Rusty's Secret

6. Soggy Cereal

Friday, April 3rd, 2026

Rusty sat at the table in his darkened kitchen as dark clouds blocked the sun outside. He stared down at his un-eaten bowl of soggy cereal his mum made for him. He didn't take a single bite since he got it. It's been exactly a week since his father died. He wasn't getting any better. Each day that passed by, he felt worse and worse.

His mum walked into the room. "Rusty honey, I know you're going through a hard time, but I don't want you starving yourself over this..." She sighed. Rusty hasn't eaten in days. He avoided every meal that was put in front of him. He didn't say anything. He looked at her with a lifeless stare. "Can you please eat some food?" She asked. Rusty sighed as he began to force feed himself the soggy cereal. He almost gagged with each bite he swallowed. "Thank you..." She said as she looked through the cabinets.

Rusty saw his bus outside the window. He picked up his backpack as he began to walk towards the front door. "Can you bring your umbrella? Looks like there's a storm coming" She warned him as she looked at the dark clouds outside. He ignored her as he shut the door behind him. He waved goodbye to Digger and Dusty, waiting by the bus stop.

He stepped onto the bus as a couple of rain drops began to hit the windows. He sat down next to Jack as the bus started to move again. "Hey, Rusty..." Jack said with a smile. Rusty looked at him with a blank stare and looked back down at the floor. Jack put his hand over Rusty's as the bus got closer to the school.

The hallways were dark and gray, the whole school seemed dead. Jack and Rusty sat in Mrs. Collie's class. Everyone looked out the window as they heard thunder echoing in the distance.

Jack tried to talk to Rusty during the lesson to cheer him up. He made funny faces and cracked jokes while the teacher taught her lesson. Rusty looked over at him. "Can you leave me alone? I'm trying to pay attention!" Rusty shouted silently. Jack's smile faded away. "I-I was trying to make you happy..." Jack said quietly. "Quit it!" Ruty said angirly. "I-I'm sorry..." Jack apologized as he turned back to the teacher. The room lit up as lighting struck the ground nearby. Everyone jumped when the bang of thunder occurred. Jack's leg started shaking as he tapped his foot onto the ground. He fidgeted with his fingers as the teacher continued her lecture. "Can you stop tapping your foot! I can't focus...." Rusty yelled as he looked back at Jack. "S-Sorry..." Jack said quietly as he tried to control his leg.

Everyone sat together at lunch as it started to downpour outside. The lights started to flicker as lightning struck outside the school. Rusty stared down at his lunchbox, not even bothering to unzip it. "Rusty, are you gonna eat anything?" Jack questioned. Rusty shook his head no. "Rusty, we're all worried about you. Can you eat something please..." Bluey begged. Rusty pushed his lunchbox onto the floor. Jack started to tap his foot again. His breathing got a little heavier. "You okay, Jack?" Mackenzie asked worrily. Jack gave him a nod and a worried smile.

"Stop tapping your leg it's annoying!" Rusty shouted. "Rusty! Leave him alone!" Mackenzie yelled at him. "Sorry...I'll stop..." Jack apologized with a fake smile. "And can you stop apologizing!" Rusty said rudley. "I'm sorry..." Jack said with his head down. "Rusty, what is wrong with you? This isn't like you!" Mackenzie argued. They all went quiet as they heard the rumbling of thunder outside.

Everyone looked around as the bell echoed through the room. Everyone threw away their trash as Rusty angirly got out of his seat and stormed into the hallway. Jack went after him. "Rusty, wait!" Jack shouted from across the hall. "Leave me alone, Jack!" Rusty yelled. "I just want to help you!" Jack argued as he caught up with him. "You can't! Nothing will ever make me feel alright!" Rusty cried. "But I want to help!" Jack yelled as they kept walking. "Jack, quit it!" Rusty shouted. "But, Rusty, I-"

"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE NORMAL!" Rustys screamed at the top of his lungs as they stopped walking. Jack stepped back. Rusty covered his mouth as tears began to flood his eyes. Rusty ran down the hall away from Jack. "Rusty, wait up!" Jack yelled as he watched Rusty disappear into the bathroom. Bluey and Mackenzie caught up with Jack in the hall. "Jack, what's wrong? Where's Rusty?" Bluey asked. Jack looked at her with tears in his eyes as he walked down the hall to look for Rusty. "Jack! Where are you going!" Bluey shouted. "I'm just going!" Jack screamed as he walked away. "C'mon, we gotta get to class" Mackenzie said as he yanked Bluey away.

Bluey walked into Mrs. Otterhound's class with Judo, Pretzel, and Indy. "What happened?" Indy asked as they walked into the classroom. "I don't know..." Bluey shrugged. They all listened to the pouring rain slamming against the window as the class began. The lights flickered again as the thunder rumbled outside.

Rusty sat himself on the bathroom stall floor and cried his eyes out. "Get it together, Rusty! What the fuck is wrong with you!" He sobbed to himself.

Jack walked around the halls for Rusty as the storm outside got worse. The whole school turned so dark it looked like nighttime. Jack tried to hold his tears in as he searched through the halls. The lights started to flicker again as he looked around.

Bluey sat in her classroom, staring outside the window. The room lit up when a bolt of lightning struck the ground, followed by a small explosion sound. Everyone looked up when the lights shut off, and the room went dark. "That must've been the power box..." Mrs. Otterhound sighed as she stopped teaching.

Rusty looked around the bathroom as the room went black. Jack took out his phone and turned on the flashlight. He couldn't see a thing. Everyone stared at the loud speaker as the principal began to announce something.

"Students, school will be dismissing early due to the power situation. Please pack up your belongings. Your parents have already been notified. Thank you" Ms. Terrier explained from the speaker.

Jack looked around with his flashlight until he finally found the bathroom door. He slowly opened it up and looked around with his flashlight. "Rusty! Where are you!" Jack shouted. "I-I'm in here..." Rusty said silently as he unlocked the stall door. Rusty jumped into Jack's arms. "J-Jack, I'm so sorry....Y-You're perfect the way you are... I-I'm so sorry I acted like that towards you..." Rusty sobbed. "It's okay...I know how pain you're going through, I don't blame you...." Jack said calmly as he hugged back. "I-I love you so much..." Rusty cried. "I love you too..." Jack said with a smile as they let go of each other.

Everyone walked down the dark hallways. "Where's Jack and Rusty?" Mackenzie asked worrily. "I don't know..." Bluey answered. "Guys!" Jack shouted from behind them. "Jack! Rusty!" Bluey yelled as she ran towards them. "What happened? Are you guys alright?" Bluey asked frantically. "We're okay..." Jack said with a smile. "You okay Rusty?" Bluey asked as she turned to him. "I'm alright..." Rusty said with a light smile.

Everyone left the school as the rain hit the concrete outside. "Bye Rusty!" Jack said as he walked over to his car. Rusty waved back as he got into his. Rusty had a small smile on his face, he hasn't smiled in days, it felt nice.