Max's Journal

The King of the World: Max - May 28 - 10:34 a.m.

Hello, reader. By the time you’re reading this sentence, I’ll already be a multimillionaire living abroad with a beautiful wife and 20 cars. But, for now, I’m a 17 year old junior in high school. I’ve already written two of these things… well, kind of. I did a few pages but never really stuck with it. They will probably be worth thousands of dollars whenever I publish this. I’m Maximus Russo. I already have the millionaire name, so, it only makes sense I become one. I’m currently writing this in my 3rd period math class, and now I can see my teacher looking at me weirdly. Not because I’m writing a long paragraph in a math class, but because I’m writing anything at all. Past evidence may suggest I have not been the best student.

Anyway, I’m only writing this because Alice is making me. She has seen me fail my last two books in freshman and sophomore year. I don’t even know why she’s pushing it now, we are about to hit summer break. When my dad died a few years ago, my therapist suggested I start journaling. I never really got into it, despite Alice’s constant pestering. Well, she wants to be a journalist herself so it makes sense why she would be so excited about me journaling but they are completely different types of journaling. So, now we are starting a journal together. Because she’s making me. And I'm starting now because she threatened to not give me the good snack in her packed lunch today if I don’t give her something.

I still have a few minutes, I should probably explain Alice. We moved to Seattle at the same time, the start of freshman year. We have been best friends ever since. We really don’t make sense as friends, I’m awesome and handsome and charismatic and popular and funny and… I could go on but I won’t. She’s super geeky and always the rule follower. That gets pretty annoying because I like to break the rules usually. Anyway, lunch bell is about to ring. I’m out.

Alice Santiago - May 28 - 5:15 p.m.

Hi!! I’m Alice Santiago. Looks like Max already filled you in on me… a little bit. I’ll have to talk to him about his choice of describing me later. This journaling together thing was my idea! I’m so glad Max is on board. It only cost me a bag of mini Oreos. His stomach is really his brain. I think this journaling will really help him out a lot. And, as an aspiring news journalist myself, this will be a great work to account of my younger and less traveled days.

I’m in a bit of a pickle. I befriended a guy in my class named Kinjo Nakamura. He moved here from Okinawa, Japan, about a year ago. He lives with his grandmother. His backstory is actually quite sad. His family fills this town in northern Okinawa. But, they got into a huge disagreement decades ago and never talk. They are completely split down the town and make life extremely difficult for each other. When Kin’s grandfather died a while ago, his grandmother moved here. Then, Kin’s parents couldn’t afford to keep him in Okinawa, so they sent him here to live with his grandmother.

I’ve tried to introduce Kin and Max to each other, since neither of them have many friends. But, Max, of course, being the rude wannabe popular class clown just made a terrible impression and Kin was not a fan of him. But, tonight is my poetry recital and I’ve invited both of them. Kin agreed to let us both come to his grandmother’s house tonight and try to get along since Kin and Max will be sitting alone together for a few hours during this recital. I’m super nervous but so, so very excited!

Max - May 28 - 6:48 p.m.

Holy crap, we found out so much at Kinjo’s house! So, basically, we were going through Kinjo’s grandpa’s stuff that his grandma kept in the attic, right? His grandma never went through it because like something about she missed him or something, I don’t know. Anyway, we found this super secret old letter that no one has ever read. It was from like the 1500s probably. So, Kinjo’s grandpa was saying how this fisherman dude was like- okay, Alice is trying to take this away from me. She won’t be able to because I’m such a strong and muscl-

Alice Santiago - May 28 - 6:53 p.m.

Max was describing that terribly. I’ll fill you in on what happened. We did find a letter, that is, at most, 50 years old. It's the reason why the families are still fighting to this day.

Kinjo’s grandfather, Minato, was a fisherman in the town. The town housed two main families; the Nakamuras and the Agenas. There was a rival fisherman in the same town from the Agena family named Riku. The families used to be close though, so Minato and Riku were best friends. They found a fishing spot together and fished for years. They grew very old and Minato began suffering from dementia. He stopped fishing, but Riku let him continue doing the paperwork for the company they built together. Minato was scammed by an American man named Hugh and signed over the entire company to him.

Hugh gave Minato a small amount of money, and Riku and the other Agenas thought that he sold it to him on purpose and basically screwed over the Agenas. The entire town split and wouldn’t talk to each other. Minato wrote this letter, but for some reason, it was never delivered. It seems like Minato died a short time later. His wife moved to Seattle and the town was never the same.

Kin is heading to Okinawa this summer to deliver the letter at last. I really want to go with him and document this amazing experience. I can convince my parents to let me go, they’re never home anyway. More on this later, I have some things to figure out. I need to go get ready for the recital and I’ll fill you guys in later.

Alice Santiago - May 29 - 12:12 a.m.

I am SO angry with Max right now. I just got back from the recital and he NEVER even came. This is so frustrating. I deal with so much from him; his stupid jokes and dumb pranks and I ALWAYS get him out of trouble. I even got my parents to pay for his stupid flight to Okinawa with me.

I count on him to do one single thing and he can’t even follow through with that. I’m giving him this dumb diary back. The only reason I’m even writing with him is to support him, which clearly, he can’t do the same for me.

Max - May 29 - 12:44 p.m.

Okay, I might have messed up a bit. Alice didn’t even give me a chance to explain myself though, I can’t believe after these years of friendship, I mess up once and she won’t even hear me out. I’ve sat through countless boring recitals. I can barely even hear her over the sound of everyone snoring.

That's a lie, I just am not sophisticated enough to enjoy those things. Other people are. I wish I hadn’t written this in pen. Sorry, Alice, if you read this. But seriously, something came up and I couldn’t make it.

I do have to say I am surprised she asked her parents for both of our tickets. Alice’s parents are insanely rich. Every time I try to get her to make some use of that, she won’t! Last year for her birthday, they offered to rent her a whole freakin’ yacht. She said no despite me begging her to agree. Her parents are never home and kind of neglectful, so she doesn’t ask them for stuff because she doesn’t want them to think they are forgiven. Which is why I am so surprised she would actually ask to get those tickets. I guess we really are going to Okinawa.

Max - June 15 - 11:something

Alice was really upset about the whole recital thing. Our flight is about to take off, so earlier I had to destroy my whole room to find this thing. She still wants me to come but will barely talk to me. Now Kinjo is her best friend. It’s really annoying.

I should just explain to her what is going on but it is kind of embarrassing. Alright, listen. Ever since my dad died, I sometimes have a panic attack. It’s not a big deal, it happens at random. After I got home from Kin-stupido’s house the night of the recital, I had a panic attack. I should have just told her why I didn’t come. I guess I don’t want her to look at me differently. Or with pity. I hate when people treat me with pity. And she never has, and I don’t want to give her a reason to.

Alice hates flying. I think it's awesome to be thousands of miles high in the sky. I’m writing really awkwardly right now because I don’t want her to read this… sorry guy sitting next to me. We’re picking up speed! Alice is now grabbing my arm so tight, I think I’m losing blood flow to my hand. It’s nice to have some sort of contact with her.

Ugh. I guess I’ll just tell her what happened. I really don’t want to.

Alice Santiago - June 16 - 1:25 a.m.

We just got to the house in Okinawa. God, it is gorgeous here. The air is so humid and sticky, and it’s insanely hot even though the sun has set. The ride from the airport to Kin’s town was about a two hour trip. Naha was beautiful, and so different from Seattle. There was a lot of traffic, all of the buildings were made of concrete and most of them were just square shaped, with no asphalt roof or anything. Kin said it’s because Okinawa gets hit by typhoons quite often.

The further up north we got, the more nature we saw. It was beautiful. Jungle mountains on the left, dark blue ocean on the right. The air was loud with the sound of cicadas. Kin’s parents have a nice, traditional home. It is quite small compared to houses back home. His parents welcomed us in, they are very inviting. Kin is going to talk to them tomorrow morning about setting up some sort of town hall to show everyone the letter.

I’m still mad at Max, for the record. I know it's been a few weeks, but he hasn’t even tried to apologize. I guess I haven’t tried to ask what happened, but if he had a good reason, he would have told me by now. I don’t even want to read his earlier entries. It will just make me even more upset.

I’m so excited. Our flight back is in a week, so I have so much time to explore! I’m completely exhausted from the flights, the time change is really hitting hard right now. I’m going to bed.

The Great Maximus - June 16 - 10:01 a.m.

I read what Alice put in her last entry. I’m going to explain everything to her after I write this out. I don’t even have a lot to write. The town hall is going to be this evening. I’m so excited for all of the drama. I went out for breakfast at this place called Lawson’s, and I could even see the tenseness between people. It’s literally like they are split into two teams.

I want to write more but I have nothing to write. Alice is in the other room right now. Kinjo and his parents have left together to get lunch, so now would be the best time to talk to her. Also, what is up with her and Kinjo? They’ve been hanging out so much recently. It’s kind of annoying. Like, a lot annoying. Why does that annoy me so much? You know what? It’s probably because Kinjo annoys me. If she was friends with someone actually cool to hang out with, maybe I’d be okay with it.

Or not. I dunno. Whatever. Okay, I’m gonna go tell her everything right now. Ugh.

MAXXXXX - JUNE SOMETHING - SAME DAY WHATEVER TIME

WE KISSED

WE TOTALLY JUST KISSED JUST NOW!!!!!

Okay, calm down dude. Whatever. It’s a kiss. She did it, by the way. She kissed me. Alice kissed me. Alice kissed Max. Maximus. Maximus prime. I’m awesome. She’s awesome. I can’t wait to rub this in Kinjo’s face.

Okay, so I was telling her everything, right? About the panic attacks and whatever and how I don’t want her to judge me and she straight up just kissed me!!

What does this mean?

Alice Santiago - June 17 - 11:11 p.m.

Ummm… yeah. I kissed him. Ha ha.

It was nice. Honestly. And it’s not weird between us, at least not yet.

I don’t really know where it came from. I just think I like him a lot.

Oh crap, I forgot to fill you in on the town hall. Yeah, so, the letter didn’t do anything. These people don’t even care about the fish. Apparently it's all politics or something. Not much to write about. I’m still glad I’m here, though. Kin’s gonna show us around tomorrow.

We kissed.

Wow.

I’m still processing, sorry. I came here to document a historical moment in a town's history, but I’m documenting a historical moment in my own life. Well, also Kin’s life. He called his grandmother and told her about Minato’s note and she was so hearttouched, she has decided to move all the way back to Okinawa, and he’s going to stay here with her and his parents.

Well, I guess we’re gonna go explore Okinawa. I’ll fill you guys in later, peace!

Max Russo - June 25 - 10:00 p.m.

Hey, guys who don’t exist. It’s been a while. This notebook is from highschool, I can’t believe I found this. I remember that trip to Okinawa like it was yesterday. Kinjo actually writes my family a Christmas card every year. Anyway, I must have been… what? Around 17 years old when I wrote this? Now I’m 41. I have kids now. I’m definitely not a millionaire like I had dreamed, but I had bigger dreams the older I grew. I have the perfect life now. Although, I haven’t spoken to Alice Santiago in years; in about 18 years to be exact. I hope she's doing well.

Alice - June 25 - 10:06 p.m.

Yup, Max is still a smart-ass. I haven’t been Alice Santiago in about 18 years. Bye, you guys.