When I wrote this book I was in a dark place in my life. But my inspiration was a series of true life events, in which I am able to share with you in one story. From time to time I will be narrating to share my views as well as explain the different tragedies I have both endured and made aware of throughout my life.
When I was a teenager, a friend of mine told me a story about his true life's past. He was the last soul survivor of a deadly game called Russian roulette. He lost four friends by the young age of fifteen years old. But as stories go, I did however change a few details. One of the boys death's, I used a real life segment which really did happen in my lifetime.
When I was young, there was a a very troubled boy about my age. His real name was Tommy. One night a group of teenage bullies decided to beat Tommy up. They even had the nerve to smash his head through a box office window of the local paramount theater. Tommy was a friend of mine, but I had no clue that his life was in such chaos. That is the trouble with teenagers though, they feel an uncontrollable intimidation to reveal what is really happening in their lives, until it is too late. To this day, Tommy's actions were louder than words.
Shortly after Tommy was bullied, he did the unthinkable. He walked towards the new overpass tat had recently been built over the train tracks. He sat on the guard rail that divided the edge of the overpass from the walking path. That night he waited for the trains lights to appear, and when the train came, Tommy jumped and ended his life. May he rest in peace.
Tommy was a good kid and I never knew he was the victim of bullies. He never spoke of this to anyone. But my girlfriend at the time, set up a meeting in front of a whole school full of kids. Along with the bullies and myself of course. I defended poor Tommy's honor that day. In hopes that these bullies would remember this for as long as they live.
Teenage suicide is a major problem in society. I hope that through the words in my book, perhaps I might reach the hearts of at least a few troubled teens. I would like them to be aware that even though life seems hard at times, only they can make the real change. Talking it out and expressing themselves is a better way then ending it all.
I recently heard of another struggling young teenage girl who was going through the same thing my friend Tommy went through. I can only say, that it did not end well for her. In life we make choices, some are good and some can never be resolved.
But I could not end my story there. I am very optimistic and believe, for every bad that happens, there is always a good thing to follow in its place
I was wondering through the forest one day to discover a hollowed out tree. The setting of this forest really does exist on the outskirts of my home town of Chilliwack B.c. The year I wondered through the forest, it was declared the historical cottonwoods because of how old and large these trees really are. So I decided to use this wooded area in my book. One one side of the forest there are a set of train tracks as well as a freeway. On the other side is the Fraser river.
he five boys I mention in my boo,k decide to construct a tree house along with a working elevator. Little did they realize, the tree was full of magic. However, the only one to discover the trees magic, happened to be the last soul survivor of five kids and one gun.
Inside the tree itself was about a ten foot drop below the earth. So the boys built a a platform for a working elevator. It was powered by a gas powered lawnmower engine. The elevator reached the bottom floor, about twenty feet up the tree, of a two level tree house.
One of the boys discovered a book inside the hollowed out tree. The book was full of magic. Not knowing the stories were a diary of what was actually taking place underground, the boy used the stories to tell his friends. It was full of stories about an underground city called The Packs. A place where the game of hockey takes on a whole new meaning.
It wasn't until the passing of his friends did the boy discover that the stories were true. Ted decides to wander back to the historical cottonwoods to reminisce about the good times he and his friends once shared. As he climbed down the tree house ladder, the book he had been carrying fell to the ground. To his surprise a stranger announced his presence. It was the rightful owner of the magical book. To prove his ownership of this book the man pulls out a tiny key and peels back the cover. Inside the cove was a golden skeleton key. It was the only way the man and his new found wife could get back to his roots.
Ted was offered to accompany the man and his wife to an underground magical city. Ted had no use for the world he came from and agreed with open arms. So the man proceed to crawl under the platform and head down the hole inside the tree. The man digs around in the dirt until he finds the keyhole he was looking for. He inserts the key and gives it a turn. The ground begins to shake and an elevator rises up from the ground. Ted takes one last look at the world he once came from, and the trio steps into the elevator.
As Ted steps out of the elevator he notices the long corridor was exactly like the book had described. So they traveled down the corridor until they reach a rather large room. In the room itself, the ceiling opens up to a glass bottom of the Fraser river. Above the glass you could see schools of fish as well as living underwater creatures in their natural habitat.
The room was the beginning of many hallway going in each and every different direction. In the hallways were many doors, each leading to magical adventures you can only dream of. There was one door in particular which led to what I call the spell room. It is an ancient library full of magic beyond your wildest dreams. As well as a history of The Packs dating back to the eighteenth century.
There is a big wooden door which separates The Packs and the hallway of doors. It is a forbidden door to most of the creatures who live in the underground city. A city where cars do not exist. Flying carpets are the means for transportation. It is also a place that will take you to a hockey game like you have never seen before.
There are four brothers I grew up with playing hockey with as a kid. In my book I call them the Step brothers. One of the brothers died in real life due to a fiery car crash at the young age of nineteen.. May he also rest in peace.
In this book however, they are all very much alive. They play a game of hockey, which in the underground city, I call rugkey. The game is a high flying action packed adventure in itself. Where fights take to flight and goals are scored with moves that are out of this world.
The Step brothers are hometown heroes. They are also very popular with the ladies. Whenever a certain Step brother scores a goal, he literately scores with every lady in the audience.
You may be asking your self, why rugkey? Well, around the waists of every player aside from the goalies, are magic rugs. The front and the sides do not show much of the rug. For the most part, the rug sticks out at the back. The puck is not black either. It is a clear plastic puck with a golden skeleton key inside it, which makes for a heck of a slap shot. Hence, the game called rugkey.
It is my hopes, that this magical place takes you to a place where only dreams are made of.