acidic towards you. I mean, what is his alternative? Sit around and do nothing? Act out agaist trad. biotic people? It's a shame that his anger makes him so short-sighted.

Another thing that struck me: you said that the pictures on the Wall are getting more and more numerous, just in a span of a few months. What is the world going to DO with all of these zombie kids? They can't keep ignoring you all for long. A couple hundred is easy to brush under the rug, I suppose - but what happens when the numbers exceed the thousands, tens of thousands?

They're going to have to acknowledge you someday, Tommy - keep writing. It'll be worth it.

Anonymous said...

very...true.
Karen is right
Popeye is just trying to annoy you
More Dead kids are showing up because...some...people are just stupid and have twisted minds and think its funny...but some kids...like my friend Anabelle(not a Zombie) Had a terrible accident and got killed...its terrible really...well Tommy, you really ARE great...well gone for now.

Anonymous said...

I really agree with your point of view. I mean there are more of us every day. But I didn't understand why Popeye is being so acidic to you, when all your trying to do is give us all a voice. You are amazing Tommy never forget that! ^-^

oOMermaidBubblesOo said...

aaw! takayuki is so cute wen hes all serious! xD
popeye sounds like a jerk
dont pay attention to his sarcasm, he proly ment it as an insult but its actually true

Anonymous said...

I was just listen to some music and I thought of a really funny song you should check out. It's called Zombie Dance by The Cramps. It makes me think of the Haunted House. . . .

Anonymous said...

wow it's amazing how many dead ppl there are. i can't believe it.

Summer Nickole said...

how's Phoebe?

Tommy Williams said...

She's...so alive.

Solstice said...

What is WRONG with that kid?

Anyways, that was brilliantly written and compellingly inspirational. So many teens die in America and all over the world every day of unnatural causes, and I can only imagine how the numbers begin to pile up. The government can't ignore you for long.

Anonymous said...

lol.. so alive.

Seriously though, are you guys still together? I'm a sucker for romance so I simply must know: do you love her? (and don't say "I love everyone" that's just a cop-ou.)

Camilla Price said...

Tommy, do you mind if I put your blog on my page? I know how you didn't really want people to know in the book, but people change and what not...
I want to know in case you don't want people to know about that...

Anonymous said...

hey i think that it would be cool if you officialy represented zombies across america it would be nice if they had someone to always admire and look up to i know if i died and came back id want to be able to have someone like you to be there for me.(sorry if i spelt anything wrong i dont usually write i just read.)

Anonymous said...

Tommy, you are the voice of Generation Dead. You're really amazing and inspiring, I swear you are. If anyone says otherwise, send them to me! I will personally deal with them. I will not hesitate to protect you, stand up for you, any of it! I know what it's like to be different. Not dead, but different. And I know what it's like to need a voice. I've always been different from other kids in my town. I've always needed someone else to stand up for me when I'm being ragged on. But now, I'm willing to stand up for myself and for someone else. I'm different than I was when I moved to my town, and it's a good thing. I'm stronger, calmer (relatively) and smarter. If ever you need my help with anything, anything at all, just e-mail me at nynjgirl@optonline.net anytime, and I'll respond as fast as possible. Anytime.

Anonymous said...

OMG! Tommy your a gr8 writer! This is the first post I read and loved it! So I read all the ones you posted from longs of time ago.
I read the book "Generation Dead" and loved it, but it made me cry at the end. I bet when you were alive you were so cool! Next post...I'll comment!

Anonymous said...

i agree with a lot of people here. you are awesome tommy and popeye doesnt know anything if he's disrespecting you like that. and what do you mean by "She's...so alive"?

~k~

Anonymous said...

dude, tommy, do not get discouraged man! if you think that bothers you, try talking to people like Phoebe or something. You know how she makes you feel.....alive.
Any way I wouldn't really think about it cause you thought he was a jerk anyways..let it go man.

Time for you and me to go do some yoga lol

Laura Bradley Rede said...

Hey Tommy, Zombies and friends,
I'm not a member of Generation Dead (I'm 36, so if I die I'll stay put) but I did identify strongly with the book because my 12 year old daughter has autism. She has a lot in common with you DB kids: she can't talk much, needs extra time to do things, and you can't tell what she's thinking from her facial expression. I wanted to say that I think you are all the voice of Generation Dead and I like what you have to say: that everyone should be included, and that no one should "lie down and play dead" when injustice is involved. At the risk of sounding like Skip Slydell, that's the first step :)
Keep up the good work!
RIP (Resist in Peace:)

Tommy Williams said...

Thanks, everyone, for the moral support. But really Popeye isn't such a bad guy--he and Tak just have differences about how we should act, that's all.

I try not to be too critical of other zombies--we all react to being dead in different ways.

On this thread, did everyone see camilla prices' lolcat icon? That is one of the best I've ever seen. Ceiling cat would be pleased.

Anonymous said...

TOMMY! You are so caring for other db, zombies, whatever you like calling yourselves and i believe in you! You are so the voice of Generation Dead! WOOHOO!

Anonymous said...

that is so true u are the voice of the dead and i hope to one day be on the wall

Taylor said...

ok i believe u r the voice of generation dead u r a leader and people living and dead should respect that and you don't care if a person is living or dead ur care about the person on the inside

Anonymous said...

Karen kinda reminds me of Alice in the book Twilight and I have no idea how to explain why...

I agree with most of these other people here, to me you are the voice of Generation Dead *no sarcasm included*

Anonymous said...

ok i have a question that will probably sound really dumb to anyone out there.
Are there honestly zombies out there? could somebody plz answer cause im really confused.

Abby said...

Tommy, you are doing a great job at helping others, don't listen to this popeye person, you are doing a terrific job and that's all that matters. and you are also a really good writer!!!

vampirexkiss said...

omg! such a great book, i loved it! and the blog is so amazing, tommy. :)

Natalie said...

i smell something...could it be the sequel to Generation Dead?!

zombiesrock95 said...

Popeye is right. You are the voice of the generation Dead. Sometimes people may just put it out in a different way. This may just be a way he is looking up to you. Give him and the thought a second chance.

Anonymous said...

eww this is so not the tommy from the book

Anonymous said...

uh... im kinda confused and i am in NO WAY trying to offend anybody but do you people think that this real?

Anonymous said...

u really are the voice of generation dead!

Anonymous said...

well to late you did!!!!!!!:[

Anonymous said...

your right think what you want:D but u dont need to share a meanthought like that people take his blog seriously. so id rather you not upset these people! and if u don't think it's real why are u on this blog.:D i'm not trying to be mean but how do you know that we aren't really zombies! next time thinkbefore u type something sweetie!!!:]

Anonymous said...

tommy is karen really telepathic? if she is can you tell her that she rox for me!!:]

*Fernii* said...

once again tommy im like in love with you hey can i be on the wall of the dead? hey if you have the time visit your myspace ok its mysocalledundeath@hotmail.com
atte.
fernii

*Fernii* said...

once again tommy im like in love with you hey can i be on the wall of the dead? hey if you have the time visit your myspace ok its mysocalledundeath@hotmail.com
atte.
fernii

Zombiegurl101 said...

Heyy Tommy I love You!!!! Can you PLEASE add me to the wall of the dead??? I'm differently biotic but i cant come to the haunted house!!! so please add me i would love to be there but i cant!!!!

Janel said...

i Just started meeting Popeye and im still confused about him. Tommy could you give me some backround?

Anonymous said...

Hey, Popeye isn't so bad. But trust me, you want him to keep his glasses on, love him but a bit freaky, even for a girl that's best friend is a demon and my ex is a grim reaper.

-KayKat