Bert Jones is a shy young fellow. His Father is in the military so the family moved quite frequently. While others would have made it their mission to make a friend as fast as possible upon entering a new school, Bert was contented to sit quietly during recess reading his many fantastical books. He found that what lay between the pages of a book could be anything - but it was always the same. His favourite books would have adventures, magic, and fantasy but he could reread them over and over and they would never change. Not at all like his home life. While his parents were loving and kind folk they worked long days and moved him all over the world.

His parents did not understand their quiet shy young boy and often would have large parties with many dignitaries and other important people. They would parade Bert around boasting his academic achievements, but only after tiding up his moppy brown hair. The first chance he could, he would rush up the stairs to his room and hide under his bed with a book and his imagination.

It was under his bed one night where he noticed it. This particular party was very loud and continued very long into the night. Bert just wanted the music to stop. It was too loud. It shook the house. He just needed some QUIET - the music stopped. He could hear from down stairs noises of questioning. He soon fell asleep and did not find out until the next day that the speakers in the surround system his father had just bought had blown. Soon after, he got his letter.