The Diary That Wrote Back - Jason Richard (book club reads txt) 📗

January 1: 2009
Dear Diary
A Diary for Christmas. Not really what I wanted. I would have preferred a new videogame. Or a movie. Or maybe some readers for my blog. Still, I’ve got it, so I’ll write in it for a year. Even though I’m only fifteen I’m used to sharing my thoughts online for the world to see, not privately. Though I guess my blog has been pretty private of late. Other than that I don’t really have anything to say. Except I didn’t get what I wanted for Christmas :(
P.S. I wonder how many people use the :( or the :) in these kinds of diaries?

January 1
Dear Hector,
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t get what you wanted, but glad you got me instead. After all, a movie or a videogame can’t write back to you. Maybe you think a diary couldn’t either, but I’m a special diary, as you’ll soon find out. Looking forward to more from you. Oh, and you can use the :( and the :) all you want.

January 2
Dear Hector,
No, your sisters aren’t playing a joke and getting into your diary, and I don’t appreciate you freaking out over it and locking me in your underwear drawer. That’s very rude.

January 3
Dear Diary,
I’m sorry about the underwear drawer. I just had to be sure no one else was writing in here, and my sisters wouldn’t go near there with biohazard suits. I am a little freaked out. You’re right; I didn’t expect a Diary to write back. Heck, I hardly expect anything I write to get feedback these days. My blog certainly got none. Anyway, I always thought that texting was overrated. If you really want to talk, what do you think?

January 3
Dear Hector,
Glad you decided to write back to me. Personally I think texting is highly overrated. If you ask me there’s nothing like communicating with writing. Not pressing some buttons, but actually taking pencil to paper. It’s more personal. Know what I mean?

January 4
Yeah, I do. You’d think I’d been part of the texting generation, but I firmly prefer pencil and paper, for some reason. You know another thing I don’t get? Phones with videogames on them. If I want a handheld videogame, I’ll buy one. Save my phone for making calls, you know?

January 4
Dear Hector,
I know exactly what you mean. I think people are way too obsessed with technology these days. Of course maybe I shouldn’t say, or write that to a blog owner.

January 5
Dear Diary,
I think people are technology obsessive too. It was one of the things I wanted share on the blog. No one else around me listened. Still, no one listened on the blog either. I think I’ll stick to the diary. You know what I mean?

January 5
Dear Hector,
Oh yes I do. I know exactly what you’re talking about. You needed someone to listen. I completely understand.

January 6
Dear Diary,
Thanks. Listen, I found my sister Amy trying to peek at you. She couldn’t find the key, but she’s trying to read you. I should warn you, if they find I have a diary that writes back, they’ll probably freak out and you’ll end up in the garbage. A far worse place than my underwear drawer, let me tell you. Just thought I’d give you the heads up. Anyway, I wanted to talk about motion controls in videogames. I think they’re the next logical step, but want to see them implemented in cooler ways than we’ve been getting. What do you think?

January 6
Dear Hector,
Of course you’re right as usual. There’s new technology in games, and it should be used in new ways. If course it doesn’t affect me much. I don’t have any hands :)

January 7
Dear Diary,
That’s very true. I hate to say it, but you’re missing out. By the way, my Mom’s been asking about you. Dad’s been voicing concerns that I spend too much time thinking about my Diary, and that’s made both of them wonder what I write. I’m not sure what to do. They’d think I was crazy if they thought I was talking to a diary. What do you think?

January 7
Dear Hector,
I don’t suppose the underwear drawer is safe from your mother?

January 8
Dear Diary,
Nothing is safe from my mother. Tell you what; I’ll hide you in my school backpack and notebook, that way you’ll be camouflaged. You know, it’s the spider-man backpack.
P.S. I can’t believe they’re rebooting that movie franchise so soon.

January 8
Dear Hector,
Thanks, and I can’t believe they’re rebooting spider-man either. Suppose the actors end up in the same room. Someone says spider-man and they both say “Yes?”

January 9
Dear Diary,
Two spider-men say yes, LOL! That’s hilarious. By the way, hiding you in my backpack is working out nicely. No one notices you anymore, except at school by they already think I’m odd. I just have to keep you away from bullies. Nothing else to report for now.

January 9
Dear Hector,
I’m glad we’re safe. Don’t need family messing things up. Any, I was wondering, what are your favorite movie genres?

January 10
Dear Diary,
I’m glad you asked. I like fantasy and science fiction. Anything where you can escape from the world. Of course my Mom says I don’t spend enough time in the real world. She says I should go outside more. I’d go outside if we lived in middle earth :)

January 10
Dear Hector,
So would I! Of course I’d need legs too. Maybe I could get a wizard to turn me into a human. That would be cool.

January 11
Dear Diary,
Maybe that same wizard could make my sister Amy less annoying. Caught her trying to read this diary again. Searching through my school stuff! Honestly! Still, no one knows where talking. It would pain me if she read you. If she thought I was crazy she’d never let me live it down.

January 11
Dear Hector,
Your secrets are safe with me. Seriously, I can’t talk. And besides, you keep me locked. It’s not like she could break that. We’re safe, don’t worry.

January 12
Dear Diary,
You’re right. I just need to focus. Anyway, what do you think of the Avenger’s movie? They’re tying all these superhero movies together to put these characters into a single movie. Personally, I think that’s a really cool idea.

January 12
Dear Hector,
I think that’s really cool too. It’s not something I’ve ever heard of in movies before. Most movies are standalone in their own universe. Anyway, I’ve loved talking with you about this stuff.

January 13
Dear Diary,
Well, that would make you the first. No one else has ever listened to me. I think my mom still suspects that I write in you. She’s noticed my hiding you a couple of times. That, and me sneaking off to read you. I’m a little worried. You’re the only one whose ever listened to me. More or less.

January 13
Dear Hector,
It’s nothing to worry about. You can always say I’m a short story you’ve been working on for English class. She’d probably eat that up.

January 14
Dear Diary,
Hey your right! Why did I think of that? Nothing else to say. If Mom catches me, that’s what I’ll tell her. Thanks!

January 20
Dear Diary,
Sorry for the absence. Mom found you, and didn’t believe the short story story. I had to sneak into her room and steal you back. At least you didn’t end up in her underwear drawer right?

January 21
Diary? Where are you? Why haven’t you answered me? I’m sorry you were left. Alright? My Mom thinks I’m obsessed with you. She’s talking about therapy. I need to talk to you. Alright?

January 22
Diary? Where are you? Diary? Diary?! Diary?! I need to talk to you! Diary! Where are you?! Diary! Diary! Diary! Diary! Diary! Diary! Diary! Diary! Dia………………

January 23
Oh, by the way Amy, April fool!

Publication Date: 04-07-2011

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