Note: 9/22/2018 I was going for a cutesy, three-best-friends-in-a-tree-house-sharing-a-diary kind of vibe...but then it kind of took a dark turn :P

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Three little hands over a single notebook.

"I pledge to keep this book," they said together,

their voices strong and eyes sparkling,

"until the week is over.

I pledge to never show it to anyone,

or tell anyone else about it.

I pledge to be truthful,

and I pledge to Us Three."

Two little hands over a single notebook.

"We pledge," they said in unison,

their voices cracking, tears streaming down their cheeks,

"to keep this book,

no matter what happens.

We pledge to never show it to anyone,

or tell anyone else about it.

We pledge to be truthful,

and write about what happened.

We pledge to Us Three."

One little hand, trembling over a single notebook.

"I, I pledge," they said, their voice barely a whisper,

"to keep this book,

forever,

eternity,

and never tell anyone about it.

I pledge to be truthful,

and write about what happened.

I pledge to Us Three."

A single notebook, worn and torn,

mud and blood splattered over the pages,

not nearly concealing the text beneath,

of child curiosity.

The symbol of evil,

swallows the first page.

Words of truth to each other,

covers the next five,

until,

one handwriting dies.

A single notebook, worn and torn,

became a gateway for the devil,

summoned through child curiosity.

A scrawl of handwriting on the last page,

shall never be spoken.

A single notebook closes,

never to open,

until another child,

is too curious.