Yet rather than revise his statement, Arthur doubled down, complaining that Conrad has a desktop computer while he – the injustice of it all – got saddled with his father’s old laptop. “I estimate I spend about five hours a day on computers,” Arthur, unapologetic, said. Of course, he also cherishes those two precocious, electronics-obsessed boys who balk at taking a break from their tablets. Quadriplegic, with limited use of his hands, Hill has forged ahead – enjoying outdoor activities such as skiing and SCUBA diving. “Somehow, I hit the water wrong and broke my neck,” he said. While in college, he fell off a boat dock while goofing off with friends. They’re not killing each other with baseball bats.” “But I didn’t want it to be a zombie apocalypse. “It’s about survival, self-reliance and challenges,” Hill said. Status Update: Shredding, e-waste event and Remix store debut honor Earth Day Rumors abound: nuclear war, space aliens, a computer virus, terrorism. Meanwhile, with no Internet or phones, the cause of the power outage remains mysterious. But Kyle’s family decides to shelter in place.” People disperse – neighbors head for the mountains on bike or by foot to reach lakes. “I wanted to show how a family of four living in Tustin might cope the first day, the first week, the first month,” Hill said. He recently self-published the book on, where it sells for $12.95. While in the process, Hill studied articles about “how to write dialogue, story arcs, all that basic stuff,” he said. “It’s fun to read about places in Tustin.” “I recommend it to my friends,” said Arthur, 13, soon to be a ninth-grader at Foothill High. Subscribe here.īoth boys give the book a thumbs up, even if it was inspired by their parents’ fuddy-duddy concerns. Sign up for The Localist, our daily email newsletter with handpicked stories relevant to where you live.

Alone Together by Robert Hill