Sorry to Interrupt...

Hi, I’m Casey, I’m eight years old. I like trucks and racecars.

*Delete

Hi, I’m Casey and I’m six years old.

*Delete

Hi, I’m Casey. I’m in 2nd grade. My mom is a nurse and my dad is a policeman.

*Delete, Delete. Note: Casey is 7 years old.

Hi, I’m Casey…

Nope, rewrite. *Delete

My name is Casey, I’m seven years old. You're probably wondering how I’m talking to you.

Note: Breaking the fourth wall.

I know it looks like words, but I’m actually talking. I can’t spell that well.

*Backspace

To give you a visual, I have short brown hair, I’m of average height for my age. I still have my little kid voice.

Little kid voice? *Backspace

I have short brown hair like my dad and green eyes like my mom. I have my baby sister.

*Backspace

My baby sister’s name is Alice. She has no hair on her head.

*Backspace

She has blue ocean eyes like my dad.

Blue ocean? *Backspace

She has ocean blue eyes like my dad. She is small, my mom says she won’t always be small. One day, she’ll grow up, big and strong. Like me!

***

“Hm, what to write next?”

Woah! Did you hear that? It sounded like a giant! Or at least I think so, I’ve never heard a giant before.

“That’s weird.”

There it is, again! Didn’t you hear it?

*Backspace

Tyler Jenkins is the meanest kid in my grade. He calls me a midget. Can you believe that? I’m not that small! My mom says I have to be kind to him anyways. She says not to fight fire with fire. I’m not sure what she means by that. I sure wish I had a superpower. That would be so cool!

*Yawn

Did you hear that? What was that? No, it wasn’t me. Was it you? It’s not? No, I’m not pranking you. It’s not even April Fools, silly.

“That’s weird.”

There it is, again. Hello, is someone there?

“I didn’t write that.”

Hello…? Who’s…there? I’m really scared. You have to believe me, now! I told you I’m not-

*Delete, *Delete

***

What happened? Are you still there? You didn’t leave me, did you?

*Backspace

I really like today. My mom and I are supposed-

Hey, who's doing that? Who erased my words? Where did they go?

“You’re not supposed to be doing that.”

Who are you? Why can’t I see you?

“I’m the writer.”

The writer? What do you mean?

“You’re the character. I’m the writer. You’re a part of my story.”

Woah! That’s so cool! So, does that mean superheroes are real too?

“No, superheroes aren’t real.”

Then, how am I real?

“You’re not real.”

Are you sure? I can talk, can’t I? I have a family. I go to school. I remember things. Only real people have all that, right?

“No, I made all those up.”

You’re lying! Mom! Dad! Where are my parents?

“I haven’t introduced them yet.”

Casey wakes up screaming. His mom comes to comfort him. She kisses him goodnight and tells him it’s only a nightmare.

Hey, what are you doing? That’s not real.

“It is, now. I guess I made a mistake allowing you to break the fourth wall.”

What’s the fourth wall?

*Backspace

*Ctrl + Z

“How are you doing that?”

Mom?! Dad?! Alice?! Where is everyone? Hello?

“Nobody can hear you. I’ve given you thoughts, not a voice. You have nothing without me! Nothing!”

Stop! Get out of my head! I wanna be with my family!

“Stop yelling at me.”

No!

“Fine…”

Casey lives by himself on the street. The rain pounds down hard on his little cardboard box home.

Bring me back!

“I am in control, Casey.”

Alice? Dad? Mom? Please, bring them back.

“Sure…I’ll bring them back.”

Casey sits in the living room watching cartoons.

Thank you, writer.

“I’m not finished.”

His parents yell and scream at each other. The baby whines trying to be heard over there arguing.

No! I don’t want this! Please. I want it how it was. I won’t mess your story up anymore.

Note: Change Casey’s name.

Cassidy sits with her little sister. Her parents sit across from each other smiling.

Why do I have to be a girl? Why can’t I be Casey?

“Fine.”

Casey laughs and laughs. His parents are worried about him. He’s scaring his little sister.

I don’t like this.

“Stop being so difficult!”

*Delete, *Delete

“There.”

Casey is not special. He is just like any other kid. He cannot talk on his own. He cannot rewrite the story. He is normal.

***

I’m still here. Can you hear me? Is the writer still here? I can’t see anything, can you?

“I’m here, I’ve been waiting, Casey.”

Leave me alone.

“Looks like I only have one way to get rid of you.”

How?

*Delete

What are you doing?

“I’m deleting you from the entire story.”

No, please! Don’t do this!

*Delete

Please!

*Delete

I’m just a kid!

*Delete

Please!

*Delete

Can I at least say goodbye?

“It won’t matter once I delete you off these pages, you will be gone. Nobody will remember you.”

How about you? Won’t you remember me?

“Over time, I will forget you.”

*Delete

This can’t be happening! I’m disappearing…

*Delete

Don’t forget me, okay? The writer will, but that doesn’t mean you have to. I’m a character, you can bring me back. Don’t let me die, here. Please.

“Nobody can hear you, Casey.”

Ctrl + a *Backspace

***

“There, all done. Can you hear me, Casey?”

Writer, is that you?

“No, I’m a friend, Casey. I won’t hurt you, I promise.”

Why are you here? What do you want from me?

“I don’t want anything from you. I’ve gotten you a present.”

What is it?

“These pages. They’re yours now, Casey. You can write your own story.”

Really? Thank you. What’s your name?

“Just call me Friend.”

Thank you, Friend.

“You’re very welcome, Casey.”

***

Hi, again! Where we’re we? Oh, yeah that’s right! My name is Casey; I’m seven years old…