{Brief summary of plot in Series One (click to show)} Murphy is a typical nerd. He has few friends, stays indoors a lot, is shy and is a huge fan of cars and LEGO. But he decideds to put that right. He starts socialising more and meets some REAL friends (Mike and Al) who share his interest of cars. He discovers a go-kart competition and begins building a go-kart for him to race. He also begins to fancy a girl in his class who he refers to as The Girl. Slowly he begins to get to know her, and it turns out that she is interested in cars too. But then things take a turn for the worse - Murphy and The Girl are mistreated by their evil mathematics teacher, forced to walk home in the dark, get attacked and spend the night sleeping in the woods. They make it back, but Murphy discovers his entire LEGO collection has been stolen!
Random LEGO pieces from Murphy's collection start turning up in strange places and he wonders if he is suffering from withdrawal. Meanwhile he asks The Girl out but is rejected. He then discovers that The Girl rejected him because she was going out with Al. But then just before Christmas, The Girl talks to Murphy and it seems like it's back to old times again. After the break, they discover that the evil teacher has been fired. The Girl reveals to Murphy that she broke up with Al because Al was bragging about her. The two of them are invited to the trial of the evil teacher. They give evidence and the teacher is sentenced to community service. However, The Girl tells Murphy that she might have to move away.
Murphy then discovers that the evil teacher forced her husband to steal his LEGO. The husband breaks up from the evil teacher and gives back all the stolen LEGO. The go-kart race approaches and The Girl wants to watch. Murphy's parents invite The Girl over. The Girl is very impressed with Murphy's LEGO builds. Murphy's parents approve of The Girl. They also find out that she is into cycling, and offer to buy Murphy a new bike. Murphy wins the go-kart race. The Girl and Murphy go cycling together. They reveal their feelings for each other, and The Girl tells Murphy that she won't have to move away after all.
Suddenly, Al appears on a moped, followed by illegal street racers in modified tuner cars. They chase The Girl and Murphy, but police arrest the chasers. Al is expelled from school. It turns out that the cars and moped were stolen and Al could end up in prison. Murphy, The Girl and Mike receive an envelope, and it turns out to be a letter from Al explaining how his bad influences, greed and boredom destroyed him.
The above is just a brief synopsis - I have the entire story (all 91 posts' worth!) stored on my computer and I'll happily create an archive topic on here if anyone else wants to read it. Just ask !
Post by themindgarage on May 16, 2017 20:49:46 GMT
Log #092: Time Passes
Well, it's been a long time since I last wrote in here.
To be honest, it's because I was busy having a life. So, a lot's happened:
I did my final exams
I applied to college*
I spent time with The Girl and Mike
I got my exam results
Ah, yes. Results. I did even better than anyone expected, and I'll be able to take all the courses I wanted to do. Excellent! The Girl and Mike also did well, and we're going to the same college! Fun times await...
Of course, during the summer I properly lived it out - I went out almost daily. Highlight was going to a theme park. Yes, I know that two boys and one girl might be a recipe for awkwardness (The Virtual Encyclopaedia of Social Convention taught me so), but it was OK. Mike never acted strangely and I'm sure he'll find a second half as well soon.
In the newspaper, we heard that Al and his gang were locked up. I feel a little bad for them and I'm sure all of them were once nice people, but they did kind of try to run The Girl and I over with a stolen riced Mazda RX-7.
We decided to buy a new car to replace my mum's Honda Civic Type-R that was wrecked by that evil teacher's Challenger Hellcat. We considered the VW Golf R, the Ford Focus RS, the Mercedes A45 AMG and the new Type-R, but in the end we opted for the new Audi RS3. Great choice (admittedly most of the choosing was done by me) - it's the most powerful, quickest, has all-wheel-drive, luxury and an amazing-sounding five-cylinder engine. And it doesn't look nearly as ricey as the Honda did.
So, life's looking pretty good at the moment. First day of college tomorrow, so hopefully I'll meet some new friends as well as keep the ones I already have. Let's hope things stay good, because I think I've been through enough last year.
*In case any of you in America are stealing my diary for a quick read, college over here is different from your college. It's more like your high-school.
Post by themindgarage on May 17, 2017 21:16:14 GMT
Log #093: Fresh Start
I'm not sure what to do. HELP!!!
Well, it's my first day and I'm not quite sure what to expect. First off, what should I wear? I've heard you can wear whatever you want, but what exactly should I wear. I don't want to appear too nerdy, but at the same time not too flashy. I flick through my wardrobe. Too many choices. I think the cool people call this a "first-world problem". If only I could do an Einstein and have lots of identical clothes to avoid wasting brainpower on such matters...
I decide a reasonably casual set of clothes and change. I leave with my bike and head to The Girl's house. We're cycling there together, and The Girl knows a nice shortcut through the woods and backroads.
I'm greeted by a warm hug at The Girl's house, even though it's only been two days since I last saw her. Call it progress. The Girl rides off in front on her high-tech carbon-fibre bike and I follow on my aluminium frame. As if the weight difference wasn't already large enough.
"Hey, remember when we were stuck out here for the whole night?" The Girl asked. I nearly forgot, but these were the woods that we were forced to sleep in when we were exiled by our evil teacher and attacked by a creepy clown. I laugh, although I still have clown-related nightmares from time to time. . We arrive at college. I'm noticeably sweating - I hope it doesn't show! Mike is waiting for us at the entrance. I guess it'll still be the three of us. Probably a good thing.
We have our first lesson. I've got physics while The Girl and Mike have chemistry. Luckily they're not in the same class because the Virtual Encyclopaedia of Social Convention told me that would be pretty risky. Wouldn't want all my hard work undone. I mean, I trust Mike, but then I trusted Al...
Second lesson: mathematics. Initially I was rather worried about this one because I've heard it's difficult. But I'm reassured when The Girl enters the classroom and sits down right next to me! Talk about lucky! At least we'll have each other to get through this. Let's hope they wait a few weeks before piling on the calculus...
So, I guess this is my fresh start. Meet new friends, keep the old and stay out of trouble! Sounds easy enough...
Post by themindgarage on May 19, 2017 22:12:15 GMT
Log #094: Allies
Two boys approach our table. "Can we sit here?" one of them asks. I quickly exchange a glance with The Girl. She gives me the all-clear. Just checking in case being the only girl on the table would annoy her.
"Sure," I say. I hope they're OK. But how many bullies turn up to maths class?
A towering monster pushes his way to an empty seat. He must have been at least two metres tall and 140kg, most of which was muscle. He wore shorts, as if to show off his bulging calves, but a hoodie. Typical mean guy wear. As he shoves his way to his chair (probably dreading the thought of being sat on by this creature), he tramples on The Girl's bag, which was only slightly blocking his path.
"Move your bag, stupid blondie! Hairdressing class is downstairs! Or do you need a satnav to get there?" he boomed in a voice at least two octaves deeper than any I'd heard. I turn to The Girl.
"Are you OK?" I ask.
"I'm fine. It doesn't get to me. But what the heck was that all about?"
"He just assumed you're stupid, but he's probably jealous of your appearance. And now you can prove that he's the stupid one!" I said. "Which shouldn't be too difficult," I added.
I gauge the room's reaction. The people sat next to the bully are frowning at him but refusing to talk to him. I overhear "What a jerk," from across the room. They're sympathising with The Girl! Surely that's got to be good.
One of my new tablemates speaks to me. "That's Dom. He thinks he's the boss everywhere he goes. Nobody likes him, and everyone suspects he's up to no good. Whatever you do, don't be intimidated by him. All bullies are really cowards."
I think I've made an ally! "Thanks for the advice! I'm Murphy"
"I'm Alex, and this is Ethan."
Eventful start, but I think The Girl and I are doing pretty well. Not every day you win over the entire class before the lesson even starts...
Post by themindgarage on May 20, 2017 22:11:02 GMT
Log #095: The Circle Expands
The teacher enters and the lesson goes on as normal. No more is spoken of the incident.
"What kind of things are you into?" Alex asks.
"I'm a huge car fan," I said. It's pretty much who I am, so I might as well say it...
"So am I!" Alex exclaims. YES!!!! "Although Ethan here isn't really convinced. He thinks cars are just for transportation. So, what's your favourite car?"
"Right now, the Koenigsegg Regera. But I'm a big fan of all kinds of cars from the Toyota GT86 to the Lexus LFA." Closest thing to a Formula One car's engine note you can get.
The Girl also answers. "I don't normally say this, but I'm a car fan as well! My favourite car is the Pagani Huayra. It may not be the most powerful or fastest, but it looks amazing! It's old-school and modern both at once!"
Alex seems surprised. I hope he isn't a stereotyper as well. "Both awesome choices," he says. "I'm not a huge fan of modern cars, and my favourite is still the McLaren F1. It's simply timeless. It was simply a huge leap forward, and some people thought there would never be anything faster."
"Fair enough," The Girl says. "Plus it's got a central driving position. It's even somewhat practical as well." Glad to hear that The Girl knows so much. I think I've stumbled upon a very rare breed. "Tell him about the LEGO," she whispers to me.
"Another thing I do is build LEGO models of cars. Working remote-controlled ones with real suspension and gearboxes. That's the closest thing I can get to working on a real car."
"Whoa! That's awesome! I'd really like to see it!"
"I have a Youube channel." I say. I give him the channel name. "I hope you enjoy it!"
I believe I have found a new friend. Possibly two. Ethan seems to be a bit of a non-talker. But that's fine. I was like that too.
Post by themindgarage on May 22, 2017 22:20:14 GMT
Log #096: Fame?
It appears as if I've become almost famous, just because of this Youtube channel. Every day I get people who say "Hey, you're that LEGO guy on Youtube!". I don't know why people care, but it's fame. After all, I put up videos so people see them, don't I? I might also get a little ad revenue, although right now it's only a few pounds a month.
Anyway, the best news is that I just turned 17! And you know what that means? I CAN LEARN TO DRIVE!!! I literally can't wait. Of course I'm learning manual because if you're going to do it, you might as well do it properly. And it'll give me more choices when I come to buying cars. Unfortunately The Girl is a summer birthday so she'll have to wait. At least I can give her tips.
But the question is, what do I want to drive? Here are my options (all used - I'm not that rich... yet):
Mazda MX-5 1.5
Honda Civic
VW Golf or Scirocco 1.4 TSI
Toyota Celica 7th gen 1ZZ
Now, the one I'd most like to get is the Celica. They can be found super cheap and handle well. They also look really fast, but they can be a little ricey. If I got one, I'd be tempted to remove that rear wing.
The MX-5 is supposed to be a great drivers' car but it's impractical and expensive to insure. And did I mention the feminine appearance? It would suit The Girl pretty well though. Might want to remember that...
The Civic could be a good option - I might even be able to get an Si. But a lot of Civics I see are riced to death, and I don't plan on buying one of those. One leaf would be enough to cause the front bumper to scrape.
As for the Golf, it's definitely a practical choice, but my heart doesn't really want it. It's too... ordinary. The Scirocco fixes a bit of that, but it's still not the most engaging choice.
Of course, all this assumes I pass my test with flying colours. Because if I don't, insurance is probably going to be the end of me. Luckily that's a long way away...
Heeellllllooooo!!!!! I found this. Sorry I was so late in coming but I was traveling around a bit and it's kinda hard to set up a computer in the car or at a gas station. But ah, well. Here I am. :3 Dom, as in short for Dominic? Good parts, and please keep it up!
Post by themindgarage on May 25, 2017 21:33:14 GMT
Log #097: The Lamborghini Veneno Analogy
I was right about being suspicious about my fame. Because I think I've made a huge mistake.
Everyone seems to know me as "the LEGO guy". Which is fine for a day or two when it's cool. But now it's so annoying. Why didn't I learn from The Girl and the Lamborghini Veneno Analogy back when she broke up with Al?
I'm also getting quite a bit of hate from the jock-types. Sometimes I'm getting called childish, nerdy or something else that I probably shouldn't write here. And I thought college would be more accepting than secondary school. Some people simply never grow up.
At breaktime, I head to my usual hangout spot. The Girl is there.
"Hey Murphy, you OK? You seem a little down."
"Yeah, I've started getting rather a lot of hate for my Youtube channel and LEGO stuff. You know, being called childish and all the rest of it. I'm considering quitting."
The Girl appears surprised. "Quit?!? No, don't do that! These people are just idiots. They'll find anything to pick on people for. Don't listen to them and follow your heart." I would follow my heart, but at the moment, it's leading to her. Oh dear, I hope I'm not turning into a soppy romantic...
"OK. I'll keep doing what I enjoy."
"You should. These people pick on anyone, no matter how priveledged. Like Dom and his comment about me. I'm pretty sure if they saw someone in a Lamborghini Veneno, they'd still find something to pick on them about. Like the fact it isn't a Roadster. They just want to do it because they're not as successful and it makes them feel good. Sad. But I love your LEGO builds and I wish I could do that myself!"
"As long as the most important person to me likes it, I'll keep doing it!" We both laugh. I feel better, but there's still a nagging feeling inside me that something's going to go wrong...
Hey, I remember you from LMB. I read one of your stories and it was pretty good! Glad you're here and still writing. This is a pretty good story and you are a very talented writer. Keep up the great work!
Hey, I remember you from LMB. I read one of your stories and it was pretty good! Glad you're here and still writing. This is a pretty good story and you are a very talented writer. Keep up the great work!
Thanks ! I only found out about this place a few weeks ago through LEGO Rebrick.
Post by themindgarage on May 26, 2017 21:52:46 GMT
Log #098: The Hate
Help me.
It seems as if I'm being trolled. Every single one of my videos received over 500 downvotes in the past few hours. Comments are being spammed left right and center. I think I've found myself the target of a giant cyber-storm.
I don't know what to do. I'm tempted to quit and just quietly delete my channel. But then the trolls would win. But who knows what kind of abuse will be in store for me tomorrow?
I panic and call The Girl.
"Hey Murphy, what's up?"
I let out a huge audible sigh. "I've been spammed. Every one of my videos just got hundreds of dislikes and abusive comments. I'm thinking of quitting. What should I do?"
"Oh my gosh!" The Girl exclaims. "That's horrible. But don't do anything. Don't even block the comments. Just don't let anything show. They you've won."
"OK, I'll do that. Thank you for always being there for me. Bye!"
Post by themindgarage on May 27, 2017 21:11:28 GMT
Log #099: Back To Square One
College brings the same every day. The usual bullying and trolling. I'm beginning to become resistant to it though. Sounds like genetic mutation to me. Luckily I have The Girl to get me through it, although some of the abuse is starting to be directed towards her. WHY?!? She doesn't play a part in the video-making. She had a study period in the afternoon so she went home. I hope she's OK.
I get home, turn on the computer and FREAK OUT.
There's a picture of me. With a girl. Not The Girl. A girl. A random girl I don't know. On an anonympus social media account. Public. I'm tagged. And so is The Girl.
HELP! WHEN WAS THIS TAKEN?!? OR IS IT PHOTOSHOP?
I examine the photo. It's at college. Hey, I remember that girl walking past me. But I remember her being taller than me, and in the picture she's shorter. But it looks like we're holding hands. Looks like a very strange case of forced perspective. I'm surprised the bullies are clever enough to figure this out. Or maybe it was a lucky shot.
I grab the phone to inform The Girl. But instead, I discover I have a voicemail. I let it play.
"Murphy." It's The Girl. She sounds... angry. She pronounces my name as if it were a killer disease. "It's over. You know what you did. Don't deny it, because I know. You hung out with that girl and posted it for everyone to see. Do you think it makes you look cool? Are you showing off? Well, you've made a huge mistake. You're no better than Al, and I shouldn't have let you deceive me for so long. And I hope you go the same way as Al did. You deserve it. Oh, and your LEGO? I never really liked it. It's just a toy. Grow up. The End."
I fail to contain this information. My body is now saturated with pain. I drop the phone onto the table and faint.
College brings the same every day. The usual bullying and trolling. I'm beginning to become resistant to it though. Sounds like genetic mutation to me. Luckily I have The Girl to get me through it, although some of the abuse is starting to be directed towards her. WHY?!? She doesn't play a part in the video-making. She had a study period in the afternoon so she went home. I hope she's OK.
I get home, turn on the computer and FREAK OUT.
There's a picture of me. With a girl. Not The Girl. A girl. A random girl I don't know. On an anonympus social media account. Public. I'm tagged. And so is The Girl.
HELP! WHEN WAS THIS TAKEN?!? OR IS IT PHOTOSHOP?
I examine the photo. It's at college. Hey, I remember that girl walking past me. But I remember her being taller than me, and in the picture she's shorter. But it looks like we're holding hands. Looks like a very strange case of forced perspective. I'm surprised the bullies are clever enough to figure this out. Or maybe it was a lucky shot.
I grab the phone to inform The Girl. But instead, I discover I have a voicemail. I let it play.
"Murphy." It's The Girl. She sounds... angry. She pronounces my name as if it were a killer disease. "It's over. You know what you did. Don't deny it, because I know. You hung out with that girl and posted it for everyone to see. Do you think it makes you look cool? Are you showing off? Well, you've made a huge mistake. You're no better than Al, and I shouldn't have let you deceive me for so long. And I hope you go the same way as Al did. You deserve it. Oh, and your LEGO? I never really liked it. It's just a toy. Grow up. The End."
I fail to contain this information. My body is now saturated with pain. I drop the phone onto the table and faint.
Oh my gosh, that last voicemail really hit hard. Not just a break up from a scam, but also a break up from not being accepted as a LEGO enthusiast, which is the thing that Murphy does best.
I have a few guesses on the plot, but I'll just wait for the next log entry.