About Ruben

When one loses his diary

On the ninth day in the ninth month in the year 2017 after Christ was born, Ruben Montgomery came to a shocking, almost apocalyptic conclusion while he was sitting at home in his green room on the green chair in front of his empty (green) notebook.

Ruben Montgomery had officially lost his diary.

Let's rephrase. His memory book. Ruben Montgomery does not do diaries.

Now, losing a diary may not seem so bad. It's not life-stopping. Hell, even a grass blade can be more important than a diary.

But not for Ruben. Rubens diary...memory book was his best friend. Not that Ruben didn't have any other friends. But his memory book was special. Not everyone would understand how a person could be so attached to a book. But Ruben was so very unexplainable attached to his memory book.

And that's funny thinking how he despised the same object just mere years ago.

The memory book lay on his birthday table once many blue moons ago. Back in those days, Ruben had been going through (a very bad) puberty and he loathed all kind of affections or in this case gifts his parents gave him. So, long story short, the book with the brown leather covers wandered into the depths of his wardrobe where a forgotten football and old socks became its new neighbors.

When one day Ruben became fed up with school, parents and life in general, he colored his brown hair peroxide white (which admittedly looked sort of good on him), wrecked his glasses and then demolished his wardrobe (Ruben tends to get violent). It was then that the book magically fell into his demolishing hands. It had to be a sign, so Ruben thought. A sign for Ruben to write.

And write he did. He wrote about his fears, hopes, desires. He drew whatever crossed his mind. And soon enough, the book was full with his boyish messy handwriting and quick sketches. But most importantly his memory book was full of Car-

That's not the topic here. Leave that aside.

One day however Ruben Montgomery made a mistake. It was the ninth day in the ninth month in the...we all know what day is meant. Let's get to more important matters.

So, that day Ruben made the mistake of accidentally packing his school bag with his diary instead of his maths book. Ruben had been late that morning. The day had started out horribly. He fell out of bed, his mom forgot to pack him lunch, his mom forgot to buy his favorite cereal, his dad spilled coffee on his homework and his mom tried to give him a goodbye kiss. The school bus was minutes away and he didn't even have time to tie his shoelaces properly causing him to almost face plant on the ground while he was running out the house.

Later on, after a particularly excruciating hour with his devilish gym teacher Mr. Hoppenklopfer, Ruben was walking towards his locker with his friends.

His girl friend goes by the name Scar. But that's not her real name. It's Scarlett James. But Scar doesn't like being called a girl name. She looks like a tough little fellow with her hard glare and midnight black clothes. But she's all bark and no bite.

Then there's Rubens other friend. Mitchell Ross.

Sometimes Ruben wonders why an athletic and...quite attractive person like Mitchell would hang out with a total normal-dude-with-great-interest-in-studies (Ruben doesn't like being called nerd) and with tough unicorn Scar.
It still confuses Ruben.

Ruben also accepted the fact that he was an outsider. But that's his choice. He doesn't like the school nor does he like the creatures roaming around in it. Scar however begs to differ. She thinks everyone's too scared of her and that's why no one speaks with her.

Back to the matter at hand. So Ruben Montgomery, Scar James and Mitchell Ross were trudging towards Rubens locker when Mitchell suddenly asked if anyone had a tissue. He had been biting around on his lips, causing it to bleed. Scar waved him off, saying that she never needs tissues because she never cries and therefore didn't pack any. Ruben rolled his eyes, (he had found her earlier that day crying over a dead bird in the parking lot) swung his backpack from his back to the front and reached inside his bag.

Then he had let out a yell. Literally. In the middle of the hallway.

Scar asked if he had seen a ghost. Mitchell asked if he had had a heart attack.

'Almost' Ruben thought when his fingers traced over the spine of a very familiar book. No one could see this!

'Crapfreakshit' he then thought. He had to hide his memory book. The identity of his best friend had to remain top secret. Ruben was on a mission. He was the only soldier in a war against the enemies. Said enemies being a quite oblivious Scar and and equally confused Mitchell.

Ruben had gestured towards his locker and then for them to walk towards class. He would catch up with them. He needed to secretly put his memory book away. Mitchell shrugged his shoulders and walked off. Scar however remained glued to her spot until she gave him a suspicious look and sauntered after Mitchell.

Only Ruben had been left in that hallway that minute. Well, so he thought. He carelessly threw his best friend inside his messy locker and slammed the door close before he took off running towards class.

Only...the lock of his locker didn't do what it was supposed to do. You see, it didn't quite lock.

So when Ruben was gone and the door of the locker slowly opened again, Ruben's best friend slid out and fell to the ground with a thud.

And a minute later, a different pair of hands picked it up again.