#even though there's only 46 in the final product

[historyhermann]

Spicing It Up: "High Guardian Spice" is A Cute and Magical Coming-of-Age Story [Part 2]

Sage boops Rose on the nose in episode 1

Continued from Part 1.

The supervising director of High Guardian Spice, Audu Paden, has worked on series such as Monster High, Ever After High, Animaniacs, and Polly Pocket, during his 20+ year career. Although some have criticized Leth in the past, with the issues being brought together in a 46-page Google Doc reportedly outlining her past problematic actions and words, it is important to remember she is only one of the show's many writers. As such, even if you are critical of Leth or dislike her for some other reason, no one in their right mind should dismiss an entire show because of what one writer has said in the past, just as no one should dismiss Twelve Forever because the creator, Julia Vickerman, may have been fostering a hostile work environment.

Reprinted from The Geekiary, Wayback Machine, and my History Hermann WordPress blog. This was the eleventh article I wrote for The Geekiary. This post was originally published on October 30, 2021.

There has been a negative response to High Guardian Spice, primarily from reactionary videos on YouTube and outrage over a "focus on diversity and LGBTQ+ creators," following the release of a trailer a few years ago. This has reached over into the comments on the episodes themselves, which is worrisome. The response is somewhat similar to how people reacted to the release of Kelsey Stephanides' six-episode mature animated comedy series, Magical Girl Friendship Squad, which parodied the magical girl genre and included various LGBTQ characters and themes.

SYFY originally released episodes on YouTube, but due to negative response from a vocal minority who review bombed episodes, the episodes were pulled from YouTube, and were put behind a paywall. Currently, Magical Girl Friendship Squad can only be watched on an obscure streaming platform, Peacock, while the show was left to die, with SYFY not even attempting to renew it.

The backlash to High Guardian Spice from stick-in-the-mud anime fans is a likely cause for the series, which ended production in November 2019, to miss release dates in 2019 and 2020. This means that Crunchyroll sat on the series for two years! Hopefully, High Guardian Spice does not suffer the same fate as Magical Girl Friendship Squad, or Crunchyroll Originals like Onyx Equinox, which has not yet been renewed for a second season. As one fan put it, "the immature audiences have already declared that they aren't watching."

Despite this, there has been a positive response to the show from character designers, artists, reviewers, writers, storyboarders, illustrators, cartoonists, YouTubers, cleanup artists, animators, animation directors, and show creators. Although you could say that the show isn't for everyone, this doesn't mean that anyone should hate on it. A lot of the hate toward the show is from misogynist and queerphobic anime fans, even though anime often features LGBTQ+ stereotypes up to the wazoo, with good representation sometimes hard to come by. Hopefully, this minority of hate-watchers of High Guardian Spice will be drowned out over time by new LGBTQ+ fans who love the show, even as Crunchyroll barely promotes it, leaving the promotional work to current viewers and the show's cast and crew.

If High Guardian Spice receives a second season, it will continue the story of the show's four protagonists, which Rose dubs "High Guardian Spice" in the show's final episode. In possible future episodes, Olive, who worked with Smoke Face, her intermediary to the Triumverate, may continue to be a threat, even though she has said that she doesn't want to kill anyone. As Olive stated in one episode to the show's protagonist, the Triumverate will keep sending enemies, like Mandrake, to fight the protagonists, attempting to cause them, and those at the school grievous harm.

Another season would see more of "cute witches fall[ing] in love with each other," as one fan described it, and episodes that hopefully push the boundaries of LGBTQ+ and gender diversity in media. Some fans would probably hope that characters like Sage and Rose could "run off and elope and travel the world as a power couple," as Amber Vanich, an openly lesbian storyboarder for Tangled: The Series once said about the popular ship of Cassandra and Rapunzel in the series, known as "Cassunzel," or have Sage and Snap do the same, due to their feelings toward each other. There are many possible ships in this show.

If another season of High Guardian Spice does happen, there would be more of what Romero described as an "incredibly inclusive" fun and magical adventure. Such a season is possible despite the fact that Rodriguez is developing a new mature animated drama for Legendary TV and another based on DC animated character for Warner Bros. Animation. If the show was to be renewed by Crunchyroll, new episodes would need to be developed, meaning the show may be on hiatus for some time. As Rodriguez put it recently, on an account which has gone private to avoid harassment from trolls, it's up to Crunchyroll if a second season is greenlit, adding that he'd "love to make a season 2" because he wanted to have the story following "the girls through all 3 years at High Guardian Academy."

As Georden Whitman, creator of Nomad of Nowhere and the upcoming animated series, Port by the Sea, stated, "it seems a lot of people are enjoying it so I hope that hate crowd is nullified." I hope for the same. As for Rodriguez, he has been drawing characters from High Guardian Spice, beginning with Rose, since 2013, even putting Rose in an animation he made in 2014. As a result, it is clear that he would definitely be interested in continuing the series if he is able to do so as he is invested in the characters, even likely basing the name of the catgirl on his cat, Olive, featured on his Tumblr blog along with early illustrations of the show's characters.

It is significant that Rodriguez described Princess Tutu as his favorite anime and Duck as his favorite character, saying she is "put through hardship after hardship, but she always makes it through smiling, she never gives up hope." The series has some similarities to High Guardian Spice in that it has magical girl elements and effective emotional appeal, with emotional honesty from characters. However, Princess Tutu is said to be a "fairy tale set to ballet" with the use of dance in lieu of violence, which makes me think more of the fusion dances in Steven Universe than anything in High Guardian Spice. As one reviewer put it, "the show draws from magical girl series like Sailor Moon and Princess Tutu." While I can't speak more to the influence of Princess Tutu, the sequences in the episode where the girls become mermaids is definitely inspired by the magical girl transformations in anime such as Cardcaptor Sakura, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Sailor Moon, and the like.

High Guardian Spice is, as Marisa Balkus, an animation manager at Netflix, put it, a "very special show that was intended to connect with audiences outside of its main platform." I hope, like she does, that people "find fun, comfort, and... a best girl in it." Certain YouTubers who complain about the show to get clicks and money flowing into their pockets or the hostile people in the Crunchyroll comments don't represent those who actually watch the show. Such people also did not represent those who watched Magical Girl Friendship Squad. The same can be said for the latter show's hard-to-find pilot series, Magical Girl Friendship Squad: Origins, stuck behind innumerable paywalls, written by Diana McCorry, the same person who created the little-known animated comedy web series, Human Kind Of, in 2018.

In a possible Season 2, it would be wonderful to see more magic, wholesome girls from this charming and cute series which has the feel of a Toonami or Ghibli anime but the fluidity and expressiveness that a modern cartoon can offer. Due to the fact it has four female protagonists at the helm, it not only shares some similarities with anime series like Princess Connect! Re: Dive, but with Western animations like Middle School Moguls, the Tales of Arcadia anthology, and Welcome to the Wayne, although each of those series are different in their own ways.

The show's last episodes, where the catgirl, Olive, turns people into stone, reminded me of the ending of the first season of Disenchantment when Dreamland is turned into stone except for the King, making it appear abandoned. In this case, however, the spell is lifted, while in Disenchantment everyone is still encased in stone, and that hasn't been reversed even in the most recent episodes.

The first season of High Guardian Spice makes me think of the four-episode prelude series by Yssa Badiola, entitled Recorded By Arizal. Like that series, I see these 12 episodes as introducing viewers to the show's characters and getting viewers invested in them, and setting a foundation for a future season. Another season would allow the characters to shine even more, and add more characters, perhaps those who are non-binary for instance. Even so, due to review bombing by some anime fans, it is possible that Crunchyroll will not see renewing such a series worth their while. Hopefully, they decide to renew it anyway and let the story continue, as the end of Season 1 left viewers with an unexpected cliffhanger!

I would highly recommend High Guardian Space. It is a harmless, cute, wonderful magical fantasy, and a queer magical girl show all in one.  I hope Crunchyroll will take the dive and keep this series alive. In the end, I hope that readers of this review help give High Guardian Spice a chance by watching it, whether on Crunchyroll or VRV.

© 2021-2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[burst-of-iridescent]

hello, my beloved! for the get to know me asks: 20, 31, 36, 46, 59, 73. yes, i'm aware it's a lot, but sue me, i'm nosy. 💙

20. Would you rather wake up with your makeup magically done, or your hair?

makeup all the way. i can brush and style my own hair, but i'd probably need to make some sort of faustian deal with the devil to finally gain the ability to pull off flawless, matching wings on both eyes. it would be a miracle to never have to struggle with that again.

31. What's a show that everyone loves that you didn't?

friends.

i know it's a classic, i know it's a product of its time, but i just could not make it through more than a few episodes. there's so much rampant bigotry of every form and so many of the jokes punch down (and aren't even funny anyway) and ross is awful and just... ugh. i honestly think friends is only as beloved as it is because of the 90s nostalgia, but maybe that's just me lol.

36. If you could learn one language fluently, what would it be?

mandarin.

i live in a country where the population is primarily chinese, so i'd love to be able to easily converse with almost everyone i meet. also it's one of the most difficult languages in the world so it's lowkey a flex to speak mandarin fluently imo.

46. Do you have any tattoos, or want to get one?

i have no tattoos and i would never get one because i'm a huge coward. if i could magically get a tattoo with no pain though, it would probably be something celestial-related - maybe a crescent moon with little stars around it.

59. What country that you haven't been to do you want to visit most?

greece! i fully blame my pjo phase in middle school.

73. What time of day do you like best?

6-8pm. i absolutely love sunsets, and that twilight hour just between evening and night when everything feels a little dreamy and magical.

thank you for the asks, bestie! ily and i hope you're doing well <3

send me a 'get to know me' ask!

[dojae-huh]

Wdyt about the repackage teasers. A lot of ppl including me felt like it’s a bit weird than usual?? Both teasers (lemme call them the pink and black) has not much effect added to it? It’s that what you call it? They don’t look like a teaser. Like there’s not much going on with the post- production so it looks like they just take it from their phone. The black one (cuz they all wore black) has very uncreative background. At least the pink one has interesting scheme colour but the black one hmm. Oh but people are loving the outdoor shoot

https://twitter.com/mattattmatt219/status/1614643290909077504?s=46&t=PoRJKGqfJI1JoWKog1huQw

And an anon asked

What do you think about this? /aeragons/status/1614644801844183045 (twitter) Personally, I think that SM is not putting much effort into this reckpage, I mean that compared to the Dream teasers, the 127 ones seem cheap and without creativity, so I really think we shouldn't expect much from the music video or the physical album. I just hope the music is good.

---------------------

Link, Link2

Korean fans are actively talking about it.

Regular-Irregular was the last artistic album. Since then 127 has got only mediocre level, uninspiring albums with no well-defined theme and little creativity. I came to accept it as a given.

As a consumer I'm unsatisfied with disregard to the production of albums. We have a Neo group from one of the largest companies that gets old-school albums with zero "neo" element in design of the albums. Unfortunatelly, I also don't see a way out unless there is a really big backlash from the fans. Fans buy physical albums to support their biases and to collect postcards. The fight for the consumer's heart doesn't happen at the store, fans don't choose albums by the cover or previews. BTS's physical albums are even worse than 127's and are the most sold out nonetheless (example 1, example 2). There is simply no punishment for a poorly produced physical album and no motivation to put a lot of creative thought in it. All of the attention goes to make up and clothes. There is only one requirement to fullfill: make new pictures of pretty faces.

Dream gets good albums. And I suspect it is more to do with the person responsible for the unit. He or she simply does a good job because he/she has talent and it's satisfying.

I don't have problems with SM killing two birds with one stone and doing two photoshoots at once. The result matters, not how it came to be. A photographer can shoot neos in their hotel rooms and still get a marvelous result if there is talent. Evidently, the situation happened due to packed schedule and late additions of new tasks (I guess the ad campaign was added to the album photoshoot). Don't think that bringing neos to a separate location with props results in quality. We know for a fact often a neo spends just a few minutes before a camera.

The group pictures are very standart. 127 did them before. There is lack of final touches though.

The photographer is decent, but the real brunt of the work was taken by the stylists and make up artists this time around.

Sometimes I think this outdated approach is intentional. All 127's albums have the feel of late 90s early '00s. And 127 VCR always depict this time period. SM can and does modern and artistic albums and invents new way of packaging. That, or the person responsible is simply not very talented/invested.

The schedule poster was good. And SM did a good job with pop-up stores for 2 Baddies promotion. I mean, the company even paid for creation of arcade games with NCT characters. Therefore, there is care for the unit, creative and promotional. It's just uneven and hectic.

I like these pics.

[astrolotte]

I posted 1,098 times in 2022

That's 628 more posts than 2021!

188 posts created (17%)

910 posts reblogged (83%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

fishiest-fish

seffien

widdendream5

purple-fedoras

sugarglider-s

I tagged 597 of my posts in 2022

Only 46% of my posts had no tags

#art - 70 posts

#my art - 61 posts

#splatoon - 58 posts

#fnaf - 57 posts

#artists on tumblr - 56 posts

#five nights at freddy's - 52 posts

#digital art - 45 posts

#artist - 39 posts

#charlie emily - 37 posts

#astrozei - 36 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#anyway. i shifted the colors around to better fit the character i drew. and by shifted the colors i mean i essentially stuck a filter on it

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Hi I have finally gotten around to reading all of the Alterna Logs after speedrunning my way through world 5 and 6 because I had enough eggs and didn't have to play any of them and. and.

Wow! They did a great job of continuing the Splatoon trend of giving us a funny concept with absolutely decimating lore behind it! I'm absolutely miserable now! /pos

more. under the cut. spoiler warning

ough what the FUCK /pos /pos /very much positive! Wow! All of humanity is dead but the new species exist because of US! That's absolutely miserable!

Honestly, I never really expected an actual reason to how the sea life evolved so quickly. I mean, it's only been 12,000 years since humanity died. There's no way that squids evolved into humanoids THAT FAST. But I didn't think much of it. Sure, Splatoon has a tendency to give proper and often detailed explanations towards little details (ex. the reason you can customize your character after the beginning is because squids can change color irl), but I just figured... eh. It's Splatoon. they can do what they want.

But NOPE! Turns out, there IS a reason for it!

I don't know if there's anyone still reading this who doesn't yet know the lore but doesn't care about spoilers, but here's a copy-pasted message from me talking to my friends about what the reason is:

"The few remaining humans on earth decided to build a dome underground, for their safety. Eventually, they developed these 'crystals' made from the bodily fluids of squids, that could essentially read minds and reflect the hopes of humanity. They filled the ceiling of the dome with these crystals, and they turned into the Earth's sky- the humans just wanted to be on the surface again, all we really wanted was to be back up there. All we wanted was to see the sky.

Eventually, this last group of humans had children, and the new generation was just as wistful as the last; they wanted to be on the surface too. Even though they had never seen it.

Against the wishes of their elders, they built a rocket ship to get back up there. But this... was a mistake. As soon as they attempted to turn it on, it started burning up the ceiling. The 'sky' fell, crystals included. It killed everyone. There were no more humans left on Earth.

But these crystals... they began to, essentially, merge with the sea life around their dome. And as the crystals reflected humanity's hopes and dreams, the sea life began to rapidly evolve into humanoids. They became humanoid because of us. Because of our desires and love and hope, the squids and octopi and every other creature we had found began to become us, or as close as they can get.

They are our last creation, our last little huzzah. The product of our last hope. They wanted to go to the surface just as we had, because that was what we wanted. They became land animals because of our dreams. They left the dome because that was all we wanted to do.

They saw our sky again for us. And yet, they had no clue that they were our result. They just... wanted to see the sky. Just as we had.

In typical Splatoon fashion, you have a funny premise (humanoid sea creatures have a society) followed by absolutely devastating lore."

Just... wow. Alright. Alright! That's some of the most horrifying lore we have yet! I mean, knowing that all the humans died because of World War 5 + global warming, including the few who survived in domes, was already miserable, but now.. now we get to know the history behind it. Now we get to know more about the domes they lives in, now we get to know more about their final years. Now we get to know that they hoped and dreamed too much.

They followed the story of Icarus: they flew too close to the sky. That's all they wanted to see, all they wanted was to be close to it again, they just wanted to see the blue sky and feel the breeze and watch the clouds. But they failed, and the sky they had, fake and artificial as it was, fell.

... Like Chicken Little.

375 notes - Posted September 11, 2022

#4

take me to splatoon city where the grass is green and the girls are squiddy

379 notes - Posted September 1, 2022

#3

hey Splatoon girlies how we feelin after the Splatfest? how we coping?

448 notes - Posted August 30, 2022

#2

oh my god

OH MY GOD??

I thought they were just named after the weather! Big Man's still left out tho...

EDIT in here too: Y'all. I KNOW Big Man is a pun on Man-ta ray. I was talking about how Shiver and Frye are named after groups of their respective fish, meanwhile Big Man's left out because a group of mantas aren't exactly called a big manta.

921 notes - Posted September 14, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Wait, I just realized.

In the final fight of Octo Expansion, against Commander Tartar and the NILS Statue, Tartar talks about how he was created to help the next sapient species not make the same mistakes as humanity.

He talks about how he was disgusted with the new species, and how he wanted to start anew.

Specifically, he details that he was horrified at the fact that they "obsess over trivial things like fashion", and "wage war over minor genetic deviations". All of these are things humanity did, too.

But now, with the new information from Splatoon 3, that... gets painted in a bit of a different light.

They obsess over fashion and fight over small differences, like us... because they're a product of us. They evolved the way they did because of our influence, as unintentional as it was.

Back then, I just thought that it was an unfortunate coincidence. But now it's... it's weird to look at.

Tartar hated them for the same things we did, not knowing that they were a product of our influence. God, that's just.. sad, huh?

1,009 notes - Posted September 11, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[usafphantom2]

Ronnie Bell Following

Dayton Wright DH-4B (46)

The DH-4 was an ever-present element of the U.S. Army Air Service during and after World War I. When the United States entered WWI in April 1917, the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps only had 132 aircraft, all obsolete. Modeled from a combat-tested British De Havilland design, the DH-4 was the only U.S. built aircraft to see combat during World War I. With inadequate funding to buy new aircraft, the newly created U.S. Army Air Service continued to use the DH-4 in a number of roles during the lean years following the war. By the time it was finally retired from service in 1932, the DH-4 had been developed into over 60 variants.

The Great War

During World War I, the Air Service used the DH-4 primarily for daytime bombing, observation and artillery spotting. The first American-built DH-4 arrived in France in May 1918, and the 135th Aero Squadron flew the first DH-4 combat mission in early August. By war's end, 1,213 DH-4s had been delivered to France.

Unfortunately, the early DH-4s had drawbacks, including the fuel system. The pressurized gas tank had a tendency to explode and a rubber fuel line under the exhaust manifold caused some fires. These problems led to the title of "The Flaming Coffin," even though only eight of the 33 DH-4s lost in combat by the U.S burned as they fell. In addition, the location of the gas tank between the pilot and observer limited communication and could crush the pilot in an accident.

Perhaps the most notable mission flown in the DH-4 was the brave attempt by 1st Lt. Harold Goettler and 2nd Lt. Erwin Bleckley of the 50th Aero Squadron to find and assist the famed "Lost Battalion" on Oct. 6, 1918. During a resupply mission to this surrounded unit, their DH-4 was shot down. Both men posthumously received the Medal of Honor.

DH-4 Production

Of the three U.S. companies that built the DH-4 during World War I, the largest producer was the Dayton-Wright Compant of Dayton, Ohio. The Air Service ordered over 12,000 DH-4s, but a number of problems kept initial production figures low and construction quality poor. The many changes involved in converting the design to American production standards, along with the use of the American Liberty 12-cylinder engine rather than the Rolls Royce engine of the British model, contributed to early production delays.

As the months of 1918 passed, however, quantity and quality improved considerably. By the end of the war, Dayton-Wright delivered 3,106 DH-4s, while the Fisher Body Division of General Motors built 1,600 and the Standard Aircraft Corporation added another 140, bringing the total to 4,846. The remaining 7,500 DH-4s still on order were cancelled.

Post-War Years

With few funds to buy new aircraft in the years following WWI, the Air Service used the DH-4 in a variety of roles, such as transport, air ambulance, photographic plane, trainer, target tug, forest fire patroller, and even as an air racer. In addition, the U.S. Post Office operated the DH-4 as a mail carrier.

The DH-4 also served as a flying test bed at McCook Field in the 1920s, testing turbosuperchargers, propellers, landing lights, engines, radiators and armament. There were a number of notable DH-4 flights such as the astounding New York to Nome, Alaska, flight in 1920, the record-breaking transcontinental flight in 1922 by Jimmy Doolittle and the first successful air-to-air refuelling in 1923.

1,538 DH-4s were modified in 1919-1923 to DH-4Bs by moving the pilot's seat back and the now unpressurized gas tank forward, correcting the most serious problems in the DH-4 design. A further improved version was the DH-4M whereby over 300 DH-4s received new steel tube fuselages.

Mexican Border Patrol

Continued raids by Mexican bandits on American homesteads led to the creation of the United States Army Border Air Patrol in June 1919. Comprised of eight squadrons and a photographic unit at its peak, the Border Air Patrol operated out of a string of rough airfields along the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite the loss of aircraft and aircrews to the harsh conditions in the Southwest, the Border Air Patrol's operations helped put an end to bandit attacks by the summer of 1921.

This DH-4B is marked as a photographic aircraft used by the 12th Aero Squadron in the early 1920's to take pictures of the U.S.-Mexico border and potential emergency landing fields.

Via Flickr

[yourstormthlaylirahh]

BL Tag Game

I was tagged  by @25shadesoffebruary thank you for tagging me! :)

If you had to watch one drama forever which would it be?

Bad Buddy is my comfort show, I love it so much and it is genuinely such an excellently crafted show (and also the first BL I watched ever ((back in January)) so it is sentimental).

If you could change the ending of a drama, which would you choose?

As much as I love the ending and think it fit the tone of the show, I would change the ending of Miracle of Teddy Bear. It may cheapen the show a little, but I like happy endings dammit! 

I would also change the ending of Plus & Minus - it started out so good and the ending fell really flat. Same with Kinnporsche - the writing went really sideways imo after episode 8 and the final episode was... something.

While I wouldn’t change the ending of History 3 Trapped, I would add a special reunion episode (side note but the anime No 6 is also in this same boat). 

Name your favourite drama and who your favourite character was.

I’m going to cheat and list 3 because making decisions is difficult.

1. Bad Buddy - Pran 

2. Triage - so many but if push comes to shove I’d say Tol

3. A Tale of Thousand Stars - Tian

Name a drama you dropped within a few episodes.

I’ve only dropped 3 dramas in total, so Check Out and That’s My Candy. Check Out was especially disappointing because I loved the special ep.  

Name a popular drama you've never watched and why.

Lots, since I am a drama newbie. A relatively popular one I have never watched and don’t intend to is TharnType. Some of the more popular ones I intend to watch sometime are SOTUS, Love by Chance, Utsukushii Kare, and the rest of the History series.

Name a drama you regret watching.

The episodes of Check Out I watched - I wish I had just kept the special as a one shot in my brain. Other than that I don’t really regret anything I have watched, even the shows that weren’t very good I still finished because there were enjoyable elements in them. The only possible exception to this is WBL2

Name a drama you thought you'd never watch but did and ended up liking it.

Honestly I didn’t think I would get this into BL in general - I assumed it would be like watching the yaoi I had dipped my toe into in high school, and we all know some of the uncomfortable tropes in old school yaoi asgkhjhxsjkd. There are definitely series which show this lineage more, but I started watching at a good time it seems, when more queer people are involved in production and there is a greater variety of stories starting to be told. Even the more tropey shows I have watched have been for the most part enjoyable. 

Man, I hope I worded that ok, I can’t get it to read like I don’t have a giant chip on my shoulder oops.

Specifically I didn’t think I would like 2Gether at all - I just watched for background for Still 2Gether because I wanted to complete P’Aof’s filmography. While there were parts I absolutely hated (cough the way they wrote Green cough cough) I did mostly enjoy watching.

Name a pairing you want to see.

MilkLove full series, please please PLEASE. I also think Gigie Chanunphat and Jan Ployshompoo would absolutely kill it in a GL. I have more GL pairings I want than BL honestly, though I am still holding out for NanonChimon. Edit: I also really want Mild and Baifern to do a GL together, their dynamic on 46 Days was so fun

Name a pairing you didn't think had any chemistry.

BrightWin. Also both pairings from Star & Sky, though I am not sure that that isn’t a case like OffGun, where as they got more comfortable they would develop chemistry and not just come across awkward.

Name a pairing you've seen in another drama that you like.

I am confused what this question is asking. Is it who we want to see more of? In that case, ForceBook please please please, and I will never say no to EarthMix. 

I can’t think of who to tag, so feel free to say I tagged you if you want to do it. :)

[nickgerlich]

KISS And Make Up

You never forget your first time.I was a freshman at Anderson University, and final exams were starting the next week. In spite of a snow and ice storm, a group of my pals and I threw caution to the wind and loaded into a tiny Chevy Vega. We slid about 50 miles to Indianapolis for a little music. The date was Sunday 11th December 1977.

It was my first concert ever, and headlining the stage that night was KISS, the band that singlehandedly put Max Factor’s kids through college. Their full-face make-up, stage antics, fire-breathing, and thundering music had made them massively popular. We skidded all the way to Indy, but got there early enough to claim our standing spaces down in the seatless mosh pit. I was about 10 feet from the stage.

As a side note, the opening act was an unknown band from Australia, AC/DC. But that’s not the point of this story, even though it was memorable in that I can say I saw them with their original lead singer. The smell of the wacky weed was strong, and one need not actually fire up one to feel the effects.

Scheduling fate would have it that my Old Testament final exam was the next morning. I paid to every deity I could summon, avowing I would never do this again (ahem—that promise did not last very long), and that I would stay up all night studying if only we were granted traveling mercies after the show.

But then I realized I may as well enjoy what was before me. The potential damage was done. I was blown away when guitarist Angus Young hopped on the shoulders of singer Bon Scott, who then made it all the way to the upper deck of Market Square Arena, Angus continuing to riff. They were showing off the latest in wireless technology, something that we could hardly even begin to imagine back then.

And then KISS took the stage, Peter Criss banging those drums, Ace Frehly shredding that guitar, Paul Stanley beseeching us to rock and roll all night and party every day, and Gene Simmons thumping that bass while spewing stage blood.

Yeah, that was quite the visual. It probably helps explain why I have tinnitus today. Well, along with the 100 or more concerts I have gone to since then.

I told you that you never forget your first time. This was more than 46 years ago. Both KISS and AC/DC went on to superb careers, but it is KISS, thanks to the mastermind of Mr. Simmons, who most fully leveraged their rock star status. KISS branded itself on to more than 5000 products through the years, and now comes news that they have sold not just the publishing rights to their music, but the brand and all IP as well.

The price? Only $300 million.To be honest, I think that KISS left a LOT of money on the table, because all other rock stars selling their catalog these days did only that. KISS brings much more to the conversation, including the avatar initiative they announced not long ago, as well as the potential for AI-generated content that will see the band live on to eternity if their new owner so desires.

But still…how many other artists do you think could see their brand leveraged in such ways? Maybe Jimmy Buffett, but I see his brand being used more for resorts and restaurants, not digital products. KISS has been larger than life throughout their storied career; whether fans will flock to consume their product in digital form is all speculation at this point, I suspect that their new owner is planning on a windfall.

More than anything is the clear message that it is not just what someone produces, but also the persona(s) who produced it. Imagine your personal brand being so noteworthy as to fetch millions so that someone could market everything you ever did, but also what you never did. That’s powerful, and in the digital era, anything is possible.

Meanwhile, it is safe to say that the KISS Army lives on, even if Mr. Simmons and company are now officially 100% retired. And I will forever savor the memories I made that night.

Oh, you’re probably wondering about that exam. We got home at 3am, thanks to the treacherous roads. I stayed up the rest of the night studying, confidently marched into that exam at 11am, and aced it. God never fails, and I am grateful to say that neither did I.

Dr “Shout It Out Loud” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[identyties]

Design Blog 12

Reflection I showed off my progress with my studies and the main project at the time to get feedback on what I had done since the last session. What I showed was the water droplets with synth and the sunrise with both blur and the darkness reduced. I had my own suspicions confirmed and the water was too dark and moved too much. Over the past 12-13 weeks I struggled to make something I though truly embodied Serenity. Over and over I had an idea, tried to work on it and it didn't work, pictured below. Multiple nights where I didn't sleep to get the footage only for me to do multiple experiments on it but not work and have to get more. But I think it ended up being worth it, all of these "failures" were really just stepping stones. Even if I didn't do the final one that Shaun helped give the idea of, the end product I came up with was the combination of what I learned that didn't work from the others, and combine it into one that does with the last one. I'm actually quite proud of how it turned out despite other things happening during the semester that effected me in other ways, and I don't usually say I'm proud of my works.

Research Due to the feedback and help during the Tuesday session, I got to ask for assistance from Shaun Wilson. He suggested that I try to pick apart the good pieces of the footage and make it better as a whole by doing so. I looked into creation with after effects to not much success as my computer was struggling to handle the program and there wasn't much online I could find that was exactly what Shaun told me to do. (Also the image below was hard to understand exactly what he meant and what I was meant to search up to get help with it.)

Progress After all of the research I did on the techniques and how to use AfterEffects, I came up with something that I had an idea for weeks ago. Due to the time contraints and my lack of skill I couldn't make that final big project, but the one I did come up with I think still works really well for serene. I took the top half of my water footage that was sped up, masked out the clouds and the middle with a gaussian blur, and then flip and reversed it on the other side, creating an effect that just isn't exactly mirrored because the horison wasn't 50% in the middle it was 46%, so it just slightly looks different on each side, which actually boosts engagement without ruining the serenity. The sound was also something I wanted to do more with, as I have become much more proficient since I first started the course at making sounds and music, however due to the feedback I got in previous weeks I ended up only having one instrument and try and make it low key, relaxing, only syncing when the birds came across the screen with chords.

[ugly-anastasia]

I posted 451 times in 2022

That's 186 more posts than 2021!

83 posts created (18%)

368 posts reblogged (82%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@prince--thomas

@toby-determined

@kouros-herc

@oh-heartlessman

@maryxoliver

I tagged 451 of my posts in 2022

#tom - 58 posts

#toby - 56 posts

#inspo - 49 posts

#thomas - 46 posts

#herc - 42 posts

#hercules - 22 posts

#howl - 21 posts

#ken - 18 posts

#elinor - 16 posts

#swynsta - 16 posts

Longest Tag: 133 characters

#this is like definitely not what the reading would be this week but i legit could not find any source telling me what it should be so

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Off The Record | Anatoby

When Toby told Annie that the final edits were done and the story would run the next morning, Annie had felt euphoric. Her first real story! Not that she didn’t think her columns were real writing, of course. They took work and effort and research. But this was different. This was special. This was the culmination of a lot of research, and an entire stakeout, and, well.. Annie had actually had a lot of fun with it. It had gotten her through a really rough time this summer, this project and doing it with Toby.

So she had suggested getting drinks the following evening to celebrate. Their first story together. Maybe there would be more in the future, even.

But by the following evening, everything was different.

Annie had expected Dian and Elena to be upset, of course. But not the entirety of Swynlake (or so it seemed). Didn’t people like celebrity gossip? Since when was everyone rushing to the Princess of Avalor’s side to defend her against some reporters exposing a romantic scandal? Maybe they just didn’t like Annie... That was the thought that did kind of hurt...

Still, she kept her promise to meet up with Toby at Tiana’s Place. Honestly, she could kind of use the company of someone who, like, kind of understood. She put on a nice dress and did her makeup, but everything looked just a little bit off— evidence of a day spent furiously replying to DMs and fending off Twitter callouts.

“Toby!” Annie said, smiling with relief when she saw him. “Thank god. How’re you holding up?”

[outfit]

@toby-determined

26 notes - Posted September 7, 2022

#4

Work Bestie | Anatoby

Annie didn’t have to come into the office all that often, because she was a freelancer who only put out one piece a week (and that piece was usually pretty easily edited). But her editor wanted to talk more in-depth with her about the editorial schedule for the spring, and Annie wanted to make a good impression, so of course she came in. 

She did, however, feel a bit awkward about it, because she didn’t know most of the other staff. So when her meeting ended and lunch rolled around, Annie hovered uncertainly in the hallway. She hated feeling out-of-place. But she didn’t want to just leave without being seen either. But then she saw the perfect answer-- that funny little man, Toby Determined.

“Hey, friend!” Annie said, sidling up to his desk. “Had to come in for a meeting today. Wanna get lunch? Catch up? It’s been too long!”

[fit check]

@toby-determined​

26 notes - Posted January 7, 2022

#3

Candid Camera | Andrakina

For once, Annie felt relatively accomplished. She had fired off the email to the neighborhood that morning before taking Jaxson and Harlynne to school and daycare, and now she planned to have a productive morning working on her column and maybe doing a bit more research for her project with Toby. So it wasn’t until she pulled into her driveway and saw two figures at her door that Annie’s mood shifted.

At first, she was panicked. She considered calling the police right then and there, because it seemed the Order had sent more henchpeople to come stake out her house! But then she looked closer. And she realized-- oh. It was just her deranged neighbors. 

“Can I help you!” Annie announced loudly, crossing her arms and smiling, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She supposed she had told her neighbors they were free to reach out to her with any questions. So she should at least put on an appearance of friendliness. Even if it was... Sarina and Drakken.

[outfit]

@dr-drckken​ @accendimi​

27 notes - Posted June 21, 2022

#2

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood | Kourmaine

After her conversation with Sheriff Clayton, Annie was feeling more ready than ever to give South Swynlake Homeowners and Renters Together (working title) her full attention. Well, all of her attention that wasn’t already focused on chasing around two young children, keeping up with the increasingly frequent prenatal appointments, and getting her column in on time every week. But she kept it in the back of her mind, and so when she was outside supervising Harlynne and Jaxson’s very adorable snowball fight and saw her (very handsome) neighbor out shoveling snow, Annie just had to say something.

“Hercules Kouros?” Annie said, flipping up her sunglasses over her fuzzy headband. She remembered him from secondary school-- talk about a glow up!-- and she didn’t know how he felt about her now, but that wasn’t going to stop her. “Funny running into you out here! I didn’t know you lived in this neighborhood!”

[outfit]

@kouros-herc​

29 notes - Posted January 31, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Annie On The Street | Open

Annie’s only job at the Squire right now was still her column. And she didn’t really need interviews for that— usually, she just wrote from the heart, as she told her editor. But ever since that exposé had been published, Annie had been itching to expand her reach. Maybe she could get some real stories, stories of her own, if she proved that she could do it! And since Annie believed very strongly in working with what she already had, she was going to beef up her column with some interviews.

Election season was the perfect opportunity for that!

“Excuse me!” Annie said, approaching someone passing by. “Annie Tremaine, Swynlake Squire. I’d love to chat with you about the issues that matter to you in this election!” No, she was not going to ask if they had a minute. If you wanted something, you had to demand it.

[outfit]

38 notes - Posted October 5, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[dezineinnovation]

Reviews can enhance the trustworthiness of the brand Dezine Innovation

The importance of reviews & ratings are essential and we all know that clearly. Nowadays, shopping also depends on the reviews and ratings. As, whenever users are going to buy something, they check the ratings first. After checking the reviews, if you find these okay, then go for it.

We can say that in current times, we can't even imagine purchasing something from a store. According to the research, most people prefer to see ratings and reviews before buying anything from the market. These are also essential to find out the quality of the product, its sales in the market, what material is used to manufacture it, and so on.

The role of reviews is crucial when you buy anything related to food, beverage, health, beauty, and hardware. You should know that these are the centre of business. So, you must research a lot about the product and check the reviews. You should know that the reviews are extremely valuable for any business and its growth.

Their impact on sales to SEO:

In recent times, whenever a person buys something from any shop or store, they usually leave more reviews about their experiences. They love to share what they feel about the shop and prefer to advise other people if they should visit there or not. Therefore, if a store leaves a good impact on customers, it will increase traffic also because they can invite and recommend other customers also to come to this place. It can help to increase sales. Reports say that the percentage of the number of reviews is increasing year-over-year by nearly 11%. It is seen in most cases that people who read reviews prefer to purchase something from there if there are good reviews. So, remember that these can make a great Avenue. In addition, if you want to bring attention to your products, having good reviews and ratings can help you easily. Thus, it is possible to get the top rank or higher rank in search results.

It is true that good reviews can easily boost sales & profits by improving the business. Besides, these have a great impact on brands and retailers. Reviews can also improve search engine optimization.

People can buy products with confidence:

Reviews are something on which most users rely whenever they are planning to look for the best product. Reading the reviews can help them to understand which the best one is. If you want to find any product and want to make quick decisions, then you must look at the reviews and ratings appropriately. In this regard, one thing you need to know is that these can work even faster than chat bots or a website's search tool whenever you decide which one to choose for your purpose.

Customers check the reviews not only when they purchase online. But also many people check the reviews before purchasing a product offline. They research about the item first and try to find out features & drawbacks so that it can help them to buy the correct model. The same thing happens for online users also. They also want to know and judge a product's quality online by watching reviews.

Research says that most people visit the ratings and reviews section at the end when they are going to decide on the final product. It says that around 70% of shoppers want to see the reviews section at first, and they want to judge the product based on reviews that other people commented on the page. According to the reports, 60% of buyers see the pictures posted by other customers, and based on that, many buyers want to select their products.

It helps to increase the confidence of people and decide how much money they prefer to invest. Research says that reviews can fell its impact on approx 50% of buyers leading them to purchase a costly product though not planned.

If you are browsing the reviews, you will be influenced by the maximum number of reviews, where the percentage is around 46%, followed by a star rating (42%) when you decide to purchase something. Besides, there are a few people who generally do not read reviews. According to them, more reviews are required, and they want more photos from customers.

When you have good reviews from your customers, think that you have won the first race. But ensure that you respond to all the reviews to keep a good connection with your customers. It not only helps to maintain a good bond between you and your customers but also helps to increase traffic.

Reviews can enhance the trustworthiness of the brand:

Remember that brand trust is probably the vital thing that one needs to consider. Generally, people prefer to choose a product from a renowned brand. A good brand is always recommended by many people and their family members also. Thus, the sale of products for the brand can be increased.

We have given here the top four reviews about Dezine innovation, the best interior design company in Delhi.

 A customer said that by hiring this company, he had a good experience. He had taken the assistance of the team members of Dezine innovation to get an outstanding touch of interior design in the showroom. Dezine Innovation has made all the tasks easier for that person. Staff of this best interior designing company had a major role in this case. He added that the superb services delivered by the company are very much cost-effective too.

The company can offer excellent interior design services to offices. Hiring Dezine innovation, a person has turned his office into his dream working place where you can see excellent finishes, different styles of designs, and so on.

The team members of this company are well-trained. A customer in Gurugram has made a dream house taking help from the experienced staff of this company.

[re-becoming]

The Summer of Unforgettable Faces

A short story I wrote last summer. It's finally time someone read it. 46 pages.

The Summer of Unforgettable Faces

 by Anon  

Copyright-Copyright©2022

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book can be used or reproduced in any manner, withing written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations included in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Places, Names, Characters, and events are all fiction in every regard. Any similarities to the actual events and people, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, product names, or named features are only used for reference, and are assumed to be property of their respective owners.

Playlist

Dedication 

Dedicated to the capricorn I once knew.

n.v

1.The Long Distance Walker

Janice didn’t run from her problems, she walked. She walked for a very long time and often tried to find things while walking. Things that could distract her from reality. In the early fall-late spring, Janice had met Callie. They were the only freshmen in a sophomore journalism class. Callie had been like Janice, in more than one way. They both wanted to escape what was real and they both had mentally abusive mothers. Both teenage girls also had a desire to be something other than themselves. Janice and Callie were both equally beautiful. Janice had caramel skin and long hair, she often would cut or dye her hair. Both of Janice's parents were Mexican but she hadn’t learned to speak any spanish. Callie was darker than Janice, she had skin the color of rich and smooth chocolate. She would frequently change her hair as well, sometimes she’d rock long braids and other times she’d have a simple ponytail. Even though both girls were physically beautiful, they felt mentally drained and over life.

When the two girls first met, Callie had been staring blankly at the school's computer. The library was quiet other than small chatter among the junior study hall. Janice clearly wasn’t sure why her classmate had been staring at the computer screen and what was going through her head. She thought to herself that it couldn't have been the journalism assignment they were given. The class was independently working on current events, whatever shitty thing was happening in the world. Still, Callie stared at her computer for the entire duration of the class. It wasn't abnormal for Callie, she often disassociated and created a better world in her head. Once the class had finally ended, Janice spoke to Callie.

“I hate Mr. Rammy, I just picked this class because it was easier than music.” 

Callie was no longer staring at the computer, she was now shoving her belongings in her backpack. She paused and looked at Janice, “I know, he took ten points off of my test because I didn’t capitalize an I in the notes sections.” Janice let out a low laugh since they were still in the library, “I’m Janice, by the way.” Callie swung her backpack over her shoulders and smiled, “I know, we’ve been in this class together for almost two months.” Janice hated introductions, she wanted to skip the getting to know each other part and go straight to being the best of friends. 

So, they did. Janice and Callie quickly became close, they both had their own friend groups but in journalism class they only had each other. The rest of the school year consisted of them talking on the phone until the sun would rise, turning every journalism assignment into a two person job and slowly losing all their friends. Janice knew that this would eventually happen, that she’d lose all her friends and end up alone. Except, she wasn’t alone. The weather was getting warmer and school had finally come to an end. On one hot summer day, Callie texted Janice.

Callie: hey, wanna get ice cream?

Janice: yeah lets meet at the school.

Callie: Ok

The sun was already about to start setting when both girls had finally reached the high school. Janice spoke first, “Let’s go to the ice cream shop in Plumhill.” 

“Okay,” Callie didn’t mention how they’d have to pass at least 5 different ice cream shops on the way to Plumhill because she knew that Janice loved to walk. If she could, Janice would walk until her feet were worn as well as her body. It was better than going home and facing that reality. As they walked Janice played r&b music through the small speakers on her phone, “My mom wants me to come to San Francisco, and so does my older sister.” Callie immediately felt worried but she swallowed it and put her hands into the pockets of her shorts, “Oh, are you going to go?” 

This made Janice think, she always knew she fit in more with the kids in San Francisco than the ones in Pennsylvania. But then she met Callie and it was like they shared a mind and just had different bodies. Maybe their souls were connected and that’s why Janice was sent to live with her dad in Pennsylvania, not because her mom had failed Janice and her younger sister. Most people thought of Janice as an airhead, they always assumed she was dumb because she chose to ignore the parts of life that she didn’t like. In a way, the world was moving very slowly around Janice while her brain was moving very fast. A biker took Janice out of her thoughts when he almost knocked her down. Callie didn’t say much when her friend wasn’t mentally here, because most of the time neither was she. Janice looked at Callie and finally shook her head, “No, she had her chance and I have a life here.” 

The girls continued to walk and eventually slowed down when they reached a main drag, people were out in big groups and suddenly life felt even more fake to Janice. It was hard to believe that all of these people had different lifes and dreams and goals. The smell of waffle cones and strawberry ice cream filled the air. Janice looked over to Callie, “Let’s play a game.”

“What game?” As Janice looked through her music library for the perfect song she spoke, “It’s like people watching but we’re going to tell their stories.” Callie looked around at the people around her, “But we don’t know their stories.” 

“I know, that’s what’s going to make it so fun.”

2. Maxwell - The Shy Partygoer 

Callie Enjoyed Janice’s company, probably more than anyone else’s. When they first met, Callie was extremely high off of an edible that one of the seniors were selling for fifteen dollars. She didn’t have any intentions of going to school that day and buying a brownie mixed with weed, but when a girl in her English class asked her to come, she did. And coincidentally, Callie had exactly fifteen dollars. Three five’s to be exact. On that same day she decided she hated brownies, she was basically scarred for life. Now, Callie is standing next to Janice trying to find someone worthy of a story. The sun is now setting and she tries to convince herself that she’ll be okay. Staying out late isn’t  something Callie likes, what if they get kidnapped or killed? Or both? 

As Callie felt the world sitting heavy on her chest, she stopped in her tracks when she saw him. There was a man leaving one of the crowded ice cream shops with a group of people. He had dirty blonde hair and light eyes, he was a sight for sore eyes. She cleared her throat and closed her eyes as he walked by, “Janice, I think he’s definitely a Max.” Janice began talking but Callie turned back to find him looking back at her as well. The girl's stomach began to do flips but she just smiled at him and turned back to her friend, “Okay, here’s the story of Maxwell, the shy party goer.”

The first time Maxwell Worthy kissed a girl was during his freshman year of college. He applied to one college and made sure it was only 45 minutes away from his parents house. Maxwell came from wealth, his dad’s dad was big on Wall Street. So when Max decided not to go to an Ivy League school, everything changed. His dad was going to disown him but his mother didn’t let that happen, Claire had loved her only child more than anything. He suffered from anxiety a lot in high school and the first few weeks  of college, then something changed. He kissed a girl. 

The party was loud, Maxwell didn’t even want to be there. His roommate, Devin, had to basically drag him out of their dorm room. When they were leaving Devin made a joke about his name and said he should introduce himself as Max and not Maxwell. Anyway, back at the party Devin had left Max in the corner when his girlfriend arrived. She was a pale girl with dark hair and light eyes, her name was Karlie and she was a communications major. When she told Maxwell that he’d laugh, they were alone in a bathroom waiting for Devin to bring back weed. The pale girl looked at him and sucked her teeth, “What?” He awkwardly adjusted his round glasses and looked at her from his seat on the edge of the tub, “Nothing, I figured you’d be an physcology major.” She laughed sarcastically and crossed her legs as she sat on top of the toilet, “Okay, let me guess.. you're a business major?” This made him laugh again which was rare, for someone so like him to laugh more than once. He leaned forward and placed his hands on his knees, “Political Science.” Now Karlie was laughing hysterically and had to pinch herself to calm down, “You want to be a lawyer?” He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, “Not all political science majors go to law school.” 

“Yeah but get real,  you would suck as a politician or a lawyer.” This should’ve offended him but it didn’t, instead he just stood up and began to walk out of the bathroom but she stopped him. Her back was against the bathroom door and his hand was on the handle, “I’m sorry, I just think you’re a little shy. I mean you’re at a party, hiding in the bathroom with me.” 

“We were supposed to be waiting for Devin and the weed.” Karlie smiled and rubbed his jaw with one of her fingers that had black nails, “Do you even smoke? Or did you want an excuse to escape the party?” Maxwell ignored her question and she kept her finger on his jaw. The music got louder as Karlie's hand trailed down chest. They were both completely sober when Karlie smashed her lips onto his, he pushed her away for a moment but shook his head before grabbing her face and kissing her hard. It felt so wrong but Maxwell couldn’t help it, he’d never been kissed. Especially not by a girl like Karlie, someone so unhinged. There was a pull on the door and Karlie quickly pulled away causing her lip ring to latch on Maxwell's skin. He let out a small groan when his lip ripped, the pale girl just laughed quietly and then kissed the spot where blood was coming out of. Maxwell walked over to the sink and Devin walked in with two bags of weed. Devin didn’t suspect a thing, he just smiled and sat next to Karlie on the tub and began rolling blunts. 

“My bad it took so long, turns out a lot of people are trying to get high tonight.” Karlie smiled and then began helping him, “It’s fine, I learned a lot about Max. Did you know he’s a political science major?”

“Of course I know that, I’m his roommate. Don’t be so dense, Karlie.” 

For the rest of the night they all sat in the bathroom and got so high they forgot about the rest of the party. When Devin asked Maxwell what happened to his lip he said something about biting it too hard. This led to Devin saying that his roommate desperately needed to get laid. Karlie leaned against the cool wall and took a long hit, “You’re a virgin?” Maxwell didn’t have time to answer for himself, Devin did. 

“Yeah, he’s never even been kissed.”  

Maxwell's face went red. He’d told Devin that in confidence one night when they were walking around the town surrounding their college. The truth was, Maxwell probably had multiple chances at a romantic relationship but his lack of ability to read social cues or put himself out there had stopped him from finding out what the odds were. Strangely enough, on his graduation day a girl with beautiful red hair and fruit punch lips had told him that he was her first crush. Maxwell asked why she didn’t tell him and she simply said, “I thought you hated me.” It  was common for people who didn’t understand anxiety,  to think that people with it were hateful. But truth be told, Maxwell didn’t hate anyone and especially not the girl with fruit punch lips. He was just confused because no one explained emotions to him. So as he got older, it got worse and he wasn’t able to comprehend things like crushes or jealousy.  Now, he sits in the bathroom across from his roommate and his roommate's girlfriend, completely aware that the emotion he is feeling is humiliated.

Karlie passes Maxwell the blunt and smiles, “Hey, there’s a first time for everything. I gave my first kiss when I was 10 and I wish I would’ve waited until college.” Devin looked at girlfriend and laughed, “You were 10? And I thought 12 was bad.” Maxwell hit the blunt and started coughing, “I can feel my lungs burning.” This made Karlie and Devin laugh even though Maxwell was being completely serious. He wasn’t entirely into smoking weed but he was into the company of his roommate and his roommate's girlfriend. 

That same night they walked back to Karlie's off campus apartment and for once Maxwell felt liberated. He wasn’t sure if it was the drugs or the fact he’d kissed someone else's girlfriend, but in the moment: he could climb Mount Everest. On the walk back to the apartment, Karlie would kiss Devin and keep her eyes open. She’d looked at Maxwell as she shoved her tongue down her boyfriend's throat. This didn’t bother Maxwell in the way she probably wished it should’ve. He wasn’t jealous or even mad, he was actually more excited. When Karlie had caught him smiling at her, she pulled back from Devin and pulled out a cigarette. 

“Max, what’s your type?” He walked with his hands in pocket and shook his head when she offered a hit of her cigarette, “Do you mean like in women?” This made Devin laugh, “I think she does, unless you have something to tell me.” 

“Oh, Um. I haven’t really given it much consideration, I guess all women are beautiful in their own way.” He didn’t say this just to impress Karlie, he didn’t even know that it would do that. He genuinely believed everyone had some sort of beauty to them, whether it was physical  or just a mentality sort of thing. Karlie's shoulder bumped him and then stopped in front of an apartment building across from a rite aid, “That’s so sweet, it’s rare to find something with a mind like yours.” Devin snorted and then looked Maxwell up and down, “A mind like his?” 

“Yes, some people actually have brains.” Devin laughed and then kissed her cheek, “I’ll be back in a bit, gonna grab some snacks. I think my munchies are really kicking in, text me if you want anything.”

  As soon as Devin disappeared, Karlie grabbed Maxwell by the collar of his beige hoodie and pushed him into her apartment. He let her push him against a white table and she kissed his cheek, then helped him pull his hoodie off as well as his shirt. Maxwell had a nice body from doing sit ups and push ups when he had the dorm to himself. She dragged her finger down his chest and stopped at the top of his jeans, “Are you turned on?” He looked down at his jeans that were tighter than usual and then looked back up at Karlie, “I think so.” She sucked her teeth and pulled her shirt and bra off, “Well,  I want you to be sure.” Karlie took his hands and placed them on her breasts, “Touch me, I want you too.” They never once mentioned Devin as they made love. Maxwell enjoyed the way Karlie showed him what she liked and how he showed her what he liked. It was quick and quiet, they’re bodies were molded together on the apartment floor and he never wanted to leave. Karlie rubbed his lip where it had been bleeding earlier, “I’m Sorry.” He slowly thrusted inside of her and held onto her head to protect it from the wall, “It’s okay, I don’t mind.” 

“You like pain?” He looked at her slightly parted mouth and gave a weak smile as he came inside of her, “Maybe, if you’re the one inflicting it.” 

Later that  same night Devin had come back and was still oblivious. He warmed up a hot pocket for himself as Karlie and Maxwell waited on the couch. Her face was bright red and her lips were swollen. Maxwell felt like it was something he’d be willing to do for the rest of his life even if it meant it had to be secret. As Maxwell sat on the couch  with Devin between him and Karlie, he thought about the girl from graduation and if he would’ve felt this way with her. But as a rerun of The Proud Family played on the tv, he realized that this was something only Karlie could make him feel.  

For the next few weeks they’d meet at Karlie's place while Devin was in class and her roommate was out. Usually they’d just have sex and lay in her bed aftward staring at the ceiling. It was only so often that they’d talk, Karlie would always have to initiate the conversation. She’d ask him about his family or things he liked, he never asked her these questions because he didn’t think he had too. When Maxwell mentioned his liking for football, Karlie told him about the tryouts coming up. He rubbed her arm and told her that college football isn’t for high school  quitters . Maxwell did play football in high school but he’d quit his junior year, it became overwhelming. The locker rooms were always loud and he hated how his coach would talk to them. But Karlie had still somehow convinced him to try out and he actually made the team, the varsity team.

One night after a big win, there was another party. Maxwell arrived with a guy from his team and saw Karlie and Devin talking in the corner of the frat house. When he walked over to them Devin dabbed him up and then walked away. Maxwell looked at Karlie and tried to figure out what was wrong with her. Her mascara was smudged like she’d been crying.

“Are you okay?” 

She smiled and nodded, “Yeah, why do you ask?” Maxwell looked at her smeared mascara and then careened her cheek, “You’re mascara, it’s smudged.” 

“Oh, Devin and I were having sex in the bathroom.” He let go of her face and nodded, “Oh, he made you cry?” She grabbed his hand and dragged it up her dress, “Yeah, do you wish you could do that? Fuck me like Devin?” 

“Is that what you want? For me to fuck you like Devin?” Karlie closed her thighs around his hand and began rocking, “Do you think you’re capable of that?” He took his hand back and shoved it in his pocket, “I thought we were making love, not just fucking.” Karlie smiled at him and tried to grab his hand but he flinched, “Are you jealous?” 

“No, I’m not jealous because you’re having sex with your boyfriend.” A girl with curly hair and dark jeans walked up to them and wrapped her arm around Maxwell, “Babe, come on. I want you to meet my brother.” 

“Babe?” 

Maxwell looked at Karlie and smiled, “Yeah, we’re fucking too.” The girl slapped his arm and then looked at Karlie, “Sorry, he can’t really follow social cues. I’m Onaji, we’re in the same political science class.” Maxwell didn’t give Karlie time to speak and instead he told Onaji that he was ready to meet her brother. 

After the party, Maxwell made love to Onaji and once again felt liberated. He thought of Karlie for a moment but then realized, it wasn’t a person he’d become addicted to. It was a feeling and that feeling was love. Maxwell discovered that love was only a person who made you feel good and comfortable. That night he knew he'd fall in love at least another thousand times. 

3. The Girls on The Bench

Once Callie had finished telling that part of Maxwell's story, she was back to her own. Janice looked at her as she licked her green ice cream, “Wait, did Max love her?” Callie shrugged and then dug her spoon into her ice cream sundae, “Maybe, or maybe he just loved the idea of being loved..?”

“So Karlie did love him? It seemed like she was just trying to toy with him.” 

“I don’t know what to say, these are the kinds of questions we shouldn’t answer.” Janice rolled her eyes and dramatically sighed, “Okay, fine. Rule number one  of storytelling and people watching: don’t ask questions.” 

“Agreed.” 

“Okay but one more question.”

“My god! You’re breaking your own rule.” Janice laughed and looked at almost gone ice cream, “Do you think that people have to be in love in order to have sex or they have to have sex in order to be in love?” This made Callie think, but she genuinely didn’t know and that’s what she told Janice. 

“Have you ever had sex?” 

“No, have you?” 

Janice licked her ice cream and nodded without speaking. Callie stopped digging into her ice cream and looked at her friend, “Were you in love?” 

“Maybe, I don’t know. It’s easier to say that I was in love at the time but in complete honesty, I don’t know. I’m not even sure what love really is. In a way, I’m kind of like Maxwell, no one explained emotions to me.” 

“That’s understandable, no one explained emotions to me either. I don’t think anyone explains emotions to anyone.” 

“Yeah, but shouldn’t parents do that? Tell their kids about different emotions and how to control them?”

“I think they do, like, if a kid's crying an adult is all like aw don’t cry,it’s okay. Are you sad?”  Janice laughed and nodded in agreement, “Yeah but why aren’t adults ever like aww you’re smiling, that's so cute!” 

“They do, they just do it to babies or toddlers. They give some much attention to us when we’re younger and unable to fully grasp the attention that they're giving. And then when we’re older, they get distant or just change.” 

“Are you saying people shouldn’t give their babies attention?” 

“No, I'm saying they shouldn’t stop. Just because a kid physically grows up that doesn’t mean they mentally grew as well. Sometimes I feel like I’m still 8 years old and people treat me like I’m supposed to know it all because at some point I thought I did know it all.” Janice frowned and looked down at her ice cream dripping onto the table, “Hey, Callie?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re definitely not an 8 year old. Maybe like 13 or something.” Callie laughed and then threw her cherry at the girl, “Shut up!” 

As they walked around Plumhill, Callie thought about faces from her past and tried to give them stories. She thought about a man who had a nice sports car and bronze skin. But for some reason, she couldn’t give him a story. Janice said it was because the faces had to be significant and not random. This made Callie wonder why Maxwell's face had been significant. She came to the conclusion that in a sense, he was her universe. She was earlier feeling uncomfortable due to the fact it was getting late and in a way, Maxwell had reassured her that she’d be okay. When Callie and Janice reached a playground they immediately went to the swings and looked out at the stars. 

“Callie, can I ask you a personal question?”

“Sure, if you want a personal response.” Janice laughed and slowed down her swing, “Why aren’t you and your mom close? I mean, if you want to tell me.” Janice had told Callie about her and her mom the first or second time they ever hung out. Janice’s mom was addicted to drugs and would often leave Janice and her younger sister alone. When Janice’s older sister got old enough, she left them alone with her. Callie wanted to tell Janice that her older sister hadn’t done it to hurt them, that she was only saving herself. Callie knew this because she also had older siblings, ones that left her behind. But Callie would never tell someone else how to feel, especially not Janice. 

When Callie’s swing completely stopped she looked at Janice, “I’m not sure, I don’t think she wanted to have kids. Well,  I know she didn’t. One time I asked why she didn't just abort me if she knew she wouldn’t love me.” 

“Well, what did she say?” Callie looked at her friend and smiled, “That she thought it was going to hurt.” Typically, if Callie was to say this to anyone else they would feel bad and immediately try to comfort her. But Janice began laugh and continued to swing, “That’s so fucked up. For what it’s worth, she’s missing out. One day you’re going to be famous and rich or at least happier than her.” 

“Spain or Paris?”

“What?” Callie looked at Janice as she continued swinging, “It’s my turn to pick a game, let’s call it the or game.”

“Okay, Paris. Only because-.” Callie interrupted and looked up at the stars again, “No, never give an explanation. Only an answer.” 

The next day, they hung out again. This time was much earlier and Janice had been grumpy. They sat on the sidewalk and waited for the public bus when Callie spoke, “Are you okay?” 

“No, my dad is so fucking annoying. He wants me to get a job where he works.” This made Callie roll her eyes in a sarcastic manner, “Oh, no. You have to work and make your own money.” 

“Yeah but we’re only 16, why can’t the people who decided to have unprotected sex just give us money? It’s not like I asked to be born.” The bus pulled up and they hopped on and paid with quarters. They sat in the middle of the empty bus and Callie pulled out her phone and showed Janice some meme that was ironically unfunny but funny. This made Janice and she looked at Callie, “Okay, I’m not going to ruin our day. I just really don’t want to work.”

“Where does your dad work anyway?” 

“Plumbing in our apartment complex, I’m going to work at the front desk and send packages and stuff.” Callie bumped her shoulder and smiled, “Hey, that’s better than making ice cream all day and plus you can watch Netflix on your phone.”

“Yeah,  I hadn’t thought about that.” 

Callie didn’t mind her job at the ice cream shop, she did secretly hate her co-workers. They were all girls and all loud, when the boss would leave they’d squirt whip cream on each other and then get mad and actually physically fight. She never said anything because there were cameras and if her boss genuinely cared they would’ve done something about it. One thing that Callie loved about her job was the drive thru, it was so fun to interact with different people even if she had raging anxiety. One time an older couple came through the drive thru and took almost 20 minutes to order. That didn’t bother her because it was a Sunday morning and there had been no other customers. Callie got her first job because one day her mom stopped caring about her. She had to buy her own clothes and shoes if she wanted new ones. Janice had a point when she said that the people who had unprotected sex needed to just give them money but at a young age Callie learned not everyone had something to give. 

Callie and Janice sat and ate breakfast in a small diner and talked about how they could make money quickly. Janice recommended selling pictures of their toes but Callie wasn’t too keen on that. It was still really early in the morning, So Callie ordered a coffee. Janice laughed at her and said she wasn’t going to finish it and that  halfway through she’d ask for an orange juice. By the end of their meal, Janice had been right. It was kind of nice, Callie had someone who basically shared a mind with her. After Breakfast, they sat on the bench and waited for another bus. Janice gave Callie one of her airpods and played calm music, “Have you found any people worthy of a story?” 

“No, but what about us?“ The song changed and had a groovy beat, it sounded like something from the eighties. Callie looked at the trees, “What’s our story?” 

“I don’t know, maybe someone else is out there telling it.” 

“Why do you think they’d call it?” Janice thought for a while and finally found an answer once the bus arrived, “The girls on the bench.” 

If someone saw Janice and Callie just sitting on a bench, what would they think? Callie asked herself that question as they sat on the bus and listened to music. She laughed at herself and thought they’d probably think her and Callie were runaways. No, they’d been packed to light for runaways. Well, some people ran away with nothing. As Callie continued thinking of her and Janice’s story, a woman got on the bus. The woman had brown skin, a shade lighter than Callie’s and tired eyes. 

“Janice, I have another story to tell.” 

4. Onaji The Single Mother

Onaji sat on the bus and smiled at the two girls. She’d just gotten off of her 16 hour shift at the clinic and was ready to go home and pass out as soon as she entered her  house. Her mother had called her earlier that day and asked if she planned on visiting for the Fourth of July. Onaji said she wasn’t sure if Oren would want to come. Sometimes she used her son as an excuse not to do things. But the truth was, she was tired. It was physical and mental, Onaji was just so fucking tired. All she wanted to do was sleep and never wake up. It wasn’t a suicidal sort of thing, it was an exhaustion thing. As the bus approached her stop, she smiled at the two girls once more and thought about how fun life was when she was their age. 

Onaji was the first person in her family to go to college. She left her home country to come to America. When she first started University it was easy for her to fit in. There were people from everywhere and everyone was trying to make friends and fit in. Her first friend was Jinnifer, a tall Asian girl who loved to get tattoos. They met at freshmen orientation and became inseparable. Onaji had met Maxwell after a football game sometime in the fall and one night he asked her to be his girlfriend. It was the same night that Onaji met Karlie. The two girls had nothing in common, or at least that's what Onaji thought. Anyways, Onaji and Maxwell became a couple and spent most of their time together. He’d take her to expensive restaurants or they’d sit on the campus field and stare at the night sky.

 On a rainy night they lay in Maxwells dorm room watching a movie and he asked her something. 

“Do you think you’ll want kids?” Onaji had asked herself this question many times. She did want kids but she didn’t want to end up like her mom. Her mom was a single mother of six and had to work until she died. She looked up at Maxwell and smiled, “Yeah, when I’m financially stable.” He curled his eyebrows up and then looked back at the laptop, “Do you think I’d be a good dad?” The question had caught her off guard. In truth, she barely knew Maxwell. They had sex and went on dates but they barely talked. He was never really there, it was like he was zoning off 24/7 and Onaji had wondered if it had anything to do with Karlie. 

“Yes, of course.” Maxwell exhaled and kept his eyes on the screen, “I can barely pick up normal people's social cues. What would I do if my kids were extremely depressed and I just didn’t know?” 

“A lot of parents are already like that, you’ll fit right in.” 

The next day Onaji found Maxwell and a girl she’d never seen. They were in his dorm room having sex on the floor. She didn’t cry, and she didn’t get mad. Onaji just left and never turned back. She left University and went back to her home country for a while. That’s when things got bad, she fell in love with a man. A cruel man who liked to hit her at night while Oren was sleeping. He often made comments about how Oren wasn’t even his. When Onaji had enough, she packed her and her sons bag and took the first flight back to America. They stayed in a shelter for domestic abuse until she was able to get back on her feet. Oren hated her and she knew it, he looked at her in disgust and disappointment. They’d found a nice house for rent and Onaji immediately got it. 

Oren grew fast, one day Onaji blinked and her son was 16 years old. A few weeks before his 16th birthday, she’d picked up extra hours. She wanted him to have a special birthday but she never got one. The house had been decorated and she even bought a special cake with his name and a few small footballs on it. But, Oren texted her as she put candles on the cake and said he was going to be out late. She wrapped up the cake and the food. Onaji grabbed her wallet and walked to her favorite sushi place. She was lonely and had lost all her friends when she left for her home country. At the sushi place, she stood in line and waited patiently. That’s when she saw them, Jinnifer and Maxwell. Her former best friend and ex boyfriend were together and they looked happy. Jinnifers tattoos were covered and Maxwell had grown a small beard. When Onaji made eye contact with Jinnifer, she looked down and hoped she hadn’t seen her. But she had and they walked over to Onaji. Jinnifer spoke first and it was soft, “Onaji?”

“Yeah, hey.” The tall girl hugged Onaji and sighed, “I’ve missed you, it’s been years. How are you?”  Onaji smiled and looked at Maxwell, “Great, how are you?” He put his hands in his pocket and rocked on his heels, “Good, I passed the bar.” 

“You’re a lawyer?” He didn’t speak and just nodded. Then Jinnifer laughed, “Karlie said the same exact thing, she never saw it coming. Speaking of things we never saw coming, can you believe Devin and Karlie are getting married this weekend?” Maxwell stopped rocking and Onaji looked at him and then down at her number ticket. 

“I hadn’t realized you were all friends, that’s so nice.” Jinnifer smiled and then Onajis number was called, “It is. You should get dinner with us sometime.” 

“I’d love to, I should get my food now.” They hugged one last time and Maxwell gave an awkward wave before stepping back into line. 

Maxwell told Onaji about him and Karlie. He was drunk one night and still inside of Onaji, “I slept with Karlie, my roommate's girlfriend.” Onaji had wrapped her arms around his neck and looked him in the eyes, “Oh, do you feel guilty?” 

“Should I?” He was cumming and had been sweaty. She looked as his chest was moving up and down, “Maybe, she wasn’t yours to fuck.” 

“We didn’t just fuck, we made love.” Onaji stayed quiet and just looked at the ceiling. Maxwell grabbed her chin gently and sloppily kissed her neck, “We are making love, I love you. I love you so much, Onaji. Do you love me?” 

“Yes. I love you, Max.”  Onaji wondered if Maxwell had ever told Devin about him having sex with girlfriend. Maybe he did and maybe he just forgave him. 

Back at home Onaji sat with her sushi and watched videos of people building houses. She felt like an idiot and a loser, a grown woman with a bully in her head. Her son had been gone all day on her day off and her ex best friend was probably somewhere having sex with her ex boyfriend. Once Onaji finished her sushi, she eyed the cake and her mouth watered. After deep consideration, she took a knife and cut herself a very small piece. In that exact moment, Oren walked into the house with his school clothes on. He looked at his mom and rolled his eyes, “I’m going to bed.” She stopped him and tried to shove a piece of cake into his hands, “Hey, it’s your 16th birthday! At least watch a movie with me?” His light eyes looked into mothers and she looked down, ashamed to even look her son in the eyes. It wasn’t because she’d eaten some of his cake without him. It was because at that moment, she knew she failed. As a mother and as a daughter, as a human. She couldn’t even get that part right. 

“Mom, I’m tired.”

Onaji grabbed a large bic lighter and set the candles on fire, “I’ll be quick, just let me sing happy birthday.” The song felt longer than usual and painful. It was so quiet, Onaji could hear her own thoughts as she sang to her son. 

A few days later Oren came home with a permission slip for a summer camp. Onaji had told him about how she saved enough money for them to go on a vacation and he told her he’d rather go to an overnight camp with his friends from school. 

“I could get a job at the camp,” Onaji had joked. Oren just got mad and left, he said something about how she was so annoying. She signed the slip and did research on the camp. It looked really nice, they had swimming and football. Both were things that Oren loved. She used to take him to the community pool and they’d stay for hours. Personally, Onaji loved being at the bottom of a pool. It was so quiet and free, she felt like nothing could get her there. Anyway, Onaji wasn’t mad at Oren. He was a teenage boy, he couldn’t hate his mother forever. 

Later that night, Onaji got dressed up and met her co-worker at a bar downtown. They weren’t exactly friends but they had worked together so much that they were at least acquaintances. It was nice, having someone to go out with at night. The bar was packed and loud, it was accelerating. Onaji danced with a random man as she drank whiskey on rocks. As she swayed, she thought of how wild her and Jinnifer used to be. 

They snuck into bars before they turned 21 and never had to pay for drinks. Onaji would let Jinnifer grind on her and steal sips from her drink even though she had her own. One time they’d been partying and two men started fighting in the bar. The cops had come so they quickly ran and were about to pass out once they reached a nearby park. Jinnifer held out a weed pen and Onaji took a hit. They sat and talked for what felt like hours. 

“Do you ever miss your parents?” Jinnifer asked Onaji this question as she hit her pen. Onaji shook her head, “Not really, I mean they want me here. I’m the first person in my family to go to college and it’s in America.” 

“Same, my mom wants me to find a husband. She doesn’t even care about education, it’s always ‘find a nice rich man and love him’.” Onaji let out a low laugh and hit the pen again, “It’s not that easy to just fall in love.” Jinnifer nodded in agreement and then asked Onaji another question, “Do you love Max?” At the time Onaji wasn’t completely sure, but she knew she loved his attention. It was weird, the way Maxwell had made her feel. He could have her feeling important at one point and then like nothing at another point. She just kicked the rocks and nodded, “Yeah, I do love him. Sometimes I won’t if he loves me though.” 

“Has he ever said that?”

“Yeah, but people say they love you and don’t really mean it all the time.” Smoke filled the air and Jinnifer rubbed Onajis knees, “For what it’s worth, I love you.”

“I love you too.” 

5. The Drunk Dad 

Janice was now staring at Callie as they sat on the floor of a bookstore. She looked like she was about to explode. Callie picked up a book and smiled, “You can’t ask any questions!” 

“How could Jinnifer do that and who is Oren’s dad?” Callie laughed and then stood up, “Who knows.”

“Who knows? You do!” Janice followed Callie around the corner and into the romance section, “Callie, I must know!” 

“Stop being so dramatic, they’re all fake anyway.” Janice looked down and frowned, “I know but the way you tell it, they feel so real. I almost cried a little when Onaji sang happy birthday.” 

“Hey, Janice?“

“Yeah?” Callie sat down on the floor again and picked up a book, “Rule number two of people watching and storytelling: Don’t get attached to things that aren’t real.” As they flipped through various books Janice continued to ask questions but she’d make it seem like they weren’t about the stories Callie had told.

“Do you think single moms or dads feel like they’ve failed their kids?”

“All the time,” Callie replied.  

Janice thought about her dad and how he wasn’t so bad when he was sober. He was actually kind of funny and loving and caring. If anything, Janice’s dad was better than her mom. He didn’t just leave her and her sister alone. At the very least, he would tell them if he was leaving. She knew she had it rough and that some people probably had it rougher. The thing was, her terrible parents didn’t bother her that much. It was the fact that her younger sister would one day be left behind with them. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, Janice would have to leave and she wouldn’t be able to take Jasmine with her. 

The two girls walked around the small shopping mall and Callie talked about how she was excited to read her new book. Janice never really had a thing for reading, it always felt like a bunch of pointless words. She did enjoy poetry, though. It was usually short and sometimes she even found herself writing it. It was like free therapy, although she’d already been in real therapy. Janice often thought that therapy was pointless if you were self aware. She knew her diagnosis and that a broken brain isn’t something you can cure. As they walked through various stores, Janice often checked her phone. Her younger sister, Jasmine, recently got a phone and was at the neighbors apartment. Ms. Sue watched Jasmine when they’re dad worked or whenever Janice went to hang out with Callie. Jasmine just sent Janice a variety of emojis and a load of selfies. When they went to the bridge overlooking the cars below, they sat on a ledge and breathed in the summer air. Janice counted how many red cars she saw, “So far I’ve counted 10, how about you?” Callie sat next to her and flipped through her book, “Sorry, I wasn’t counting.” 

“You okay?” 

“Yeah, I was just thinking.” Now Janice was staring at her friend, “About what?” Callie laughed awkwardly and then shut her book, “What if I became a writer? Do you think I’d be good?” Janice thought about the two stories that Callie had told her and nodded, “Definitely, you’re very talented in the storytelling area.”

“Thanks but I’d want to write about my life and things that are real.” Janice looked out at the cars again, “Sometimes we can lose sight of what’s real and what’s not.”Callie laughed and then pinched Janice, “Don’t disassociate on me!” The girls started laughing and then Janice’s phone rang, It was Jasmine. The neighbor had an emergency and left her 8 year old sister at their apartment alone. 

Janice walked into her apartment complex and was fuming. How could an adult leave a literal child alone? She grabbed her key and unlocked the door to her family's apartment, thankfully Jasmine was smart enough to lock the door back. When she walked into the apartment Jasmine was sprawled out on the couch with a bag of potato chips and a jar of Nutella. The chocolate was all over her face and her shirt. Janice hugged her younger sister, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry you had to come back.” She let out a low laugh and just rubbed her sisters head, “Don’t be, are you hungry?” Jasmine looked at the chips and then her stomach growled, “Yes, I was going to make noodles but I was afraid to touch the stove.” 

“How about I make chicken quesadillas instead?” Jasmine smiled and dipped her little finger in the chocolate jar, “With the special  rice?” 

“With the special rice.” 

Janice gave Jasmine a bath before she started dinner. As Jasmine was playing with rubber ducks she talked about a boy in the apartment complex that she had a crush on, “He’s so funny and always brings me flowers. I keep them in my room but I won’t tell you where.” 

“Why? You don’t trust me?” Jasmine laughed at her sister and slightly splashed her, “No! You don’t get flowers so you’ll steal mine!” Janice laughed and realized her younger sister had a better dating life than her. 

The first time Janice had a romantic relationship she also had sex. It was in eighth grade and she was pressured into dating a guy she eventually began to like. He was in her class and would always make jokes about everything. This was around the time Janice first moved from San Francisco. She became friends with a group of girls who were already doing stuff like smoking weed and having sex. Janice didn’t have sex with the guy from her class, though. One day a high school senior had told her that he liked her Instagram photos. She thanked him and they became frequent texting buddies. He waited a week to ask her if she wanted to come over to his place. Now, Janice had been a naive person. She truly went to his house believing they’d just watch a movie and maybe cuddle. But, when she got there he took her to his room. She liked his room, it was clean and the walls were navy blue. They sat on his bed and the senior kissed her lips. He didn’t ask, he just kissed her lips. She didn’t push him off or anything, she just stood there frozen. When he asked her why she wasn’t kissing back she said she thought they’d just watch a movie. The senior apologized and then turned on a boring black and white movie. Halfway through the movie he kissed her again and then asked her to be his girlfriend. She’d say yes because the guy from her class still hadn’t asked her. After Janice said yes, the senior kissed her again and then again. She never kissed him back but he later asked her to have sex. Janice said yes because he told her that’s what girlfriends are supposed to do. The next day, he had blocked her and they never spoke again. It was that same day that Janice decided she didn't know what love really was. 

After feeding Jasmine her chicken quesadillas and special rice, Janice managed to get her to bed by 9 o’clock. That was around the same time that her dad got home. He was drunk and had a beer bottle in his hand. Janice was in the kitchen putting dishes away and listening to music through her noise canceling headphones. He threw the bottle at her head and it broke into a thousand tiny pieces. Janice ripped her headphones off and turned around, “What the hell!?” He sat down at the dining room table and rolled his eyes, “I’m hungry.” She started walking to her bedroom, “Cook for yourself.” The man grabbed Janice and threw her against the wall, “I wasn’t asking.” She got up from the ground and then grabbed her phone and ran into Jasmine's room and locked the door. 

“Jas, wake up baby.” The little girl turned in her sleep as their dad pounded on the door. Janice grabbed Jasmine's small cartoon backpack and stuffed stuff inside and then opened the window. They were only on the second floor. She threw the bag down and then grabbed Jasmine. Somehow she managed to climb out of the window. Jasmine woke up when they were halfway down the street, “Where are we going?” 

“Just go back to sleep.” Janice had been holding back her tears and her throat was clogging up. Thankfully, Jasmine listened and went back to sleep in her sister's arm or at least pretended she did.

As they walked down the street Janice thought about how her dad never got physical. She’d go back in the morning when he was sober. Janice stopped in front of a basement door and knocked. There was no answer so she grabbed her phone and called the person on the other side of the door, “Hey, I’m outside.” 

Callie opened the door and looked at Janice and Jasmine before moving out of the way. Janice sat her sister down on the couch that Callie had thrifted with her first paycheck and then she fell into Callie’s arms and began sobbing. This would’ve been uncomfortable under normal circumstances because they rarely touched. But, Janice needed to feel safe and thankfully Callie could do that. Later that night they both sat on Callie’s twin bed as Jasmine slept peacefully on the couch with a pink fluffy color. Janice knew Callie had questions, they’ve just been watching reruns of SpongeBob since she stopped crying. 

“He hit me,” she whispered. Callie looked at Janice and then at her face for scars. 

“I don’t have any bruises, but he threw a bottle of beer at my head and there was glass everywhere. I think I have some small pieces in my hair.” If Janice was telling anyone else this story, she’d feel like she'd have to have proof. But, her and Callie basically shared the same thoughts. She’d know if Janice was lying. Callie just wrapped her arms around Janice, “You’ll be okay but you can’t go back there.”  Janice didn’t want it to come to this, “I have an aunt in San Francisco, she loves Jasmine and I but she’s also close with my mom. If I go back, I’ll have to deal with my mom but I won’t have to live with her or my dad.” Callie looked at her legs and nodded, “As long as you're safe.” 

They stayed up and Callie took each piece of glass from Janice’s hair and then washed it. The girls decided that Janice would give her dad a second chance. They were kids who shouldn’t have been making these types of decisions. Callie was thankful that her mom worked the overnight shift. At the end of the night they lay together in the twin bed and both stared at the basement ceiling while listening to the cars pass by and planes fly ahead. 

The next morning Callie’s mom had texted her and told her she was staying for overtime. She’d never felt more relieved. Janice and Callie cooked pancakes and eggs in the kitchen while Jasmine watched videos on her phone. She showed Callie her selfies and then asked if she wanted to take one. After they ate, Janice and Callie took Jasmine to the playground. Janice smiled as Callie looked at the sun, “Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah.”

“Why are your stories always so sad and melodramatic?” Callie looked away and then looked down, “Because that’s life.” 

“Maybe, but that’s the good part about storytelling. You can tell it however you want. It doesn’t have to be sad.”

“Sadness is easier, though.” Janice looked at the man with his son and then looked at Callie, “Well, it’s my turn to tell a story.” 

“Okay, I’m ready.” 

“That’s Devin.” 

“Maxwell's roommates Devin?” 

“Yep!” 

“He has a kid now?!” Janice smiled and hushed her friend, “Sorry, you can’t ask any questions.” 

6. Devin- The Babysitter

People dance around Devin as he stares at his drink. He’s getting married in two days and isn’t sure it’s what he wants. The drink swishes around the cup as he begins to dance with his friends. Maxwell, his former roommate and current best friend, slaps his back. 

“You look like you’re getting your balls cut off in two days not married. What’s wrong?” Devin laughed and then took a large gulp of his drink, “I don’t know. It’s just, what if Karlie isn’t the right person for me?”

“You’ve been together for like a million years, she’s definitely the right person for you.”

“She told me.” Now, Maxwell stops dancing and looks at his best friend, “What?”

“That you two slept together, multiple times.” 

“Oh.” 

Devin lets out a throaty laugh and swirls his drink, “That’s it?” 

“Do you want me to apologize? I’m sorry, I slept with your girlfriend. But, that was forever ago.” 

“Okay.”

“Okay?” Devin watches as a bottle girl comes onto the floor, “Yeah, sex is just sex. And I plan to go have some.”

“You’re leaving?” He laughs and winks at the bottle girl, “No, I’m going to go fuck that girl over there.” Maxwell turns around but Onaji walks into view and is handing the bartender a 20 dollar bill. She doesn’t see him but he sees her. Maxwell turns back around and looks at Devin, “That’s Onaji.”

“What?” 

“My ex-girlfriend from college.” Devin looks at Onaji then back to Maxwell, “Max, I’m talking about the bottle girl. And you should go talk to Onaji.” 

“Why would I do that?” 

“Because maybe she’ll have sex with you.” Maxwell rolls his eyes and shoves his hands into his pocket, “I have a girlfriend.” 

“Ah, but sex is just sex.”   Maxwell pulls his hands from his pockets and then chugs his beer, “Fuck it.” Devin watches as his best friend walks over to Onaji then he makes his move. 

The bottle girl takes Devin to a private room and pushes him down on a couch. He laughs weakly and looks around, “Is this place a strip club?” 

“No, but I could be a stripper if that’s what you want…” The girl falls onto his lap and they have the greatest sex ever. After they finish, Devin tells Maxwell he’s leaving and he does. The bottle girl, Alexis, takes him back to her apartment and the have even more hot steamy sex. They do it on the bed. On the floor. In the kitchen. In the bathroom. On the couch. And the next morning Devin wakes up to a little boy staring at him. 

“Are you my daddy?” Alexis jumps from the bed and nearly falls, “Jon, where’s grandma?”

“Outside, she said to come in because she knew you were here. You were supposed to pick me up at 1.” Devin reaches for his phone but can’t find it, “Shit, what time is it?”

“Language,” says Jon. Alexis climbs from the bed and grabs her robe, “Oh my god! Its 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Okay, Devin, can you please take him to the park across the street?” 

I have a fiancé to get home to. 

“Okay.” 

The little boy makes Devin push him on the swing and carry him across the monkey bars. That’s when Devins phone rings, Maxwell.

“So, how was the rest of your night?”

“I’m at the park with her kid. Karlie called me like ten times. I’m scared to go home.”  Maxwell laughs and says something to someone in the background, “Look, Devin I have to go.”

“Wait, was that Onaji?!”  Maxwell laughs and then hangs up leaving Devin and the kid standing in the park. 

7. Callie- And Her Mom

Callie nearly breaks her neck when Devins phone rings, “Janice! Are you 

Psychic?”

“No, it’s all fake. Remember?”  Callie laughs and looks at the man again, “I have one question?”

“Noooo, you aren’t allowed!” 

“I just need to know if Onaji and Maxwell had sex!” Janice looks at Jasmine who’s playing on the slides, “Maybe, it would be nice. That way Oren could have his dad in his life.”

“We don’t know if Maxwell is his dad!” Janice laughs and stands up, “Come on, his light eyes! That’s no coincidence.” Callie doesn’t say anything, she just smirks and then follows  Janice over to Jasmine. The man smiles at Callie and then turns back to his son. 

Callie enjoyed how Janice’s story was a lot shorter than hers. It felt like a story and not like something that could be reality, something that wasn’t so sad. She had a weird way of looking at life. Callie always believed the world was a sort of video game and that the person holding the controller hated her. Other than Janice, she had no one. Not even her own mother could love her. She’d been friends with two other girls but they began to leave her out of things and that’s when she accepted that the person with the controller definitely hated. 

At home, Callie walked into the kitchen and found her mom shuffling through mail. Earlier, she said goodbye to Janice and Jasmine. Amongst other things. As her mom stopped and looked at a piece of mail, she turned to look at Callie. 

“I’m going to Chewies, do you want to come?” Callie knew that going out with her mom would end bad, it always did. But Callie smiled and told her mom yes, she always did. The girl walked to her bedroom in the basement and grabbed a jacket, Chewies was always chilly. 

The dessert place was slightly empty and only occupied by a younger couple. Probably seniors in high school or freshmen in college. Callie’s mom was on the phone with a friend when the waiter walked over, “What can I get for y’all?” Her mom pulled the phone from her ear and said, “I’ll call you right back.” Callie didn’t look at the menu, “I’ll have a waffle with whip cream and strawberries.” 

“Are you sure you want all that?” The girl looked at her mom, “Yeah…” 

“It’s just, you’ve been gaining weight.” 

This wasn’t new to Callie, she’d been dealing with her mom commenting on her weight for as long as she can remember. 

Your going to eat that

Callie’s getting fat

Callie’s got backrolls

Callie’s thighs are too thick

At first, she thought her mom was joking. But she realized, those aren’t the types of jokes anyone should make. Her mothers words hurt more than anyone else’s. One time, Callie’s mother mentioned how Callie’s breasts were saggy. She’d said, “Aren’t your breasts supposed to be higher up?” Callie had larger breasts due to a depressive episode she went through in middle school. She was eating more food than she needed too, and she gained a lot of unhealthy weight. Which she later lost when she went through another depressive episode later on. 

The waiter brings the dessert over and sits it down with an awkward smile. Callie’s mom, Casoya, ordered one scoop of ice cream with sprinkles. Casoya had her own problems as far as self image, which she poured onto her daughter. Callie hated the fact that her biggest bully in life was her mother. For the rest of their time at Chewies, Casoya talked on the phone until Callie started crying because she was having an anxiety attack. Casoya mentioned many things about the future at one point and it startled Callie. She wasn’t prepared for the future, she didn’t even believe she’d have one. Casoya called her daughter crazy and they left the dessert place. When Callie got home she texted her only friend. 

Callie: wanna hang tmrw?

Janice: can’t. Gotta watch Jasmine. How was the rest of ur day?

Callie: bad. My mom. Blah. Enough about me. How are things with your dad?

Janice: okay, he’s sober. I mean he apologized and bought me a new phone. We’re picking it up Thursday. 

Callie: LUCKY

Janice: Lol ikr. He even said he’ll get me a car my senior year 

Callie: Omfg we're gonna drive everywhere. 

Janice: YESSS 

Callie: I’m bored. 

Callie: Sun or Moon

Janice: Moon. Air or Water

Callie: Air, duh lmfao

Callie: Pink or Blue

Janice: Blue, duh

Janice: I’m gonna go to bed but let’s talk tomorrow. 

8. Karlie- The Bride 

Callie stands in the middle of a discounted clothing store and holds a shirt up to her chest. She snaps a picture and sends it to Janice. 

Janice: Cute if you were like 50 

Callie laughs before throwing the shirt into her cart. 

Callie: I like it. I made a new Pinterest board with a bunch of clothes like this. 

Janice: Hey! You like it I love it. 

Callie: Liar, how’s babysitting?

Janice: Boring as ever. Jasmine keeps sending me selfies and we’re sitting right next to each other

A woman clears her throat and then Callie realizes she’s standing in front of a clothing rack. When she walks away she sees a woman with dark hair and light eyes, Karlie. 

Callie: OMFG 

Callie: I FOUND KARLIE

Janice: Maxwells Karlie?

Callie: YES

Janice: Shit 

Janice: call me and tell the damn story already 

Callie stifles her laughter before dialing Janice’s phone number. 

The woman takes the needle and sticks it in Karlie's nose, “So, are you seriously getting married?” Karlie slightly wiggles in the chair, “Yeah, why do you sound surprised?” 

“Because Devin kind of treats you like an airhead and wasn’t he out all night the other day?” Karlie rolls her eyes, “He was with Maxwell. They both told me.” 

“Mmm, is this the same Maxwell you slept with in college?” 

“Yes.” Karlie's sister, Kaya, just laughs and finishes up the piercing. 

Karlie and Kaya didn’t grow up together. They had the same parents but mom wanted Kaya and dad wanted Karlie. Each parent lived in a different country and never gave the girls the opportunity to visit each other. But, Karlie and Kaya still texted each other every day and sometimes FaceTimed. They were separated when they were 6 and 7. Neither of them talk to their parents, they haven’t since they moved in together. Kaya was 18 when she got her first apartment. She had to wait 10 months for Karlie to turn 18 and then they moved in together. Although they talked everyday and were blood sisters, they still somehow felt like distant friends. Karlie didn’t tell Kaya everything or sometimes anything. She didn’t tell her sister how Devin had actually cheated on her the other night because at times , Kaya could be overbearing. Realistically, at times Kaya could be too realistic. Karlie wasn’t interested in hearing the things that mattered. 

Once Karlie left her sister's tattoo and piercing shop she met up with Jinnifer and discussed the wedding. The wedding was small and just close friends, Kaya was invited but she had mentioned that she had a tattoo conference that day. This didn’t bother Karlie, she secretly didn’t even want to invite Kaya and only had done it because Devin told her too. Sometimes Karlie wondered if Devin told her to jump off a bridge, would she? A few nights before Devin cheated on her, Karlie told him about Maxwell and her. 

They were sitting in the dining room of their home, eating a chicken broth that Karlie made. Earlier that day, she stood in the mirror and just cried. She felt older and unsure of herself, that’s when memories of Maxwell came back. Memories of being young and dumb, possibly in love. When Devin came home from work, he told her that he saw a boy that looked just like Maxwell. It wasn’t weird but it was random, she wondered why that was important. Then she realized it was the universe. Telling her to confess abs and she did. Devin swallowed some more of his broth and then looked at her, “Shit, was it your kid?” Karlie made a confused face and shook her head, “No, Max didn’t get me pregnant.” Devin just nodded and rolled his head back, “Gosh, babe. This is amazing. Do you think you will pack some of this in my lunch?” She was dumbfounded, “Aren’t you upset that I slept with your best friend?” 

“Nah. Karlie, I mean seriously. How did you make this, was it one of your cooking  videos?” She smiled weakly and then stoved broth into her mouth and realized she’d have a marriage where her and her husband were constantly competing. This wasn’t a marriage, it was a game. One in which Devin currently held the controller. 

The day of Karlie's wedding she wore a light green dress and silver heels. It was everything she’d ever dreamed of. The outfit at least. She stood in the bridal suit with Jinnifer and Khalini. They worked together at the elementary school before Devin told Karlie to quit because he was making enough money for the both of them. Khalini applied makeup to Karlie's face when Jinnifer stepped out for a call. 

“Are you excited?” Karlie watched as her friend applied makeup to her face and then she smiled, “Yeah, I am.” Her response was only half true, she was excited to look and feel pretty again. But she wasn’t excited to marry Devin, not when it no longer felt. 

Karlie was left alone in the bridal suite which was the hotel bathroom. She wanted to buy a room since they were hosting the wedding in the hotel guest room but Devin had said it’d be a waste of money when they were leaving for New York City right after the wedding. She’d always pictured herself going to Paris or Rome for her honeymoon but instead she got the big apple. She wasn’t upset, just disappointed, she’d already been there over 10 times for tattoo conventions with Kaya. As Karlie gave herself a pep talk, Maxwell stumbled in and flew into a stall. She heard his pants drop to the floor and groaned. 

“Fucking tequila.” 

Something in Karlie arose, she was almost excited that Maxwell came into the bathroom and was drunk. She convinced herself that he was drunk because he wanted her abs he was upset about the wedding. 

She heard the toilet flush and then he walked out and washed his hands. That’s when he saw Karlie, “This isn’t the mens room, huh?”

“No.” 

Her face was bright red and her eyes were wide as Maxwell walked toward her. He stopped in front of her and ran a single finger across her neck, “You look great. Like really fucking great.” She stumbled on her words but eventually let out a low thank you. Maxwell's finger was still on her chest, “You told Devin about us..” 

“I didn’t think you’d care.” 

“I don’t.” Now, he was dropping his head and inhaling Karlie's neck. His beard brushed against her upper breasts and she let out a pathetic moan. 

“Max, what are you doing?” His wet tongue slid across her neck, “I miss the way you feel.” 

“You miss me?” 

He hadn’t said that he missed Karlie, he missed the Karlie felt and those were two very different things. But Karlie would never learn her lesson, she’d never truly get the difference between love and lust. 

Maxwell put his hands up her dress and felt her lace panties, “Do you miss me?” She felt him push the fancy panties she wore for Devin, aside. 

“So much.” Maxwell let out a rough laugh and picked Karlie up. Then he fucked on her bathroom counter. After they were done, he left her  in the bathroom with a ruined dress and ruined makeup. 

9.The girl who disappeared 

Callie stood in the store and waited for Janice to speak but the line had gone silent and hung up. At first, she thought it was a joke. A dramatic reaction to Onaji and Maxwell not getting some happy ending but then she got worried. 

Callie: I can change it 

Callie: Janice I’m sorry 

She stopped panicking and told her that Janice’s phone probably just died. So she paid for her summer clothes and then went home. When she got home she found her mom on the phone and then Callie just disappeared into her room. Callie buried herself in a variety of tv shows and wondered what Janice did when she wasn’t with Callie. Yeah, Janice babysat Jasmine and worked at the apartment complex but what else? She wanted to know what Janice thought when she was alone, was she as uncomfortable as Callie was? Callie’s thoughts were evasive and sometimes cruel. She really didn’t enjoy being left alone with them. Eventually Callie fell asleep with her phone close by her body.

In the morning, Callie called Janice and sent her a few more texts. She thought about it for a while and then dedicated to walk to Janice's apartment complex. It was a hot day when Callie had been let down. She stopped in front of the door of Janice's apartment and had to wait about 10 minutes for an older woman with a young boy to come out so she could get in. She walked in and went to Janice's door, she knocked gently and slowly her knocking got faster and louder. A neighbor swung open his door and muttered a few cuss words, “Jesus, no one lives there! Please, shut up!” Callie stiffened and looked around, “What? No- I-I’m looking Janice, she lives here with her sister and dad. The man just rolls his eyes and slams the door. Callie looks at the apartment once more and then a note slides out from under the door.

You and Your stories- 

Love J 

Callie leans against the cold door, “Janice, are you there?” There's no answer so she just sits down on the floor in front of the door, “I still have stories to tell you and memories to make with you. Will you come out?” 

Silence.

“Janice?”

Silence.

“JANICE, PLEASE! OPEN THE DOOR!”

A door opens.

10. Oren- The camper without a dad

Oren hadn’t been a face, he’d been a person. One that Callie was afraid she was similar to. Of course her mom wasn’t anything like Onaji, but at least she was in her life.

Oren grabbed his overnight bag from the truck of his mom's car and awkwardly smiled, “Alright, see you.” Onaji had tears in her eyes because she was never away from her only child for more than a day. He didn’t hug his mother, instead he just climbed onto the bus and sat beside Todd, his best friend and also the person who told him about the summer camp. When Oren sat down Todd grinned like a foolish school boy and then he spoke, “I’m totally losing my virginity at this camp.” 

“I’m just happy to get away from my mom,” He sighed.

“Why do you hate her so much?”

“I don’t hate her, I just- Ah, you’ll never understand because you’ve got two parents.” Todd laughed and pulled out his phone, “Yeah, they only stay together because they think its good for me.”

“It is.”

Todd pauses his game and shakes his head, “Look man, don’t tell me that my parents constantly yelling at each other and biting each other's head off is good for me. Boo hoo, you don’t have a dad but you have one parent who clearly loves you enough for all parents and that’s better than no parent loving you.” By the time he finishes, Todd is completely out of breath. Oren doesn’t say anything, he just plugs in his headphones and forgot about the rest of the world. But only for a moment. He thinks of the time he asked his mom who his dad was. 

“I’m not sure,” Said Onaji as she poured Chinese food onto plastic plates. Oren rolled his eyes and sat across from her at their small dining room table, “So, Ehan was right? You do like to sleep around.” Onaji swallowed her food and breathing got heavy upon hearing her ex-husband's name. 

“You should go to bed, it’s a school night.” She began wrapping up the food and shoving it into the fridge. Oren just sat there and stared at his chicken, wondering how different life would be if he had his dad instead of his mom. He always wondered about stuff like this, if a girl who had a single mother was likely to turn out better than a girl with a single father and vice versa for boys. His mom just didn’t get him, she worked so much and never spent time with him. On his 16th birthday Oren went home and found his mom eating his birthday cake. She always frustrated him, Onaji wasn’t like the other moms. All of his friends had moms who came to every game and every school event. Onaji never came to a single game when Oren played sports. One of Oren’s earliest memories of disappointment was in 7th grade. His school was having a Sadies dance and a pretty girl from his class asked him to go. But, on the day of the dance, Onaji made Oren help deep clean the house. It was that day that he decided he hated his mom. 

The camp is smaller than Oren expected, there’s probably only about five buildings in total. When the camp guide showed Oren and the other boys to their cabin, they all threw their bags onto their beds of choice. Todd chose the bed just above Oren. They still didn’t speak about what Todd had said and they probably never would. Once they were settled in, everyone went to the pool for a welcoming party. Except Oren, he stayed back and claimed he was tired. When everyone disappeared he went outside onto the open field and threw a football up in the air. As he was throwing the football across the field, a door slammed shut. Oren turned around and saw a man in orange shorts and a white shirt. 

“Didn’t your dad ever teach you to throw?” 

Oren turned back and went to collect the ball, “Not everyone has a dad.” The man smiled and grabbed the ball from Oren, “Everybody has a dad, not everybody has one in their life, though.” 

“Whatever.” 

Oren began to walk away but the man stopped him by smacking the ball, “Hey, I could teach you.” Oren turned to the man and scoffed, “You aren’t my fucking dad.” 

“Jesus, kid. I know but I am a counselor, I can’t teach you to throw a fucking ball?” He was taken back by the man’s foul mouth, “Okah, I’m Oren.” 

“Max.”

They threw the ball back and forth for a while without talking. Until, Max asked Oren a question. 

“What happened to your dad?” Oren rolled his eyes as he used the technique that Max showed him earlie, “I don’t know, he’s probably a junkie. My mom fucks anyone or at least that’s what her ex husband said.” Max caught the ball and sighed, “You shouldn’t talk about your mom that way but, have you ever tried finding him?” 

“No, I don’t wanna. Not anymore. I’m the fucking kid, he should be finding me.” 

“What if he doesn’t know you exist?” Oren let out a low laugh, “He probably doesn’t but I don’t really care, I don’t need a dad.” 

“What do you need, kid?” 

“A new mom, one who isn’t addicted to working and shitty Netflix shows.” That made Max laugh, “You only get one mom, you better love her til death.” 

“Do you love your mom?”

“Yeah, she’s the reason I’m here.” Oren threw the ball, “What?”

“My mom opened this camp when I first left for college. She said she was bored, so she opened a camp.”

“So she opened a camp?”

“Yeah, she opened a camp.” Oren grabbed the ball once Max threw it, “Hey, Max?”

“What?”

“Are you rich?”

“My parents are rich, filthy rich.” 

“That must be nice.” 

“It has its perks. What about you? You mentioned how your mom likes the work a lot, is she decently wealthy?”  Oren laughed and began walking to the cabin, “Never. We live in America, Max. If you aren’t working for the right price it doesn’t matter how much you work, you’ll always be poor.” 

Back in the cabin, Todd was sitting on his bed with a book. Oren suddenly felt more calm, as if one throwing session with Max was all he needed. He took a seat below Todd on his bunk and laid back, “How was the pool.” 

“Freezing, but some of the older guys invited us to a lake party.” 

“Mhm.” Todd leaned over the bunk bed and looked down at Oren, “Do you wanna go? It starts at 10 so we’ll have to sneak out.” 

“Yeah, I’ll go.” Todd lifted his body back up and went back to reading his book. Later that night Oren and Todd snuck out of the cabin along with three other boys. The lake was small but deep, people were cliff diving. Oren watched as Todd jumped from the tall ledge. He skipped a rock in the water and tried to ignore the way Todd’s wet body made him feel. He spent a lot of time with Todd, that was his best friend and that’s all it could be. Oren pushed away any naughty thoughts and threw another rock into the water. Todd swam up to Oren and then sat next to him on the large rocks. 

“You aren’t going to jump?” Oren kept his eyes on the water, afraid he’d be caught stealing glances at Todd’s body. 

“Nah, I’d rather just watch.” Todd punched Oren’s arm and laughed, “Come on, are you scared? Don’t be a pussy.” 

“I’m not scared, okay? Just fuck off.” Todd sighed and then stood up, “Why can’t you ever take a fucking joke?” Before Oren could reply, Todd walked off into the woods probably back toward the cabin. 

Oren got up from his spot on the rock and followed his best friend into the woods, “Todd, wait!” Todd turned around and ruled his eyes in the dark, “What do you want?” 

“I’m sorry, I had a long day and I’ve just been confused.” Todd leaned against a tree and crossed his arms, “What? What are you confused about?” Oren swallowed hard and looked down, “Do you remember when we kissed?” 

“Yes, we only kissed because we were experimenting.” Oren walked over to Todd and cupped his cheek, “What if, I like you?” 

“Like me?” 

“Yes, I want to kiss you again.” Todd smiled and then crashed his lips on Oren’s and put his hand into Orens pants. There was rustling in the woods and Todd pulled back. Oren turned and saw a guy from the older group and that’s when Todd punched him square in the face, “Fucking fag.” 

“No, I want you to find out who’s responsible for punching my son! Look at his face!” Oren sunk into his chair and grew embarrassed. Onaji bought Oren’s favorite pair of swim trunks because she thought he’d want them and that’s when she saw her son's face. Now, they sit in the office of Claire Worthy. The older woman looks sympathetically at Oren, “Honey, could you tell me who did this? It’s the only way we’ll know.” Oren tilted his jaw and sighed, “I just fell, no one hit me.” Onaji scoffed, “Bullshit, a rock gave you a black eye?” Oren was protecting his best friend because after the punch he apologized and they kissed again. Todd said he’d never hit him again as long as no one caught them. Onaji was getting on Oren’s nerves and driving him crazy. So he stood up but immediately sat back down when Max walked through the door. Onaji looked at Max, “What are you doing here?” Oren sat up in his chair, “You know Max?” 

“You know Max?” Oren shook his head yes while looking at his mother. Max cleared his throat and looked at Onaji, “Onaji, Oren’s your son?”

“Yes, what are you doing here?” Claire stood up and hugged her son, “Max is my son, he comes up for the summers and counsels.” Onaji just nodded and then sat down beside her son, “O want to find out who punched my son.” Claire Worthy nodded and then looked from Max and back to Oren, “You have the same eyes.” 

11. Jinnifer- The Heartbroken One

Jinnifer wasn’t heartbroken when Max came home from his mothers summer camp and dumped her. She thought it was nice, he had a son and was going to try the family thing. It was only when Max had told her the woman was Onaji, was when she experienced heartbreak for the first time. Jinnifer met Onaji during freshman year of college and was devastated when she just disappeared. She called her everyday and left hundreds of text messages but Onaji never answered, she just vanished. The truth is, Jinnifer loved Onaji more than a friend. It wasn’t just platonic, Jinnifer wanted to bury herself in Onaji’s soul and mind. Even after Onaji had abandoned her, Jinnifer still loved her and was secretly waiting for her. When she saw Onaji months ago at the sushi place, she wanted to do more than just hug. She wanted to put Onaji in her car and drive far away, somewhere only they knew. 

A week after Jinnifers heartbreak, her mom came to visit. She slapped Jin in the back of the head and told her that she lost a good man. All Jinnifer could think about was Onaji and how easy things were with her in college. Jinnifer was afraid of growing old and eventually dying without ever having lived. She often lived in the past and in her thoughts. 

12. The Girl In The White Gown

Callie woke up in a hospital room and her mom looked down at her, “What the hell is wrong with you?” Callie sat up in a fast motion  and looked around, “Where am I?” 

“The hospital. You were at some apartment complexes banging your head on a door and screaming. You’re lucky that man called the cops, you could’ve given yourself brain damage!” 

“Where’s Janice? I need to see Janice?” Callie pulled the IVs from her arms and climbed out of the bed, “Mom! Where is she?” 

“What are you talking about?” 

“JANICE! WHERE IS SHE?” 

“Who is Janice?” Callie stumbled into the hallway but her mom caught her arm, “Mom, where is Janice?”

“Honey, I don’t know who that is!” Callie somehow managed to get out of her mom's grip and walked into the hallway, “Janice?!” As she screamed at the top of her lungs, two men grabbed her arms and poked something into her arm. 

Suddenly the hallway was white and Callie saw Janice walking toward her. It was just them, no one else. Janice hugged Callie and pulled back, “I’m not upset, you didn’t have to make Onaji and Max get back together.” Tears were flowing out of Callies eyes, “How do you know about that?” 

“Because, you and I, we share the same mind,” Janice touched Callie's heart, “and soul.” Callie cried into Janice’s arm, “Please, don’t leave. I need you.” 

“I’ll always be here but you have to let me go.” Callie looked up at her friend and suddenly saw herself, “What?” 

“Callie, let’s play a game.” 

“Stay or Go?” 

Callie stared at herself in the pupils of her friend, “What? Janice, I don’t know what you mean.” 

“You have to pick one, stay or go?” 

It was at that moment, Callie realized that life was what she made it and she chose to make it fiction. 

“Go.” 

Authors Note 

The idea for this story came to me in the summer of 2019. It was the first summer I felt normal and that was thanks to a friend I made. Sadly, like seasons, people change. We changed and then grew apart. I graduated high school early due to depression and anxiety. I remember the day I stopped going, it was the same day I sat in the second floor bathroom and cried so hard I threw up. I never told anyone about that. I hated how lonely I felt and how happiness seemed so easy for everyone else. I lost everything and even a piece of myself, no one seemed to care. In a way I relate to Callie because as a kid, anxiety overwhelmed me. 

In a way I relate to Janice because as a pre-teen, I confused lust with love. 

In a way I relate to Maxwell because as a teen, I fell in love with love. 

In a way  I relate to Onaji because as a human, I often compare myself to others. 

In a way I relate to Karlie because as a young adult, I just want to be loved. 

In a way I relate to Devin because as a human, jealousy can be addictive. 

In a way I relate to Oren because as a kid, I hated how my life wasn’t like others. 

In a way I relate to Jinnifer because as a human, I want to live before I die. 

Sometimes the worlds that we build inside our heads are better than the worlds that we call reality. 

Better than life. , 

Thank you so much for reading. 

[bridgeporthq]

Oh, look! It’s [IRIS CARTER]! I heard they’re [46], a [CIS WOMAN], use [SHE/HER] pronouns, have been in town for [1 WEEK] and are actually from [BRIDGEPORT]. They are currently working as a [WOOD WORKER] and living in [DOWNTOWN]. You know, I personally think they look like [KATHERINE KELLY], but that’s crazy, right?

BIOGRAPHY

Iris is the youngest of six siblings and has always taken advantage of that status whether it was to get away with mischief or getting attention.

From a young age she wanted to be exactly like her eldest sister Leanne and would happily put on the little shows her sister created for the family. Despite a 14 year age gap Iris adored her sister.

When Leanne and Malcolm left for New York that was Iris’ left set. She knew, at the young age of 4, that she wanted to do exactly that and perform.

So, as Iris grew up she threw herself into every class and project she could from ballet, and tap, to hip hop. Dance wasn’t the only thing she joined multiple choirs and amateur drama groups.

Much to her surprise though when she was 17 she received a scholarship to attend Julliard for musical theatre. She was beyond thrilled and moved out to New York as soon as she could.

When she graduated she was 21, very young, very naive, but very hopeful too. She wasn’t expecting anything to happen too quickly of course she was at least aware of that and she didn’t want to try and use her sister’s fame. Which was easily done considering Leanne used her married name for performances.

After a few years of successful off-broadway productions in both theatre and musicals Iris finally got her broadway debut as Wendy Darling in Peter Pan the musical.

Although the show was successful Iris’ debut wasn’t. It didn’t take long before critics picked up on her connection to Leanne and as soon as they did it was nothing more than a comparison.

Iris wasn’t as funny as her sister, her voice wasn’t as strong, she wasn’t ‘leading lady’ material.

Despite her family trying their hardest to encourage and support her, Iris’ confidence was destroyed and after her contract ended she decided to try and do something else.

Her embarrassment and disappointment made it difficult for her to talk with her family and over the years she drifted apart from both her siblings and parents.

There was a few years where Iris drifted from job to job trying to find something that sparked her interest. It was quite by chance that she turned to woodworking. She’d read an article about Malcolm’s set business and remembered how much she’d loved the times where he’d taught her different skills.

Soon she was making small figurines or decorations for her friends, one thing led to another and by the time she was 30 Iris had her own bespoke wooden gift business.

They created small things such as coasters and Christmas tree decorations to bigger objects like memorial benches, garden tables or even cribs/cots.

When she was in her early thirties some friends introduced her to Derrick Carter, to begin with they were just friends, with their mutual friends teasing them both all the time about something obviously going on between them.

They were right and within 6 months they were dating. Two years and they were married.

Over the years they have had three children, a little boy who is now six and named Theo, a little girl named Elizabeth (after Leanne) who is three and their youngest is Derrick Jr (DJ) who is only six months.

Iris adores her family more than anything in the world and is fiercely protective of them all, including her husband. This is why, when it came to schooling she and Thomas began discussing moving elsewhere. Theo is a shy, quiet young boy and they worried he’d get swallowed up by the busy school system in New York.

After some long talks they decided to move back to Iris’ hometown of Bridgeport. Iris is a little hesitant, she knows she’s at fault for the distance between her and her family.

Returning to Bridgeport Iris has started working with Karna at Your Arts’ Desire selling her own wares whilst bringing attention to what can be done with the supplies Karna sells.

It’s surprised her how easily she’s adjusted to being back and she’s found she missed it more than she realised.

[deadcactuswalking]

REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 09/07/2022

Welp, they’ve done it. LF SYSTEM have knocked Kate Bush off of the top spot of the UK Singles Chart as “Afraid to Feel” spends its first week of hopefully more on the #1 spot. It’s a damn good song, and I’ll admit that some of the novelty of “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” has somewhat faded. Speaking of somewhat faded – make of that what you will – welcome back to REVIEWING THE CHARTS!

Rundown

As always, we start with our notable dropouts – songs exiting the UK Top 75, which is what I cover, after five weeks in the region or a peak in the top 40 – and of course, since it’s a quiet – yet weird – week, there’s just a few. Apart from the debuts from last week flailing, it’s mostly songs that never truly got off of their feet properly leaving kind of prematurely, those being “Baba (Toma Tussi)” by Russ Millions, “1989” by Aitch and “N95” by Kendrick Lamar, as well as “good 4 u” by Olivia Rodrigo finally leaving.

Of course, what is always infinitely more interesting? Our notable gains and returning entries, of course! In terms of the latter, we just have “One Kiss” by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa back at #74 and Paolo Nutini getting a boost off of his #1 album as “Through the Echoes” returns to #46. When it comes to our gains, we see boosts for “Ferrari” by James Hype and Miggy Dela Rosa at #63, “Sunroof” by Nicky Youre and dazy at #60, “No Excuses” by Bru-C at #28, “Vegas” by Doja Cat at #27, “Last Last” by Burna Boy at #12 which will likely peak even higher next week with the album, and finally, “21 Reasons” by Nathan Dawe and Ella Henderson enters the top 10 at #10.

The top five this week consists of – from bottom to top – “Green Green Grass” by George Ezra at #5, “BREAK MY SOUL” by Beyoncé at #4, the aforementioned “Running Up That Hill” at #3, “As it Was” by Harry Styles at #2 and of course, “Afraid to Feel” at #1. Now this may seem like a bit of a cop-out since I did this last week but this week for me has been pretty busy, kind of discombobulated, so I’m going to push back Off the Charts again, especially since there are only a few releases I’d add on from this week. That does mean that next week I’ll have enough non-charting albums to fill up a stocking but I’ll have the time and energy to write all of that up and gather more final thoughts, making it a bit more palatable for me overall. Trust me: some of these albums are really interesting and really damn good so I want some more time with them. As that’s the case, I guess we can get straight into our strange bunch of new arrivals.

NEW ARRIVALS

#75 – “Wet Dream” – Wet Leg

Produced by Dan Carey

Well, I did warn you it was weird. We start with a song about wet dreams – thankfully not about Charli XCX as Black Country, New Road would gladly put out (more on her later) – but simply about this creepy guy who was an ex of Rhian Teasdale of British rock duo Wet Leg, sending messages about his wet dreams to her post-breakup. As you’d expect, the song isn’t as scathing as it is pure mockery at the pathetic nature of this, with the vaguely post-punk landfill indie production, coarse guitars coasting under oddly flat-feeling drums making this seem like an upbeat, lighthearted track. The verses, whilst mocking, imply a perverse, sarcastic infatuation with the kind of creepy behaviour he exemplifies, and even invite him to come to her place and watch a film, but the chorus does feel a bit irrelevant with its cute, catchy catchphrases that end up making the song feel more anthemic than a song about a creepy ex’s clingy and disgusting behaviour should probably feel. I like it more than “Chaise Longue” but I’m still not that compelled to check out more from the group, especially if the instrumentation continues to be this uninteresting and predictable. Typically, this’d be the token rock song of this episode, but we actually have more to come, as we continue with...

#71 – “Getting Started” – Sam Fender

Produced by Bramwell Bronte

Even though I’ve liked pretty much every single that has charted from Sam Fender’s Seventeen Going Under, I’ve yet to check out the album in full – but it’s not like it matters as Fender is happily pushing more singles, with this being a pretty obvious pick given its jangling acoustics and 80s pop rock groove held together by the spritzy strumming and more soaring licks in the back of the mix. It may be too obvious a pick however, as the chorus is full of empty platitudes and “motivational” slogans that come off as kind of generic and detached, especially with the richly-voiced genuine sarcasm that just naturally drips from Fender’s delivery. The vocal mixing doesn’t exactly help matters, as I wish it embraced some of the anthemic enveloping guitars a bit more, but I do love the verses with their details surrounding Fender as a young man and his frustration with finding escapism in a social class and situation that won’t let the dream of being a young British lad getting out and having drinks really come to fruition, especially when you have familial responsibilities that come with the co-operation in a working class family, that just isn’t present for other people. His frustrations are especially true with the North where he grew up, and I like how the song tampers off rather than coming to a screeching halt: he’ll probably never live up to those escapist ideals and still be “grinding” as he says, so it makes sense for it to trail off as his ambition does the same thing, eventually curtailing itself into becoming routine. Despite the gripes I have with the chorus and really the instrumentation not being that unique, it’s still a well-written and structured song that I can appreciate. I doubt it’ll stick around but I kind of hope it does.

#70 – “MORE” – j-hope

Produced by Brasstracks

Naturally, with the BTS hiatus, we’ll get more and more solo work appearing on and off the charts, which means my work to learn each of their names has actually paid off. Jungkook and SUGA have both appeared, so now it’s j-hope’s turn with his lead single that I... really do not like. Now, before I am set to die like Jesus on the cross, it’s mostly not j-hope’s fault as I think this dated production and its weird, buzzy, clunky groove is way too dark and scuffed for this kind of borderline nonsensical flex song, wherein j-hope is clearly trying to have more fun than this instrumental is letting him. I do appreciate the experimentation here, as it’s a damn weird song, especially with the drop into punk guitar riffs and compressed screaming that replaces the chorus. He’s screaming pretty much gibberish but if the guitar tones weren’t so rote, I’d kinda be into the chorus, which does feel like it’s emulating alternative dance. The lyrics are in Korean for the verses and English elsewhere, but what is in English isn’t worth much discussion and what’s in Korean seems pretty serviceable albeit underwritten, so the focus really is on that instrumental switch for the chorus that doesn’t really have any pay off. Nothing is built up at this point, it just chugs along until it chugs along at another point with a vaguely obnoxious, grandiose guitar lick. This is much of the problem I have with a lot of K-pop, and I understand that it can be the appeal but it does lead to songs like that just feel... broken. There’s some promise here, sure, but it’s squandered with a level of effort put into the squandering that makes it almost seem like squandering was the intention in the first place.

#67 – “Big City Life” – Luude and Mattafix

Produced by Luude, Saul Milton and Will Kennard

It doesn’t really get any weirder, either. Okay, so first of all, some context: Mattafix are one of those post-Britpop and post-trip hop genreless pop groups that took as much influence from pop and R&B as they did dusty electronic beats, the buzziest of which are present in their biggest hit, “Big City Life”, which peaked at #15 in 2005. Despite the then-modern production, it’s a very typical bluesy song about being in an overlooked area of a big city and therefore having the system ignore you if not go out of its way to punish you for where and to whom you were born. It’s a damn great song too, with the soulful vocals, poetic rapping and those escalating synths that seem to embellish the strife as the song goes on, strengthening the mantra of its fondly remembered hook, sang in Jamaican Patois. What’s arguably most important, however, is that the song topped the New Zealand charts and peaked at #19 in Australia, making it fair game for pop nostalgia down in Oceania. Naturally, Luude made this humble, downtempo blues track a drum and bass banger, and well, it makes more sense than it should. Luude retains the primitive-sounding synths from the original, making them cloudier and spacier as the vocals are drenched with different forms of reverb and echo. Whilst the original dug deep into the idea that everyone is just a statistic, the warped bass that reflects the lead vocal melody once the breakbeats come in, and that incomprehensible Vocaloid drop, make this version feel really alienated and isolating. Mattafix sound desperate as hell in that second verse as he hopes to share some time with a friend, and the chaos of the breakbeats in the chorus push all of that to the side. Given the current situation in the UK, I can see this really resonating with people and sticking around, and I hope it does too because it’s a great song with an excellent new remix. Please check this out if you haven’t already.

#59 – “Hot Sheep” – Cardi B featuring Kanye West and Lil Durk

Produced by Tay Keith and BanBwoi

Do not be alarmed: Cardi B is not Welsh. It’s just that this is a family show. Speaking of families, Cardi is back from having children with Offset to deliver a “comeback” single... that debuts at #59. This song does feel like it’s from 2018, given the Tay Keith beat that doesn’t even bother with his signature pianos for the most part, or at least they’re mixed way below the pounding 808s that go hard for as long as the song keeps its momentum (read: not that long), going for a pretty minimal beat that Cardi is able to ride on really effectively. The strings in the hook add some necessary variation and intensity, and Cardi brings much of the same, with the same uber-confident delivery, flexing and pop culture references we can come to exist, but with this new gimmick of having random vocal samples complete her bars which I think is fun. She does it twice here with both Pardison Fontaine and the “Electric Boogie” sample to complete the “Electric Slide” reference, and I hope there’s more of that on the album because it’s funny. Can you tell I’m stalling with positive aspects here? I really am trying to be nice here because a vast majority of the five plus people involved here are trying. I don’t get much from Cardi’s barely-a-chorus, but Lil Durk brings a great deal of energy and violence as he always does with the gang talk, going for a menacing delivery that ends up imitating Kanye by the end... which may as well have been a replacement for the man himself because he delivers a terrible verse here. It sounds like amateur hour in his verse, with filler bars stacked on top of filler bars, and things that he clearly said as a placeholder being left in because he couldn’t be bothered to replace them. Is Kanye threatening that he and Pusha will go and kill Pete Davidson? No, he left a filler bar in because it would get clicks, whilst barely staying on the beat, slipping over his own exhausted cadence and flow, which becomes incessantly whiny and repetitive in the mid-section. His woe-is-me brag raps have always been hit-and-miss, but he just comes off as smarmy here as he disrupts this flexing trap banger to complain about how he felt suicidal after losing Virgil Abloh... and immediately contrasting it with how he’ll splurge at the Louis Vuitton store, which would be a typical Kanye bar if he hadn’t already chanted that we’re not buying Louie bags after Virgil passed just this year. Just because he’s saying words – or at least Genius says so – doesn’t mean it’s anything of greater substance than reality TV drama I don’t want to see played out or references to his right-wing political grift exchange with Donald Trump. I get why the “mm-mm” flow worked in “Hurricane”, but it didn’t work in “Junya” and it sounds stiff as hell here, mostly because I know full well that this is just a leftover from his mumbling demo reference tracks, which he now realises fans will eat up like finished tracks anyway. The shadow of YANDHI will haunt the amount of true effort and care that the grifting “perfectionist” will put into his work, and the consideration of him as a public figure continuing during the divorce period has really dampened if not eroded much of the artistic goodwill I and many others had for Ye. Get help, man, and stay off of this otherwise pretty okay song.

#47 – “Master of Puppets” – Metallica

Produced by Flemming Rasmussen and Metallica

As if this episode couldn’t get any less comprehensible, here’s the debut of legendary heavy metal band and anti-Napster advocates Metallica’s classic eight-minute title track from their 1986 magnum opus charting for the first time thanks to an appearance in Stranger Things because underappreciated 80s cuts just use that show as a springboard for new hits nowadays. This trend is scary, even if ACR is vacuuming up some of those streams, mostly because the power of Netflix is largely unpredictable, but also because I’m not sure if the song itself is really charting or the phenomena behind it, so reviews of these songs may just catch up to that novelty factor than discussion of the music itself. In this case, I think I’m fully justified in doing so because what do I say about “Master of Puppets”? It’s not a particular gritty depiction of addiction, being more of a manic, camp one given the speed metal riffs and the echoed vocals from James Hetfield that have never sounded good to me, as the mixing does not make this sound all that grand at all, so it kind of just chugs along for that first section. I’ve never been a Metallica fan in the first place, largely because of how my appreciation of metal stops and ends at alt-metal, and I’ve never really understood the “kickass” energy that other people get from them. Most of the time, they sound desperate and showy, in a way that just can’t resonate with me given the faux heaviness of the material. This is far from a bad song, and the more progressive elements do save it: the breakdown is a pretty excellent touch with the soaring guitars, slight acoustics and the really technical solo representing the high that Hetfield feels and its subsequent comedown. The mix feels really enveloping and harsh with that pointed bass riff in the bridge that does kind of go hard, but when it goes back into the guitar wankery over unfittingly paced drumming I can’t take it seriously, especially not with Hetfield’s yammering. I just don’t think I’ll ever click with classic Metallica, and I honestly don’t really see this sticking around farther than the wearing off of the novelty, because there’s no real hook to this to latch onto... and that’s coming from someone who actually likes “St. Anger” a fair bit so what am I to know when it comes to metal? Regardless, it’ll be gone next week. You know what might not be?

#42 – “Hot in It” – Tiesto and Charli XCX

Produced by Goldfingers and Tiesto

Charli’s self-declared “sellout era” continues with this collaboration with legendary Dutch trance DJ Tiesto, who is having a bit of a resurgence himself in the slap-house era. This could have gone either way but I knew that it was going to extremely something, and well, I’ll be damned if it isn’t, even if it ends up as barely over two minutes. It’s got a somewhat farty synth, Charli obnoxiously dripping in Auto-Tune and so much vocal manipulation that sounds clumsy enough to still be relatively human over this garage house beat which, while typical, is pretty bouncy. The content is all about dismissal, specifically of relationship problems which there is some level of detail to, for the sake of going on the dancefloor and looking hot as a form of escapist confidence. There’s not much to say about the song at all because it really is as basic as possible, but Tiesto adds as much thematics as possible to dramatise the otherwise mundane track, like the breathing vocal loop being percussive in the final chorus alongside the extravagant layering of vocal tracks and synths, and the sole pre-chorus having some genuine complexity in how the muddy vocal pick-ups are layered and splattered around. It just works, and I can see it getting higher than this too. Charli has just that much more personality than Ava Max for me to get behind this, and it’s also that teensy bit catchier. Overall, it’s a surprisingly normal end to our bizarre week.

Conclusion

I mean, how do I conclude? I’ve always said that the bottom of the charts has typically been more peculiar than what reaches the top – even if in the UK’s case, damn near everything that charts is bonkers – but having to listen to eight-minute Metallica songs followed by Charli XCX club bangers is still about as diverse as I could have expected this chart to be. It’s also really not a bad week since most of this ranges from okay to pretty damn good, with Best of the Week going to Luude and Mettafix for “Big City Life” – genuinely excellent song – and Honourable Mention going to... “Hot in It” by Tiesto and Charli XCX, really. It works for me. In terms of our worst, I feel like I am going to have my private information shared and used to hunt me down because I am about to offend two fanbases capable of killing me: j-hope gets Worst of the Week for “MORE” and Metallica of all people get the Dishonourable Mention for the iconic yet in my opinion wasteful slog that is “Master of Puppets”. If I make it to next week, thank you for reading and I’ll see you then!

[grace-baker]

BASICS

Name: Iris Carter Age: 46 DOB: 11th of February 1976 Gender & Pronouns: Cis woman & she/her Sexuality: Bisexual Occupation: Woodworker Residence: Downton Hometown: Bridgeport Time in Bridgeport: Returned a week ago (June 2022) after 28 years away. Faceclaim: Katherine Kelly

Written by C!

Iris is the youngest of six siblings and has always taken advantage of that status whether it was to get away with mischief or getting attention.

From a young age she wanted to be exactly like her eldest sister Leanne and would happily put on the little shows her sister created for the family. Despite a 14 year age gap Iris adored her sister.

When Leanne and Malcolm left for New York that was Iris’ left set. She knew, at the young age of 4, that she wanted to do exactly that and perform. 

So, as Iris grew up she threw herself into every class and project she could from ballet, and tap, to hip hop. Dance wasn’t the only thing she joined multiple choirs and amateur drama groups. 

Much to her surprise though when she was 17 she received a scholarship to attend Julliard for musical theatre. She was beyond thrilled and moved out to New York as soon as she could.

When she graduated she was 21, very young, very naive, but very hopeful too. She wasn’t expecting anything to happen too quickly of course she was at least aware of that and she didn’t want to try and use her sister’s fame. Which was easily done considering Leanne used her married name for performances.

After a few years of successful off-broadway productions in both theatre and musicals Iris finally got her broadway debut as Wendy Darling in Peter Pan the musical.

Although the show was successful Iris’ debut wasn’t. It didn’t take long before critics picked up on her connection to Leanne and as soon as they did it was nothing more than a comparison.

Iris wasn’t as funny as her sister, her voice wasn’t as strong, she wasn’t ‘leading lady’ material.

Despite her family trying their hardest to encourage and support her, Iris’ confidence was destroyed and after her contract ended she decided to try and do something else.

Her embarrassment and disappointment made it difficult for her to talk with her family and over the years she drifted apart from both her siblings and parents.

There was a few years where Iris drifted from job to job trying to find something that sparked her interest. It was quite by chance that she turned to woodworking. She’d read an article about Malcolm’s set business and remembered how much she’d loved the times where he’d taught her different skills.

Soon she was making small figurines or decorations for her friends, one thing led to another and by the time she was 30 Iris had her own bespoke wooden gift business.

They created small things such as coasters and Christmas tree decorations to bigger objects like memorial benches, garden tables or even cribs/cots.

When she was in her early thirties some friends introduced her to Derrick Carter, to begin with they were just friends, with their mutual friends teasing them both all the time about something obviously going on between them.

They were right and within 6 months they were dating. Two years and they were married.

Over the years they have had three children, a little boy who is now six and named Theo, a little girl named Elizabeth (after Leanne) who is three and their youngest is Derrick Jr (DJ) who is only six months.

Iris adores her family more than anything in the world and is fiercely protective of them all, including her husband. This is why, when it came to schooling she and Thomas began discussing moving elsewhere. Theo is a shy, quiet young boy and they worried he’d get swallowed up by the busy school system in New York. 

After some long talks they decided to move back to Iris’ hometown of Bridgeport. Iris is a little hesitant, she knows she’s at fault for the distance between her and her family.

Returning to Bridgeport Iris has started working with Karna at Your Arts’ Desire selling her own wares whilst bringing attention to what can be done with the supplies Karna sells.

It’s surprised her how easily she’s adjusted to being back and she’s found she missed it more than she realised.

[grassplanet7]

Power Rankings, Week 2: Jazz Manage # 1 Place | NBA.com

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[weiwuxian-lanzhan]

Happy 30th Birthday Xiao Zhan!