1 April 2011

I know that writing in library books is not cool, but I think that under exceptional circumstances it can add something to the story. And the circumstances that have brought me to scribble these words in the blank front pages of this book are quite extraordinary. 

Fate has brought me full circle, and I’m back at a school I used to go to years ago. Today, keeping a low profile in the school library, I stumbled upon this story that was written about me. 

When I saw the faded cover – ‘Stories from the class of ‘1982’ – I almost smiled as I remembered the unusual group of boys from that year that had invited me to join their group. I’ve never really had friends, and they made quite an impression on me. And when I paged through the book and came across ‘Perfect Teeth’ I realised that I’d made a big impact on them too. 

It’s strange reading a story that somebody else wrote about me – especially because it’s not the whole story. It’s not the writer’s fault that he missed out on the really interesting parts – how could he have known? 

Maybe one day those boys will come back here and find the hand-scrawled notes I’ve added in ballpoint pen that tell my version of events. Or maybe their children will come to this school one day, find this book as accidentally as I did, and take it home to show their dads. Who knows if the truth will come out? 

But if you’re reading this I guess you, at least, will find out my secret. If you know these guys please show them what I’ve written. And tell them I’m back. For now.

John

(Cover image: jcolman, CC-BY-NC-ND)