#Oral Motor Tool

[speechgearsindia]

Beyond Speech: Oral Motor Tools for Occupational Therapy Success

Beyond traditional speech therapy, oral motor tools have emerged as essential components in the realm of occupational therapy, contributing to holistic developmental success. These specialized tools target oral motor skills, encompassing the coordination and strength of the muscles involved in speech, chewing, and swallowing.

Occupational therapists utilize a diverse range of oral motor tools to address individualized needs, promoting sensory integration and fine motor skill development. These tools can include textured chew toys, vibrating oral massagers, and tongue depressors designed to stimulate specific oral muscles.

In occupational therapy, the integration of oral motor tools goes beyond speech-related challenges. It extends to enhancing overall sensory processing, self-regulation, and even addressing feeding difficulties in both children and adults. The tactile and proprioceptive feedback provided by these tools aids in promoting better awareness and control over oral movements.

The success of oral motor tools in occupational therapy lies in their ability to engage clients in purposeful activities that foster skill development while addressing sensory needs. Whether focusing on improving oral motor skills for communication or aiding in self-regulation, these tools play a pivotal role in creating comprehensive therapeutic interventions that contribute to the overall well-being and functionality of individuals undergoing occupational therapy.

https://www.speechgears.com/products/uni-tip-tool

[penascigarette]

need to pay with somethin' else

➴pairing: sleazy mechanic!joel miller x f!reader

➴wc: 3k

➴summary: strapped for cash after your car breaks down, you find yourself at the mercy of your dads best friend Joel Miller, a sleazy yet charismatic mechanic who offers an unconventional way to settle your debt

➴warnings: m!oral receiving, reader has grabbable/fuckable breasts, joels sleazy, power imbalance

➴notes: this started because i had to get my oil change and the guy was definitely giving joel vibes so here we. divider by @saradika-graphics and to @slimybeth69 for reading this over <33 also from this poll full of sleazy boys

masterlist

The engine sputters once, twice, and then dies with a pitiful wheeze. You groan, slumping forward against the steering wheel. This is the third time this week your car has left you stranded, and you’re officially at your wit’s end. The glowing check engine light on the dashboard feels like it’s mocking you as you fumble for your phone and scroll to find Joel Miller’s number.

Joel’s been your dad’s best friend since forever—gruff, handy with a wrench, and the kind of man who always seems to have a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth. He runs a small garage on the edge of town, the kind of place where you pay in cash and don’t ask too many questions. Your dad swears by him, though, and after a minute of internal debate, you decide to give him a call.

“Yeah?” Joel’s voice is rough when he answers, you can hear the sound of clanging metal in the background.  

“It’s me,” you say, already feeling the heat of frustration rising to your cheeks. “Car died. Again.”  

There’s a pause, then a low chuckle. “Sounds like you’ve got yourself a real piece of shit there, darlin’. Where you at?”

You rattle off your location, and he promises to swing by in fifteen minutes. True to his word, Joel pulls up in his battered pickup truck, stepping out with his usual air of quiet confidence. His eyes skim over you and your car as he approaches, wiping his hands on his coveralls already streaked with grease.  

“Pop the hood,” he says, gesturing with a tilt of his head.  

You watch as he leans over the engine, his broad shoulders flexing under his worn shirt. His hands move deftly, poking and prodding until he straightens with a frown. “Transmission’s shot,” he says flatly. “You’re gonna need a tow.”  

A tow. Great. As if your day wasn’t bad enough. “Can you fix it?”  

“Sure,” Joel says, shrugging like it’s no big deal. “But it’s not gonna be cheap.”  

You hesitate, biting your lip. Money’s tight—has been for months—but you don’t have much choice. “Can you tow it to the shop?”  

Joel gives you a long look. “Yeah. Hop in the truck. I’ll take care of it.”  

The ride to his shop is quiet, except for the radio's low hum and the occasional creak of the truck’s suspension. Joel doesn’t say much, but you can feel his presence like a weight in the small cab. When you arrive, he parks outside the garage, and you follow him inside.  

The shop smells of motor oil, rubber, and metal. Familiar scents that remind you of your dad’s stories about their younger days fixing cars together. Tools are scattered across the workbench, and a half-empty coffee mug sits next to an ashtray filled with cigarette butts.  

Joel leans against the hood of your car, arms crossed, as he nods toward it. “It ain’t good,” he says, his voice carrying that same gravelly tone that always makes your stomach twist. “Gonna run you $700. Maybe more if I find anything else wrong and that's me givin’ you a deal sweetheart.”  

Your heart sinks. Seven hundred dollars might as well be a million. “I don’t have that kind of money right now,” you admit quietly.  

Joel smirks, and his gaze sweeps over you with an almost predatory air. “Figured as much.” He takes a slow step closer, his presence suddenly feeling a lot larger in the cramped space. “Been real kind to you the last few times, fixin’ this piece of shit for free. Even worked extra hours just to get you back on the road. But sweetheart…” His voice dips low. “That goodwill don’t come cheap forever.”  

Your stomach twists with guilt because he’s right. Joel’s helped you out more times than you can count, always brushing it off with a gruff “Don’t worry ‘bout it.” But this time, his tone carries a sharper edge, and his gaze lingers on you, sharp and calculated.  

“I’m a reasonable man,” he says after a beat, his lips quirking in a slow smirk. “We can work somethin’ out that doesn’t involve a whole lot of cash. You got other ways to make it worth my while.”  

You freeze, your breath catching. “What are you talking about?” you manage, though you're pretty sure you know what he means.  

Joel chuckles, taking another step toward you. “C’mon now. Don’t play dumb. You know exactly what I mean.” His eyes flicker over you as his tongue darts out to wet his lips. “You’ve got a mouth, darlin’. Seems to me like you could put it to good use and settle that bill real quick.”  

Heat floods your face. “That’s disgusting,” you snap, but your voice lacks conviction.

Joel shrugs, utterly unbothered. “ But it’s practical, ain’t it? You’re broke, and I’ve got a car to fix. Think of it as a trade. A favor for a favor.”  

You hesitate, your mind is racing. The idea is mortifying, but his words hit you where it hurts most—your empty wallet and your lack of options.  

He steps closer, close enough now that you can feel the heat radiating off him. “Look,” he says, his voice softening just enough to feel personal. “You can walk outta here, take that piece of shit somewhere else, and still be stranded. Or…” His hand lifts, his thumb brushing your cheek. “You can stay. Handle this like a big girl. Ain’t gotta be a big deal, sweetheart. Just a few minutes of your time, and your car’ll be good as new.”  

Your throat tightens, your heart hammering against your ribs as you weigh the impossible choice in front of you. His eyes lock onto yours and you know he can see the hesitation written all over your face.  

“You don’t gotta decide now,” he drawls, leaning back against the workbench with infuriating ease. “But don’t take too long. Time’s money, and I got other cars to fix.”  

The air feels thick, as his words sink in. You should walk away, call your dad, and deal with the fallout later. But the thought of your empty bank account and the guilt of all the times Joel’s helped you out for free keeps you rooted to the spot.  

Finally, your voice comes out, shaky and barely above a whisper. “Okay.”  

Joel’s grin turns wicked as he tosses the rag onto the workbench. “Atta girl. Come on, then. Let’s settle this debt.”

You follow him deeper into the garage, the sound of your boots scuffing the concrete seeming deafening in the quiet space. He walks with a casual confidence as he gestures for you to sit on an old, battered stool. It squeaks under your weight, but you barely notice. Your nerves are shot.

Joel leans back against the workbench, arms crossed, his coveralls pulling tight across his body. His smirk hasn’t left—if anything, it’s grown sharper, like a wolf that knows it’s already caught its prey. “Don’t look so nervous,” he says in a teasing voice. “Ain’t gonna hurt you.”

You swallow hard, your gaze darts around the space trying to distract your spiraling mind. The smell of motor oil and grease feels thicker now, as if it’s seeping into your skin. “This... this isn’t something I usually do,” you murmur.

He chuckles. “Yeah, I figured. You’ve got that good girl vibe. Bet you don’t even jaywalk.” His tone is mocking. “S’all right, though. I’ll talk ya through it.”

You bite your lip, a mix of embarrassment and something more electric buzz in your chest. The way Joel looks at you—like he’s already unwrapped you in his mind—is both infuriating and intoxicating. 

“Nervous, sweetheart?” he drawls, cocking his head. His eyes flicker over you, lingering just long enough to make your skin prickle. “Ain’t nothin’ to be scared of, just gotta use those pretty little lips n’suck and we'll be squared right up.”

“I’m not nervous,” you lie, folding your arms across your chest in a futile attempt to shield yourself from his scrutiny. 

Joel takes a slow step forward, close enough now that you can smell the mix of sweat, cigarettes and motor oil clinging to his skin. He nods toward your chest. “Why don’t you let me feel those pretty tits before we get started?”

Your eyes widen, heat rushing to your cheeks as you sputter, “That—That wasn’t part of the deal.”

Joel laughs, low and rough, his teeth flashing as he shakes his head. “C’mon now. Can’t expect a man to get off without a little foreplay, can ya?” He teases. “I ain’t askin’ for much. Just wanna get my hands on ‘em for a minute.”

You glare at him. His expression is maddening, that smug, self-assured grin like he already knows you’re going to cave. Finally, with an exasperated sigh, you roll your eyes. “Fine. Just... make it quick.”

Joel’s grin turns downright wicked as you reach for the hem of your shirt, tugging it up to reveal your bare breasts. The cool air brushes over your skin, making your nipples pebble, and Joel whistles low, his eyes darkening as they fixate on you.

“Goddamn,” he mutters, stepping closer. His hands are rough and calloused as they cup your breasts, his thumbs brush lazily over your sensitive nipples. “Look at these. Soft as hell. Bet they’d feel even better bouncin’ in my hands while you’re bouncin’ on my cock.”

You grit your teeth, refusing to let him see how his words make your stomach flutter. “Are you done?” you snap, your tone is sharp despite the way your voice shakes.

His grip tightens just enough to make you inhale sharply. “Not yet, darlin’. Let me enjoy the view a little longer.” His thumbs roll over your nipples again, and you shiver despite yourself. “These are somethin’ special. Too bad you’re such a hardass, or I’d spend some real time with ‘em.”

Your glare sharpens, and he finally lets go, his hands dropping back to his sides. He takes a step back, still grinning like the cat that got the cream. “All right, I’m good now. Let’s get to the fun part.”

You yank your shirt back down as you slide off the stool determined to get this over with. 

“See?” he says, his tone as infuriating as ever. “Told ya, a little foreplay never hurt nobody.”

You don’t dignify him with a response, focusing instead on the task ahead. 

“C’mon, sweetheart,” he drawls. “On your knees.”

Your breath catches, heat pooling low in your belly at the command. You hesitate, looking up at him, and for a brief moment, his smirk falters. His gaze softens, just a fraction, enough to make your heart skip. 

“You can still back out,” he says quietly, surprising you. “Ain’t gonna force ya. You can just pay me instead.”

The reminder takes place and you take a shaky breath as you sink to the floor. Your knees press into the cold concrete, the rough texture biting through your jeans, as your hands rest awkwardly on your thighs. 

Joel’s smirk deepens as he watches you sink to the floor. "That's it, sweetheart," he murmurs, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. "Look so damn pretty down there. Almost like you’re made for this."  

Your stomach churns at the comment, but you bite back a retort.

"Don't get shy on me now," he teases, brushing his thumb over your bottom lip. "Knew you had a mouth on you. Let's see if it’s as talented as I’m guessin’.”

You swallow thickly as your eyes dart to the zipper of his coveralls. His hand moves to the fastening and the sound of the zipper cuts through the air as he drags it down. Beneath the heavy fabric, his jeans are undone, and your breath hitches when you catch a glimpse of the bulge beneath the worn denim.

Joel takes his time, pulling himself free with a casual confidence. He’s thick, flushed, and the veins are prominent against the hard length. You bite the inside of your cheek, unsure whether it’s nervousness or intrigue that has your throat tightening. 

“Go on,” he says. His fingers tangle in your hair as he guides you closer. “Start slow.”

You hesitate for a moment, then tentatively lean forward, your lips parting as you press a soft kiss to the tip. The skin is hot and velvety and the musky scent of him fills your nose. His hand tightens in your hair and a low groan slips from his lips. The sound sends a strange thrill through you, and you glance up to find his eyes locked on yours, dark and half-lidded. You are not enjoying this, you won't let yourself.

“Atta girl,” he drawls with approval. “Keep goin’.”

You take him into your mouth, your lips wrapping around the head as your tongue sweeps across the sensitive underside. Joel groans, his hips jerk slightly and his fingers flex against your scalp. You move slowly, testing the waters, your cheeks hollowing as you sink lower. He’s thick enough to make your jaw ache, but you press on, spurred by the quiet, guttural noises spilling from his throat. 

“Goddamn, that feels good. You really know what you’re doin’, don’t ya? Bet you’ve had a little practice.” He grunts his free hand bracing against the edge of the workbench. His hips roll forward, pushing himself a little deeper, and you choke slightly, the intrusion catching you off guard. He eases back, his thumb brushing over your cheek. “Easy now, darlin'," he says, his tone a mockery of gentle reassurance. "Don’t wanna choke you out—least not yet.”

You pick up your pace, your tongue swirling around him as you take him deeper, your nails digging into your thighs for balance. Joel’s breathing grows heavier, the tension in his body is palpable as he fights to keep control. His groans turn into curses, low and filthy, and the sound of it makes your thighs clench involuntarily.

“Fuck,” he mutters, his voice tight. “You’re too damn good at this.”

His words spur you on, your movements growing more confident as you bob your head, your hand wrapping around the base of him to stroke what you can’t take in. 

“Look at you," he growls, his voice dripping with sleaze. "Takin' me so good. Never would’ve guessed a sweet little thing like you had it in ya. Bet your daddy’d have a stroke if he knew what you’re doin’ right now."

The mention of your father makes you falter slightly, but Joel’s grip in your hair keeps you in place.

"That’s right," he says with a grin. "Keep goin'. Don’t you dare stop now.”

You take him deeper, pushing the limits of how much you can take.

“Shit, that’s good," he groans, his voice ragged. "But you know what’d be even better?"

You glance up at him, your brows furrowing.

"Get up on the bench," he says, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Wanna see those pretty tits of yours wrapped around me. Bet they’ll feel like fuckin’ heaven."

You hesitate.

"C’mon now, don’t get shy," Joel drawls, his smirk widening. "Ain’t like we’re strangers anymore. Hell, you’ve already got my cock in your mouth. Might as well give me the full experience.”

You glare at him, but his smug grin doesn’t waver. Finally, with a frustrated sigh, you stand, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand and hop onto the workbench. Joel’s eyes darken as you pull your shirt up, baring your chest to him.

"Fuckin’ hell," he mutters, his hands immediately reaching for you. His rough palms cup your breasts, squeezing them appreciatively. "These are somethin’ else. Soft as a dream. Could spend hours buried right here."

"Just get on with it," you snap, your voice sharp despite the heat flooding your cheeks.

Joel chuckles, positioning himself between your legs as he presses your breasts together around his length. The heat of him against your skin makes you shiver, and Joel groans as he begins to move, his hips rolling in slow, deliberate thrusts.

"Goddamn," he mutters, his voice thick with lust. "You feel that, darlin’? So fuckin’ perfect. Never had a set like these before."

You grit your teeth, refusing to let this turn you on.

"Don’t be so uptight," he teases, his thumb brushing over your nipple. "You’re makin’ this way harder than it needs to be. Just relax, sweetheart. Lemme enjoy myself."

His movements grow faster, the slick slide of him against your skin makes your cheeks burn, you shouldn’t be enjoying this but you are. "You’re a natural at this," he says. "Knew you’d be somethin’ special.”

Joel’s groans grow louder, his grip on you tightening as he moves with more urgency. "Shit, baby," he breathes. "Gonna ruin me for anyone else."

The heat of his praise makes you clench your thighs harder, and you close your eyes, trying to block out the sound of his voice.

"Look at me," Joel demands. You force your eyes open, meeting his gaze. 

"That’s my girl," he murmurs, his voice softening. "Fuckin’ perfect."

Finally, with a groan, Joel stills, his release spilling across your skin. He stays there for a moment letting the last of the white-hot ropes coat your skin before he steps back, his breathing is ragged as he tucks himself back into his jeans.

"Clean yourself up," he says, tossing you a rag. His smirk is back, lazy and self-satisfied

You glare at him, wiping your chest with quick, angry movements.

"Don’t look so pissed," Joel says with a chuckle. "You did good. Real good. Might just start offerin’ you a permanent tab.”

“Fix my car.” you snap, sliding off the workbench.

Joel laughs. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll get it fixed up for you. Go grab a drink or somethin’. It’ll be ready in an hour.”

You stare at him for a long moment, your emotions a mess you can’t quite untangle. Without another word, you grab your bag and head for the door with Joel’s laughter following you out. 

You tell yourself you’re never coming back here again, but the way your heart races at the thought of him makes you wonder if that’s a lie.

[cutiepieautistic]

Okay,here's my current list of recommendations for disability aids. List under the cut,forewarning; it's a pretty long read.

Noise muffling earbuds- I'm hard of hearing in both ears,but I can still hear things that are super loud,so these are helpful for blocking out unwelcome noises,especially in public places. These are perfect for avoiding meltdowns or getting through one

Weighted stuffed animals for anxiety,meltdowns etc etc

Weighted pencils and utensils,for motor control issues

Straws specifically designed to help people with oral motor control issues

No spill cups,for people with motor control issues

Compression gloves,for people who crave pressure,have aches and pains in their hands and wrists,or both

Cane covers for walking canes

Stim toys that you can add to your cane or Walker,particularly ones on a lanyard,string,chain or anything similar to those.

Braille stamps for money

Bright stickers and textures stickers,or braille stickers,to identifying objects for visually impaired people

Pain relief salve,for chronic pain or injuries underneath the skin due to medical conditions.

Sensory friendly hair clippers sensory friendly toothbrushes for sensory issues

Unflavored oral care products,for the same reason as above

Calming scent inhalers,for anxiety,panic attacks etc etc

Cute pill containers

Aac Communication devices,or electronic notepads.

Communication cards or bracelets

Cute bags for carrying disability equipment

Under the desk fidgets,for hands or feet and legs. These are attached to,you guessed it under the desk,or at the bottom of your chair.

Weighted blankets

Makeup tools specifically designed for motor control issues

Communication pins,and lanyards to put them on. For example,you could get one that says: I have autism,please be patient.

[jcmarchi]

Interactive mouthpiece opens new opportunities for health data, assistive technology, and hands-free interactions

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/interactive-mouthpiece-opens-new-opportunities-for-health-data-assistive-technology-and-hands-free-interactions/

Interactive mouthpiece opens new opportunities for health data, assistive technology, and hands-free interactions

When you think about hands-free devices, you might picture Alexa and other voice-activated in-home assistants, Bluetooth earpieces, or asking Siri to make a phone call in your car. You might not imagine using your mouth to communicate with other devices like a computer or a phone remotely. 

Thinking outside the box, MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and Aarhus University researchers have now engineered “MouthIO,” a dental brace that can be fabricated with sensors and feedback components to capture in-mouth interactions and data. This interactive wearable could eventually assist dentists and other doctors with collecting health data and help motor-impaired individuals interact with a phone, computer, or fitness tracker using their mouths.

Resembling an electronic retainer, MouthIO is a see-through brace that fits the specifications of your upper or lower set of teeth from a scan. The researchers created a plugin for the modeling software Blender to help users tailor the device to fit a dental scan, where you can then 3D print your design in dental resin. This computer-aided design tool allows users to digitally customize a panel (called PCB housing) on the side to integrate electronic components like batteries, sensors (including detectors for temperature and acceleration, as well as tongue-touch sensors), and actuators (like vibration motors and LEDs for feedback). You can also place small electronics outside of the PCB housing on individual teeth.

Play video

MouthIO: Fabricating Customizable Oral User Interfaces with Integrated Sensing and Actuation Video: MIT CSAIL

The active mouth

“The mouth is a really interesting place for an interactive wearable and can open up many opportunities, but has remained largely unexplored due to its complexity,” says senior author Michael Wessely, a former CSAIL postdoc and senior author on a paper about MouthIO who is now an assistant professor at Aarhus University. “This compact, humid environment has elaborate geometries, making it hard to build a wearable interface to place inside. With MouthIO, though, we’ve developed a new kind of device that’s comfortable, safe, and almost invisible to others. Dentists and other doctors are eager about MouthIO for its potential to provide new health insights, tracking things like teeth grinding and potentially bacteria in your saliva.”

The excitement for MouthIO’s potential in health monitoring stems from initial experiments. The team found that their device could track bruxism (the habit of grinding teeth) by embedding an accelerometer within the brace to track jaw movements. When attached to the lower set of teeth, MouthIO detected when users grind and bite, with the data charted to show how often users did each.

Wessely and his colleagues’ customizable brace could one day help users with motor impairments, too. The team connected small touchpads to MouthIO, helping detect when a user’s tongue taps their teeth. These interactions could be sent via Bluetooth to scroll across a webpage, for example, allowing the tongue to act as a “third hand” to open up a new avenue for hands-free interaction.

“MouthIO is a great example how miniature electronics now allow us to integrate sensing into a broad range of everyday interactions,” says study co-author Stefanie Mueller, the TIBCO Career Development Associate Professor in the MIT departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering and leader of the HCI Engineering Group at CSAIL. “I’m especially excited about the potential to help improve accessibility and track potential health issues among users.”

Molding and making MouthIO

To get a 3D model of your teeth, you can first create a physical impression and fill it with plaster. You can then scan your mold with a mobile app like Polycam and upload that to Blender. Using the researchers’ plugin within this program, you can clean up your dental scan to outline a precise brace design. Finally, you 3D print your digital creation in clear dental resin, where the electronic components can then be soldered on. Users can create a standard brace that covers their teeth, or opt for an “open-bite” design within their Blender plugin. The latter fits more like open-finger gloves, exposing the tips of your teeth, which helps users avoid lisping and talk naturally.

This “do it yourself” method costs roughly $15 to produce and takes two hours to be 3D-printed. MouthIO can also be fabricated with a more expensive, professional-level teeth scanner similar to what dentists and orthodontists use, which is faster and less labor-intensive.

Compared to its closed counterpart, which fully covers your teeth, the researchers view the open-bite design as a more comfortable option. The team preferred to use it for beverage monitoring experiments, where they fabricated a brace capable of alerting users when a drink was too hot. This iteration of MouthIO had a temperature sensor and a monitor embedded within the PCB housing that vibrated when a drink exceeded 65 degrees Celsius (or 149 degrees Fahrenheit). This could help individuals with mouth numbness better understand what they’re consuming.

In a user study, participants also preferred the open-bite version of MouthIO. “We found that our device could be suitable for everyday use in the future,” says study lead author and Aarhus University PhD student Yijing Jiang. “Since the tongue can touch the front teeth in our open-bite design, users don’t have a lisp. This made users feel more comfortable wearing the device during extended periods with breaks, similar to how people use retainers.”

The team’s initial findings indicate that MouthIO is a cost-effective, accessible, and customizable interface, and the team is working on a more long-term study to evaluate its viability further. They’re looking to improve its design, including experimenting with more flexible materials, and placing it in other parts of the mouth, like the cheek and the palate. Among these ideas, the researchers have already prototyped two new designs for MouthIO: a single-sided brace for even higher comfort when wearing MouthIO while also being fully invisible to others, and another fully capable of wireless charging and communication.

Jiang, Mueller, and Wessely’s co-authors include PhD student Julia Kleinau, master’s student Till Max Eckroth, and associate professor Eve Hoggan, all of Aarhus University. Their work was supported by a Novo Nordisk Foundation grant and was presented at ACM’s Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology.

[rxgueone]

DRIFT

Pairing: Austin Butler x OC

Word count: 11,887

Summary: Just a group of friends spending their free time together at the town fair.

Warnings: angst, drugs, violence, smoking, cursing, fluff (?), smut is implied (oral), toxic relationships, bout all I can think of.

Tags: none.

Note: It is currently 3:33 AM as I am writing this, I have been listening to Rebel Radio in GTA 5 on loop since 11PM, I have a doctors appointment in a few hours due to the fact I need surgery for something, my inspiration actually sucks dick, spare me. The part with the Vette is based off of something I’ve been through. I’m over 6’3” and I sat in the back of a C7 Corvette with 4 other people, and it sucked balls I won’t even lie. I hated it. And sorry for how long this chapter is, couldn’t stop writing ig.

MASTERLIST — WEST COAST

—

Lana slid her hands in her pockets, she had been wearing the flannel that Austin gave her about a week ago since the drug deal. It smelled like fruit loops so she often wore it since it smelt nice. She hadn’t seen him at school either for the whole week, for some reason. Although from what she was told, he wasn’t missing any school, so he was probably just hiding. For what? God knows, and God only cared. Not like she was going to ask.

She was heading towards Tori’s place, she had been at home, got bored, and left so she could go hang out with one of her friends. She figured Tori would entertain her a good deal, so she dropped by her place. Plus, the town fair was tonight, maybe they could’ve went together. When she had headed to the driveway, she could see the black 1985 C4 Corvette parked by the sidewalk. Which told her that Austin was with Tori. In the driveway, was Tori’s firebird, and her father’s work truck. Which a Ford F150 crew cab. The garage door was left open, and she could see that there was a tool box with some motor oil on the top of it. With a pan beside it, meaning that one of the vehicles were having an oil change. Considering how Austin told Lana that he would often come to Tori’s place to fix the work truck, she assumed that Austin was changing the oil of the Ford.

She raised her brows curiously, and when she approached the front door. She gave three hard knocks, then stepped back, her hands behind her back. She could hear shouting from the inside. “Could you please get that?!” It sounded like Tori.

“Yeah no problem, Sanchez.” A hoarse voice answered, then she heard the door unlock, and with the twist. The door as pulled back, her suspicion was confirmed. There was Austin, wearing a white tank top that was stained with grease, the tank top was tucked in with the denim jeans he was wearing.

“Austin-“ Lana blinked.

“Hey,” he tilted his head as if he were a Labrador, confused as to why Lana was there. Lana could see Tori walk to Austin, and her brows raised when she saw Lana. Austin stepped to the side for Tori so she could stand beside him. Lana’s eyes were as big as eggs. She was taking in the image of both of them. Tori stood to Austin’s elbow, she was tiny.

Tori was wearing heavy makeup, but she looked beautiful. Her wings were sharp, and on point as always. And they were purple, which was her favorite color. She was wearing a purple crop top that looked like a sports bra, with purple sweatpants that were slightly sagged on the right side. It showed her panty line, which appeared to be purple laced panties.

They both had messy hair though. Austin was sweating, and Tori looked like she was sweating a bit too. What wasn’t helping was the fact that Lana could see Tori’s panties with ease. Not to mention, Austin’s lips looked red and raw, as if he had been just making out with someone.

Honestly, if Lana didn’t know any better. She would’ve assumed that Tori and Austin were hooking up. But she knew this wasn’t the case. Tori was dating Ashton, too dedicated and too loyal, for some reason. Austin, well- she didn’t know, he was just the mechanic.

“Hey Lana,” Tori smiled, “what’re you doing here?”

“Oh- I was just, bored at home y’know? Wanted to go out and hang.” She shrugged, her hands still in her pockets. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Hm?” Austin tilted his head. Lana pointed her index finger towards the Ford F150 that was out in the driveway. “Mr. Sanchez wanted an oil change, Tori called me over to help out with it.” He explained.

“We can hang out after Austin has changed the oil though.” Tori said excitedly.

“Are you gonna bring Ashton?” Lana asked.

“Nah, we got into a fight again.” Tori shook her head, waving it off.

“Shocker, huh.” Austin shrugged before wiping his lips, leaving a bit of grease on his face. Tori elbowed Austin before inviting Lana to come in, and she smiled, walking in the house. Austin shut the door, then left to go to the garage without saying a word to them.

Lana watched him enter the garage, looked over at Tori. “He comes here often right?” She asked, recalling how Austin told her he’d come by pretty much every day.

“Oh yeah, every day.” Tori laughed as the two of them walked over to the couch to sit down. “Sometimes sleeps here too.”

“Really? Doesn’t your mother or father mind?”

“No, they both like him.” She looked down at her hands, fiddling with her nails that looked like talons. Lana always wondered how women could always have those long fake nails. She was curious how they could do anything. They couldn’t even close their hand into a fist, or pick out their cards in those card readers at the gas station.

When Tori would take Lana with her to the gas station to obviously get gas for the Firebird. Lana would sit on the passengers side and watch Tori struggling to get the card out of the card reader due to her long nails, so Lana would have to get out of the car and get the card for Tori. Then Tori would do the rest while Lana would sit and watched, intrigued.

Lana was curious about Tori’s parents relationship with Ashton. “Do they like Ashton?”

“Obviously not.” Tori answered without any hesitation, but there was a smile on her face. A friendly smile, and Lana nodded her head. “They think Aus is a better man. My dad says he’s the best, but then again, I don’t listen to my dad since he never does shit around the house.”

Lana shrugged, leaning back on the couch. She half turned to look at Tori fully. “Tori, I ain’t gonna lie to you.” She began. “But Austin looked like he just made out with you, when he opened the door.”

“He was playing with my lipstick.” She said on the dime. “See,” reaching into the pocket of her sweatpants, she held out some lipstick. Took the cap off and the wax on the lipstick looked completely fucked, like someone had just eaten it for the shits and giggles. Her face distorted into a face of amusement, as if she was recalling the events, “Austin put it on, then ate it, for shits and giggles.”

“That doesn’t sound like him.” Lana murmured. Austin was always so serious. At the drug deal, he barely even said a word. When Alice was doing heroin beside him, he didn’t even protest, simply looked up, trying to ignore it. Austin just never fucked around, it seemed completely out of character for him to randomly eat lipstick for shits and giggles. But then again, he also slammed a bottle of vodka against Ashton’s head randomly. And also ate ice cream and drank milk and milkshakes even though he was lactose intolerant. So, maybe it wasn’t.

“Anyways, I was wondering.” Tori put the lipstick back in her pocket. “We should go to Jade and Jules house.” She suggested.

Jade and Jules were twins. Jules’ full name was actually Juliette, and Lana knew Jade well, but not Jules all that well in comparison. Lana would talk to Jules occasionally in the girls bathroom at school, whenever Lana would walk in on her smoking a cigarette. Usually Jules would be in the bathroom for a good five minutes, then throw the cigarette away and go back to class.

Jules was dating a football player named Randy, who was good friends with Ashton. He owned a Honda Civic, a 2022 Honda Civic to be exact. His mother or father bought it for him or something, Lana didn’t care much to find out. But what Lana did know, was that Randy’s car smelled nice as hell. Then again, the smell of a new car was heavenly, at least to Lana it was.

Jules and Randy were sex craved as well from what Lana knew. She caught the pair doing the old devil’s tango at a party, didn’t even say a word. Just opened the door to the bathroom, saw them both doing the deed, then shut the door and went to go pee in a bush. Why? Cause she was not going to pee with those two doing the deed, nor was she going to wait outside the bathroom for the both of them. Plus, Lana was high out of her mind when she walked in on the pair.

Jade, was the opposite. Lana had known Jade since she was a child actually. Lana wouldn’t call Jade her best friend, but they were close friends. Lana and Jade would roller-skate together for fun a lot, and would always go to each other’s birthdays. When Jade had found out about Lana’s overdose, she had cried for two days, Jules cried too, but not as much as Jade did.

Jade worried over Lana a lot, like- a lot a lot. But that was fine with Lana. Jade would often nag Lana as well about if she was doing any drugs or whatever, and Lana didn’t mind that as well. She knew Jade was doing it because she cared.

Jade was a quiet girl, real quiet, she was more of an observer. The way she handled things was different than Jules. Jules, in spite of her way, was never single, she felt lonely, craved love and attention. Jade however, would prefer to be alone, loved the feeling of not being loved, and loved not having attention on her, made her feel free.

Jade, due to her clean ways, would also make fun of the group quite a bit when she had the chance. Lana, Tori, Beth, and Alex didn’t mind. They all thought she had a point, she made a good point to make fun of them for taking drugs. Lana could remember full well when Jade had stood there eating ice cream while Lana was rolling around on the ground at a park, yelling about how she was a unicorn, then proceeded to eat shit by running straight into a pole and falling over. So yeah, Jade had the right to make fun of them.

Lana figured, she missed both of them. “Yeah, sure, we could go see them after Austin fixes the truck.”

“Cool! I heard there’s a theme park, Ashton’s gonna be there so…”

Lana thinned her lips into a bitter a line. She knew what Tori was hinting at. Hated the idea, but in spite of that, she had been wanting to go to the city fair, so she agreed. “Yeah sure, I’ll go.” She got off the couch after, wanting to go see what Austin was doing to the truck. Tori got up after her.

When Lana had walked in the garage, she was greeted with the image of Austin laying underneath the F150. There as a torque wrench laying beside him with an oil pan, and then she saw him grab the filter wrench. She watched as he screwed the oil filter off, groaned in annoyance when some of the oil go onto his face. But got the torque wrench again, grabbed the pan, then screwed off the oil screw.

She watched him adjust the oil pan underneath quickly. He crawled out from underneath the truck, looking up to see Tori and Lana both staring down at him with curious eyes. His eyes fluttered obliviously, before he sat up to put the old oil filter of the truck away. “What the hell are you guys doing here.” He asked, grabbing a rag from the ground to wipe the oil off his face.

“Watching you,” Tori answered with a kindhearted smile on her face, “you’re interesting.” Austin got up as she spoke those words, and stood in front of Tori. He leaned down, his face a few inches away from hers. Lana stood in the middle of them, looking back and forth between them.

Austin smirked. “You are too.” He pulled his face away from hers, walking back in the garage to get the new oil filter. Lana stood there, brows furrowed, eyes narrowed while Tori kept a mischievous smile on her face when she watched Austin get the box for the new oil filter, ripping it open.

Was that just me or was that awkward…? Lana asked herself, before shaking her head. “Well, anyways,” she changed the subject, not wanting to focus or think about what just happened, “Tori says she wants to go to Jade and Jules’ house when you’re done with everything.”

“Who’s Jade and Jules?” Austin asked when he got the filter out, walking back to them.

Right, Austin was still new to town. He hadn’t made many friends. In spite of his looks, being a heartthrob and everything, the dude still didn’t know jack shit. “Right- you don’t know them. They’re our good friends, twins actually.” Tori explained. “Jules’ real name is Juliette… y’know Jade Stravinsky and Juliette Stravinsky.” Tori figured she had to tell Austin their last names, since he usually called people by their last names. She wondered how that would work for twins.

Lana already knew that Austin wouldn’t call Jade or Jules by their last names since they were twins. Since Dal and Tray were twins, he didn’t call them by their last names either. Austin perked up a brow, leaning on the F150 as he looked at the pair. “What’s their middle names. I can’t go by last since they’re twins.” He grabbed the rag off the ground to wipe his hands again, which seemed to get greasier the more he rubbed.

Tori looked over at Lana. “Jade’s is Wulfheim.” Then Lana paused, bringing her hand up to her jawline to think to herself. She had tilted her head to the side, thinking about Jules. “Juliette’s is… Spencer, I believe. Jade Wulfheim Stravinsky, Juliette Spencer Stravinsky.”

“Those are some fancy names.” Austin answered without missing a beat.

“Austin Butler sounds even fancier.” Tori commented, and Austin shot her a glare before laying back down on the ground. “I’m just sayin’ it sounds pretty fancy.”

“Butler is just a fancy word, I think.” Lana said, siding with Tori.

“Oh yeah, for sure.” She agreed, nodding her head with Lana. Austin smirked, rolling his eyes before half of his body was hidden underneath the truck. Tori and Lana both watched him and all they could see was his body moving as he reached for the torque wrench, screwing something in.

“Yeah well, say that to my parents.” He said to the both of them.

“What happened to them anyways? There’s no way that your mom kicked you out for arguing with her boyfriend.” Tori sounded unconvinced. Practically everyone in town knew that Austin got kicked out of his mom’s house for that petty reason. He never hid it from anyone, didn’t bother to.

“Ever since my mom divorced my dad, she got petty as hell.” He started. “My mom is a notorious sleeper, y’know.” Lana and Tori could hear him laugh. His laugh was high pitched and giddy, which was odd considering how he sounded like a 50 year old man half the time. The other half he sounded like a man who smoked 3 packs of cigarettes a day.

“How so?” Lana crouched down and hugged her knees close to her chest. Austin always told interesting stories, since he was such an honest guy. Never hid anything, never filtered his words. Tori did the same, intrigued now.

They watched as he put the torque wrench down, grabbing the oil pan. “My mom has always brought guys over to the house, whenever my father was out at work.” He explained for her, crawling out from the truck, then leaned down to grab the oil pan to drag out. “I never told my dad, because I thought he’d never believe me. But, my mother brought guys over, so often that my siblings and I would always bet the days she would bring a guy over to the guest house.” Huffing, he sat in front of the duo with a pan in front of him.

Lana and Tori were silent now, completely invested in the story of his life.

“Alan, my older brother would always guess correctly.” He chuckled to himself, looking down at his hands. He was quiet for a few moments, his eyes narrowed towards his hands, as if he was frustrated. “My dad was absent most of my life, never had a good relationship with him… my mother was never really a mother. If anything the maid was more of a mother to me than my actual biological mother.”

“Oh?” Lana tilted her head.

“Yeah,” Austin smirked, “so if you ever meet Ms. Randle, and you lot are mean to her, I’ll beat your ass.” He warned, walking past them to open the hood of the truck. They both watched him get the oil.

“So, she raised you?” Tori asked.

“My siblings and I yeah.” He unscrewed the bottle, standing in front of the hood as Lana and Tori remained sitting. “She was there at my brothers funeral.” Leaning forward to pour the oil in the truck. “She and my sister are all I got.”

“Your mom slept with a lot of people before the divorce right? So, why did the divorce happen?” Lana asked.

“The yoga instructor was hot.” He shrugged, grabbing the other bottle of oil to pour it into the truck. “Bout it.”

Both Lana and Tori were silent for a few heartbeats, trying to process what they had just heard. They rarely ever heard of a woman leaving their really rich husband for a yoga instructor. For a lawyer or whatever, sure, but for a yoga instructor? For Lana that was cringe worthy. “Your mom’s boyfriend… is her yoga instructor?” Lana asked him, invested into the plot now.

“Yeah, he’s twenty-one or whatever.”

“And your mom is…”

“Forty-six.”

“Oh shit.” Tori blinked, and Lana felt herself cringe even more when she realized the age difference.

“He proposed to her and I argued with him about it, thought it was stupid, and yeah, got kicked out.” He chuckled when he finished pouring the oil in. “Ever since the divorce, my mom got a new boob job, got a new nose, new lips, new everything y’know? My dad gave her most of his money, and I hate it cause she doesn’t deserve it.”

“I can tell.” Lana murmured. “Her rack is fake?” She asked, focusing on the irrelevant stuff.

“Please,” Austin scoffed, “her rack is faker than a stripper telling you that you’re their best customer.”

“That’s oddly specific.” Lana couldn’t help but smile at how specific it was. She was trying her best to hold back her laughter, but even Tori let out a little giggle from how specific Austin was being.

Austin had finished giving the F150 an oil change, and took it out for a quick test drive to make sure he hadn’t fucked anything up. When he was finished, he was paid 400 bucks by Tori’s dad. Who had been sitting on the recliner the entire time drinking his days away. Lana hadn’t even noticed him the until Austin was paid.

Lana and Tori were waiting for Austin by the front door of the house. Tori was leaning on Lana’s shoulder as Austin was standing in front of the recliner. “You’re gonna be taking my daughter out boy?” Tori’s father spoke.

“Yes sir, I am.” He nodded his head, keeping his arms clasped in front of him. He stood stiff, in a manner that made him look like a bouncer.

“Well I trust you boy, but you better not do anythin’ to her, you hear?”



“Yes sir, I hear.” He nodded once more.

“Alright, get.” With a wave of his hand, Austin was dismissed. He walked back over to the pair, opening the door for them. Tori was the first to walk out, then Lana.

Lana was sitting in the back of the Corvette, she was completely squished. Tori wanted to sit in the front and Lana didn’t bother to put up an argument. The problem was, was that Lana was 5’10” or 5’11” one of those two heights, she didn’t know. While Tori was small as shits, she was 5’3” for fucks sakes. Lana could barely fit in the back of the Corvette.

Austin was 6’1” and the dude already looked squished as is in the drivers seat, let alone a chic who was almost his height in the back seat of a C4 1980s Corvette. But, even though she was squished in the back of the Corvette. Austin’s taste in music was questionable. Not that it was bad or anything, but it was just odd that he was listening to the music he was listening to.

The guy was blaring country songs from the 90s and below. Lana recognized some of the songs too. The song that was currently playing was Johnny Paycheck - I’ll Be Hating You, which talked about a man who dedicated his whole entire life to his girl, started hating himself, and knew it wouldn’t be long till he started hating her either. Lana had to admit, it was a damn good song even in spite of it being country.

When Austin had stopped by a red light, a white Integra had pulled up beside Austin. Tori immediately recognized who it was, and panicked. “Oh my god that’s Ashton- fuck if he sees me with you Austin, I’m dead.”

“I don’t think he’ll see you, Sanchez.” He muttered, looking over at her as she unbuckled her seatbelt. “What- what are you doing-“ his eyes widened when he saw her get up. “Aye- Sanchez!”

“Switch, switch with me Lana, c’mon!” She ordered as she stepped on the car seat.

“Don’t put your damn shoes on the car seats, Sanchez! You’ll ruin the leather!” He exclaimed in annoyance.

Lana leaned away from Tori, “Tori- I’m too big-“ Tori grabbed Lana’s shoulders to shove her over the glovebox of the car. “Aye god dammit Tori, I’m too fuckin’ big!” Lana felt her head slam into the seat of the Corvette.

While all of this was happening, the radio was blasting Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus, which seemed ironic. Since Tori was trying to hide so she wouldn’t break Ashton’s heart in case they were spotted.

“What the fuck are you doing, Sanchez?!” Austin watched her.

“Oh my god Lana just switch.” Tori whined, shoving Lana out of the way again so she could sit in the back of the Corvette.

“Okay okay, fuck dude-“ Lana quickly unbuckled her seatbelt then the two of them switched places. Lana yelped when her head hit the window of the car, and she felt the car lurch forward when Austin shifted into first gear and slammed on the gas. She had rolled over and her head hit the bottom of the car, her shoes in Austin’s face now.

“Move your shoes, god dammit!” He pushed her legs away from his face.

“Shit Austin, I’d love to but as you can see, I’m upside down!” Lana said in an overly enthusiastic tone. Tori watched the chaos that she had created with a small smile on her face, amused. She could see Austin look out the window, exchanging a quick glance with Ashton who was sitting in the Integra. Tori could see Austin downshift into second gear, then suddenly slammed on the gas which caused the car to shoot forward.

The car was filled with the sound of the exhaust screaming for its life, and Tori poked her head out a bit. She could see the white Integra falling behind Austin’s car, gapping Ashton’s Integra. Lana was still struggling to even sit up right. A cop car which had been resting inside an empty parking lot had been spotted, causing Austin to slam on the breaks. As a result, Lana who still wasn’t upright had lurched out of her seat, her head once again hitting the ground. “God dammit, Austin!”

—

Tori hopped out of the Corvette, and Austin closed the door for her. Lana had crawled out of the Corvette, she had managed to sit upright after a good solid ten minutes of struggling. The whole struggle made her hair become a mess, but that was fine cause it was usually a mess.

Austin said nothing as Lana and Tori both walked to the front door of Jade and Jules place, knocking on the door. The trio waited in silence, with Austin standing behind Tori, she was leaning back against his chest, comfortable with his presence. While he kept his hands in his pockets, and Lana was zoning out while staring at the door.

At least 30 seconds later, the door opened up, and Lana was greeted with Jade. “It’s Tori and Lana!” Jade yelled, and she smiled at the both of them. “Hey,” she looked at Austin, her eyes widening.

“Tori wants to hang out. Go to the town fair.” Lana said calmly.

“Yeah sure, Jules and I were just about to go.” Jade responded, “just come in, let me get changed.” She flicked her head inside, opening the door wider so the three of them could walk in. Austin flashed a charming smile across his face before following Tori to the living room.

“Lana!” Lana could hear a familiar voice call her name, it was Juliette. When she had turned around, she saw Jules jump up and hug her tightly. Lana embraced her, patting her back awkwardly before Jules pulled away, then looked at Tori excitedly, hugging her as well. “Hey Tori!”

“Hey.” Tori smiled, looking back Austin who had been standing in front of Jade and Jules’ mother, introducing himself. Jade and Jules’ mother was a woman who was kind, very kind, in fact too kind in Lana’s mind. Jade and Jules’ mother had always been intimidated by others, she had a weak personality, could be pushed around easily, which Jules or Jade didn’t like. And quite often, their mother would break down crying. But at the same time their mother was unpredictable as hell.

This was also due to the fact that she was a drunk, would always be drinking a can of beer. She had maybe 18 DUIs or something. What didn’t help was that their father was also an addict, a heroin addict. Lana never knew what happened to their father, neither did Jade or Jules, but, it was whatever.

“Jack wrote to me. He wanted to tell you girls hi.” Jules started, seeming to not notice Austin.

Jack, or Jackal, was Jade and Jules’ older brother who was currently in the Marines. Lana could always remember his full name because to her it always seemed so cool and unique, which was Jackal Leonard Stravinsky. Which to others sounded weird as well, cause who named their child after a dog? But aye, to Lana it sounded dope as hell.

Jules, unlike Jade, already looked dressed to go out. Jules was wearing a baby blue hoodie with some gray shorts, she had her makeup done, which was very little. Her blonde hair was curled up a bit to make it look slightly wavy, and her mascara complimented her doe eyes. Lana couldn’t deny that Jules was indeed a beautiful girl.

“I haven’t seen you around here, you must be new.” Lana heard their mother say.

“Ah, yes Ms. Stravinsky, I’m new.” Austin smiled, before shaking her hand.

“Oh well, don’t do anything inappropriate to them.”

“No ma’am, of course not.” He assured Ms. Stravinsky, before looking back at Tori, Jules, and Lana. His eyes fell towards Jules, and he was silent, seeming enthralled with her. And honestly, if he was enthralled with her, Lana couldn’t blame him. If Lana was gay, she would for sure go after Jules, no doubt. But, Jules was too busy talking with Tori. The both of them were holding each others hands, talking to each other excitedly.

Which made sense to Lana, they were both apart of the cheerleading team or whatever. From what Lana remembered, Tori was the captain, and Jules was… well… whatever she was.

Jade came walking down the stairs during the commotion. She dressed similarly to Jules, but in spite of them being twins, they didn’t share the same beauty. No doubt Jade was also a pretty girl, however she was never noticed much. Usually brushed to the side, while Jules got most of the attention.

Jade had dark orange hair, it actually kind of looked crimson at times. But it was dark orange no doubt, and she had brown doe eyes, while Jules had blue doe eyes. Jade’s hair was tied back in a bun, she wore a baggy unzipped jacket with some joggers, finished with a pair of Converse. But, she also wore no makeup, unlike Jules.

“Yeah! Jade and I were just about to go to the fair with Randy!” Lana diverted her attention towards Austin to see how he’d react once he heard Randy. She expected him to look away, and he did. His eyes went to the ground, and his expression which showed curiosity was now blank, unreadable. “He’s on his way to pick us up right now.” Jules finished, her hands behind her back as she was standing in front of Tori, who had an excited look upon her face.

“Oh? No way, you can probably ride with us if you like! We’re taking Austin’s car.” Tori offered.

Austin shook his head in disagreement, knowing full well that the Corvette didn’t have any space. Lana did a motion of sweeping her hand around her throat, shaking her head to tell Jules not to agree.

Jules let out a kind hearted laugh, waving her hand. “No thank you, I’m gonna take a ride with Randy.” She smiled at Tori. “I mean, maybe Jade wants to take a ride with you guys?” She looked over at Jade, who had remained quiet while watching them banter.

Jade stood there quietly for a few moments before looking at Austin. Who had a blank expression, his hands in his pockets, waiting for the girls to make up their minds. “Sure.” Jade came to the conclusion. She didn’t want to be with Jules and Randy, she knew that the couple would be all over each other, and she was not willing to deal with that.

Jules reached into her back pocket and held out her phone. “Oh, Randy’s here.” She read the notification that she got, then looked at all of them. “I gotta go, cya.” She opened the door quickly, and just as she was about to leave, Ms. Stravinsky got up to walk after Jules.

A crowd formed behind Ms. Stravinsky, where Austin stood all the way in the back. Leaning against the door, while Jade stood beside Lana, and Tori was to Lana’s left. As they watched Jules approach Randy’s Honda, they saw the windows roll down. “Randy!!” Ms. Stravinsky called to the jock, and his attention which was on Jules was now on Ms. Stravinsky.

“Yes Helen?” He replied.

“You better not do anything inappropriate with her!” Ms. Stravinsky warned, and the moment she said that. Tori, Jade, and Lana all started to make gestures from behind Ms. Stravinsky. With Lana putting two fingers towards her mouth, sticking her tongue out. Tori being the bold one and making the gesture of Jules deep throating by stroking the air, and Jade aggressively pointing her index finger towards the circle that she made with her other hand. All three of them mouthing the words, ‘USE PROTECTION!’

Jules saw all of that and couldn’t help but scoff at how immature the three girls were being before entering Randy’s car. Randy, who kept staring at Ms. Stravinsky was trying his best to hold his tongue. He didn’t want to randomly bust a lung while talking to her. “I won’t do anything to her Helen! I promise!” He crossed his heart before rolling the window up.

“And if you do, please wear protection.” Ms. Stravinsky murmured underneath her breath, turning around to look at the group who had fallen completely still. Then she turned back around to watch Randy drive off with Jules in the car. Ms. Stravinsky looked at her driveway, noticing the black 1985 C4 Corvette that was parked beside her car, which was an Acura. “Is that your car blonde?” She asked, looking back at Austin.

“Yes ma’am.”

“Do you guys have anyone else to pick up or is Jade the last one?” She asked.

“Beth and Alex.” Tori answered for Austin, who blinked in confusion. Not like he would protest though, whatever Tori wanted, he’d do.

Ms. Stravinsky scoffed as she looked back at the blacked out Corvette. Without any hesitation, she came up with a sly remark. “Good luck fitting in that, Jade.”

Good luck fitting in that, Jade. Definitely the best words. By this time, Lana had been completely squished up against the Corvette. The girl was struggling to breathe, with Jade sitting by her side, and Beth sitting on the far left. Alex was able to squeeze herself between Beth and Jade, but this caused Lana to be squished against the small sliver of a window that the Corvette had.

Lana who was struggling to breathe, knew damn well that Jade was most likely wishing she had taken the Civic. Enduring Jules cheesy banter with Randy was far better than this, at least to Lana it was. “Jesus Christ, this Corvette is cramped as hell.” Beth gasped for air, and Alex, who was squished was breathing heavily as well.

“Bradley, why don’t you just sit on someones lap?” Austin asked, glancing back Alex who kept gasping for air.

“There’s no fuckin’ space, god dammit!” Alex snapped at Austin. “If I sit on Jade’s lap, my head will hit the ceiling and then I’ll be in an awkward position.” She explained.

“Alright, fine.” When Austin saw the light turn green, he shifted into first gear, merged into the right lane, then slowly pulled over. Shifting in neutral, and he looked back at all four of them. “Sanchez, you’re five three, right?”

“Yeah.”



“Clark, you’re five ten?”

“Somethin’ like that.” Lana murmured against the glass.

“Okay, here’s the plan then, all of you get out.” He opened the door of the Corvette, then pulled his seat back. As if it was an opening for freedom, Alex desperately crawled out, pushing Lana’s face against the glass again, then Lana followed behind, Jade, then Beth. Tori as well got out from the passengers side, and all five of them stared up at Austin, who was glaring at them.

“As God is my witness, I hate your Corvette.” Alex complained, wiping sweat off her brow. It became hot as hell in the Vette because of how cramped it was in the back seats. Beth was sitting on the side walk, with Jade standing beside her arms crossed, Tori had her hands on her hips, Lana had hers in her pockets.

“Yeah, cause Corvette’s aren’t meant for six people.” Austin remarked as he stared at all of them blankly. “Listen, Sanchez, you’re the shortest so you’re gonna be sitting on my lap.”

“What?!” She exclaimed.

Before she could protest, Austin continued. “You don’t have a choice, you’re short, you can fit on my lap plus your head won’t hit the ceiling. Clark, you’ll get the passenger seat since you’re the second tallest. Wulfheim, Bradley, and Williams, you’ll sit in the back. You three are about the same height, so you three should be fine.”

“Bet you’d wish you took that offer with Jules huh, Jade?” Lana looked over at her friend.

“No,” Jade shook her head confidently, “I like Austin, the way he does things is entertaining. Everything is chaotic as hell, more entertaining than Jules and Randy being lovey dovey.” She smiled.

“Oh,” Lana blinked, “I stand corrected then…” She looked away before looking back at Austin who opened the doors.

Lana was the first to enter the car, sitting on the passengers side, then shut the door. Austin kept the seat of the Corvette rolled forward, Alex, Beth, and Jade all dove into the car. After maybe two minutes, they were able to get comfortable. Alex was 5’5” the shortest, so she sat in the middle. Even in spite of her height, she was hugging her knees close to her chest. Jade and Beth were both 5’7”-5’8” so they sat on the sides for more leg room.

When Austin finally made the seat roll backwards, he hopped in on his seat, then looked up at Tori who stood in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest. “I’m not sitting on your lap, Austin.”

“That’s fine.” He shrugged. “Do you want to sit on Clark’s?”

“No.”

“Cool. So shut the fuck up and get on my lap.” He ordered, glaring up at her. Alex, Beth, and Jade all poked their heads out from behind the seats, watching.

“I-“

“Come here, Tori!” Grabbing her by the waist, he pulled her down onto his thigh, then close to his chest. Slammed the door shut, and leaned back against the seat to make some room for her. “See? It’s not that hard. Why can’t you just be listen to me.” He growled in annoyance, shifting the car back into first gear, then flicked the turn signal to show he was going to merge back into traffic.

Alex, Beth, Jade, and Lana all sat in silence, amazed by Austin. “Woah.” Lana thought outloud as she watched them. “Tori, you’re a difficult lady.”

“Oh shut up, Lana!”

By the time they had arrived to the town fair, it was already 8PM. All of them had to get home by 11PM, except for Austin, who didn’t have a curfew because he lived with Dal and Tray.

Dal and Tray were at the fair as well, they were in a food truck selling crepes, and inside the crepes had baggies of cocaine or some sort of acid, just some hardcore drug. Dal would be the one who was out in the park, handing out these photo cards that had a smiley face on it. If someone had gotten one of those photo cards, that meant that they talked with Dal, and could get one of those said drugs that they were selling.

However, to get those photo cards, they’d have to pay Dal maybe 5 or 10 bucks, it depended on the drug that the person wanted. But, if someone didn’t have said photo card, then they’d just get a regular crepe with no drugs, no nothing.

Austin knew the whole plan and told the girls about it in case they wanted to get high, he also knew that if they did get high, he’d have to drive them home. In fact, he’d probably have to drive all of them home, which was something he was dreading the most.

The group had split up, Tori was with Alex and Beth. Jade was with Austin and Lana. They had planned to meet up at the time of 10:30PM in the parking lot so he could drive them back home on time.

Austin had parked in an area where the drift cars parked, why? Because apparently he knew how to drift, and had bought tickets to go out and drift in the track at the fair. But before parking there, he had to kick everyone out of Corvette first so it could be inspected. Which led to the group splitting up in the first place since they didn’t want to wait for Austin to get back, and just go on the rides, have fun, and do whatever.

Lana and Jade were willing to wait though. While walking from the parking lot to the fair, Beth had asked Tori how it felt to sit on Austin’s lap. Her answer? She simply said that he was comfortable, which led to all the other girls being curious.

Tori didn’t even sit on Ashton’s lap because she found him to be uncomfortable. If Tori wasn’t willing to sit on her own boyfriends lap because it was uncomfortable, but said her friends lap was comfortable, that must’ve meant something. At least- that’s what Beth said.

Lana and Jade had been sitting on the bleachers at the track, watching down below to see if Austin was going to appear in his Corvette. But, he didn’t. He did appear, but his Corvette wasn’t with him. Lana noticed that he wasn’t wearing his white grease stained tank top, he seemed to have changed into a black button up. He was ruffling up his messy blonde hair, leaned down towards someone to say something to them. To which they pointed to another car that was out in the track.

The car was a black and pink BRZ, and the person handed Austin the keys to the car plus the steering wheel. Austin gave a nod, then pointed to the bleachers towards Lana and Jade, saying something to the person while leaned down. He looked at the person for an answer, and they nodded their head. “Aye Clark! Wulfheim! C’mere!” He called to them. Lana and Jade both gave each other a bemused look.

Tori could see Ashton in the crowd, he was buying cotton candy, and he looked to be alone. She looked at Alex and Beth, then at Ashton, finally glancing at Alex and Beth once more. “Hey, I’m gonna go get cotton candy.” She said eagerly, they gave her a nod, telling her they’d wait before she left the duo.

When she went to go get the cotton candy, of course Ashton had noticed her, he walked to her side. “What the hell are you doing here?” Was the first thing he said as she gave two tickets to get a bag of cotton candy.

“What’s it look like, Ash? I’m getting cotton candy.” She smiled up at him, carefully opening the bag.

He stood still, staring down at her. His eyes checked her out, looking at the outfit she wore. “You look like a slut.” He said, glaring at her. “Looked like you just got fucked senseless by someone else.” His head flicked towards her laced panties.

“Maybe I did.” She kept that same snarky smile on her face.

“Why you-“ and without any hesitation he grabbed her wrist, dragging her away from the crowd.

Alex and Beth had been watching from a distance before seeing Tori and Ashton both disappeared into the crowd of people. “Cool, she ditched us for Ashton.” Alex grumbled in annoyance.

“Does that mean he’s taking her home?” Beth asked, looking at Alex.

Jade and Lana had walked down the bleachers towards Austin, who had a smile on his face. He grabbed another full face helmet and held it out to them. “Which one of you wants to go drift with me first?” He asked, and Lana looked at Jade. Who snatched the helmet without any hesitation. There was a gleeful smile on her face, showing her excitement for what was to come. Austin looked at Lana. “Your turn is next Clark, don’t worry.”

“Oh, I’m not. Jade can be a test subject.” She shrugged, brushing it off as she went back to the first row of the bleachers to watch. She could see Jade and Austin walk side by side. When they both reached the BRZ, Austin was leaning down to help Jade put the helmet on, the steering wheel on the roof of the car. He gently pressed his hand against the bottom of her chin to lift her face up so he could help her with the D strap that came with the helmet. When he helped her with that, he put his hand on top of her head, aggressively shaking it to make sure the helmet was secure. Nodded his head, handed her a pair of 100% gloves, which she gladly took.

Jade looked up at Austin. “Y’know, you’re actually way nicer than I anticipated.” She complimented, watching him slide his Icon Variant on with ease. “I thought you’d be some sort of dickhead like Randy or Ashton, but you’re actually super nice.”

“Oh?” Austin chuckled when he did the D strap to his own helmet. “Thanks, Wulfheim.” Sliding his gloves on, he leaned down to grab the door of the BRZ, opening it for Jade. “The BRZ has a roll cage, so lift up your leg, and duck your head when getting in, alright darling?” His voice was gentle, as if he was talking to a small child.

“Yessir.” She nodded her head, doing as she was told, Ducking her head, then lifting up her leg, she was able to get into the BRZ. She looked up, seeing Austin shut the door for her. She looked at the interior of the BRZ. It was pretty much empty, but the car had a hand break, something to adjust the nitro, a microphone, a fire extinguisher, a net window, no steering wheel, but it also had race seats. That tucked the person in to make sure when they crashed, the person wouldn’t go flying. She also noticed how the car still had cup holders, which she found cute.

Even in spite of the cars color schemes, which was black and pink, the inside wasn’t that pinkish. She heard the drivers side door open, and saw Austin holding the steering wheel. She watched as he was able to easily get into the car, grabbed the steering wheel off the roof, and with ease, clipped it onto the holder. There was a pink line in the middle of the wheel to show if it was in center. “You ready darling?” He asked in a gentle voice, slipping the key inside the ignition.

“Yep!” Her smile was audible.

Lana kept watching curiously, then she heard the car roar to life. The car was loud, and she could hear it quickly shift into first gear. It shot forward onto the track, its wheels spinning from underneath as if the car was trying to adjust to its own torque and speed. Lana watched the black and pink BRZ that was covered in sponsorships race down the track.

The exhaust roaring loudly, Lana saw the tires lock up, which caused car to go crooked. The car tires spun against the asphalt, smoke flying behind it, with the squeals of tires filling her ears. Lana could faintly hear a, “HOLY SHIT!” From the inside of the car due to the fact that it had net windows.

Lana was impressed, she thought Austin was bluffing when he said he knew how to drift, but he wasn’t. The dude knew how, and he was completely legit.

Ashton dragged Tori around until he finally reached the end of the fair, where the portapotties were. He grabbed her throat, tightly squeezing it to prevent her from breathing as he turned his body. Throwing her to the side of the portapotty. He slammed her so hard against the portapotty that it had moved a bit when she hit it.

“You really wanna be a bitch to me, right now?” He asked, glaring down at her. “Randy told me, about your little adventure with Butler.” He murmured, his nose was pressed against hers. Her hand weakly clawed at his, but he kept the same firm grip. “We got into a fight and you’re already out with another guy?!” He slapped the right side of her face, and she yelped from fear.

“Ashton, I didn’t hook up with him.” She mewled out weakly, her eyes stinging with tears.

“Oh? Then what the hell were you doing hanging out with him? Randy told me he drove you here. You weren’t hooking up with them then what? What?!” He demanded.

“My dad likes him, and asked him to change the trucks oil, that’s all.” She cried out, sobbing now. Ashton gently let go of her neck, stepping away from her. His hands were balled up into fists, and his brown eyes were glaring down at her, focused.

“Is that the truth?”



“Yes, it is. You can even ask my dad, Ashton.” She sucked in some air to calm herself down, her hands were trembling already. She was use to this type of treatment but for some reason she always had the same reaction to it.

Ashton kept staring at her, frowning when he realized how badly he hurt her. He walked towards the bench that was sat right next to the portapotty, turned to her with his hand held out. “Come here Tori, come here.” His voice was gentle, and she was quiet for a few moments. Hesitant, but she accepted his hand. She felt him gently pull him towards her, embracing her, he had wrapped his arms around her hips. Digging his head into her chest, her cupped his head, fingers fiddling with his hair. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you, Tori. I love you.”

“I love you too.” She leaned down to kiss his head softly. “Just don’t hurt me again, please.”

“I won’t, I promise.” He murmured against her chest. But like every promise, Ashton would break this one as well.

Alex and Beth had met Veronica at the fair. She was telling them about Dal, while the pair was telling Veronica about how they were cramped in Austin’s C4 Corvette. Veronica found the situation hysterical and laughed about it with them, then she had told them where to find Dal and Tray. Although, Alex and Beth didn’t want to leave Veronica alone, they had known that she was high. Alex decided to stay with Veronica, and Beth would go off to go get some drugs from Dal and Tray. At least, that was what they agreed upon.

But, before they could even go get the drugs. Veronica had revealed to them that she was already with a group, but she got lost in the mirror maze, because of that she was alone. Which was fine, so the duo decided to just forget about the drugs and hang out with Veronica. They knew about Austin having to most likely take them home even if they weren’t high, and didn’t want him to deal with them being high.

Veronica told the duo that she had given some 20 year old head in the mirror maze. Alex found that to be weird, the image of a girl giving some college kid head in the middle of maze was just downright weird to her. Veronica begged to differ, she said that it was amazing seeing herself give this random guy that she had just met 15 seconds ago head in 50 different angles. Veronica had been able to see how deep his dick could go in her throat, due to this, she was able to confirm that she could indeed deep throat.

“You gave some dude head in a mirror maze to see if you could deep throat?” Alex asked, her jaw dropped.

“Well yeah,” Veronica giggled, “I’ve always been told I give good head, and with a mirror? I can finally see why.” She said with an excited smile on her face.

“You seem proud of it, and y’know what, if you are. Good for you, dude.” Alex smiled at Veronica.

“Yeah honestly good for you.” Beth agreed, and Veronica squealed in happiness, she was happy that the pair wasn’t judgmental over it.

“I think he ate cotton candy, his cum tasted like it-“

“Okay, that we don’t need to know, Onica.” Alex held up her hand, not wanting to know anymore of the details.

Beth blinked in confusion, tilting her head. “Wait, what you eat, your cum tastes like?” And Alex shot her a glare, wanting her to shut up.

“Yeah!” Veronica answered excitedly. “That’s why people say when you eat pineapple, your cum tastes better. If you eat cotton candy your cum tastes like cotton candy. If you eat strawberries your cum will taste like that.” She answered, nodding her head as she was thinking to herself. “I’ve given enough head to know.” She proclaimed.

“How much head?” Beth asked, eating the caramel apple that Alex bought for her.

“Ten… twenty… thirty, I dunno, I lost count!” Veronica laughed, clapping her hands.

“Cool.” Alex bobbed her head.

Lana had put her full face helmet on, and was sitting in the same spot that Jade had just been sitting in. She could hear the snap of the wheel against the holder, looking at Austin. “You ready?” He asked her.

“For sure.”

“Make sure to record!” Jade reminded Lana.

“Oh yeah.” Pulling out her phone from her pocket, she held it out in landscape mode, leaned back in her chair, then gave Austin a thumbs up. She could see him turn the car on, and the BRZ roared loudly. Austin shifted into first gear, launching forward. The wheels spun from underneath as the BRZ was accelerating quickly.

Austin slammed on the foot break, pulled back on the hand break quickly. He kept a foot on the gas pedal, a cloud of smoke surrounded both of them and Lana couldn’t help but scream from the adrenaline rush that hit her like a rocket. Her body lunged to the side with the car, then Austin made the car straighten out again.

Jade sat in the bleachers wide eyed, holding her phone out to record the whole situation. Knowing how Lana was, in spite of the girl recording, it was probably filmed in the messiest way possible. As Jade watched, she could see the BRZ spinning in a circle with a cloud of smoke enveloping the car. Lana’s voice, which was usually deep, was now sounding that of a 2 year.

Austin kept the steering wheel pointed to the left, making the car spin and spin. Lana had kept her eyes opened the whole time, tucked against the race seat. She couldn’t stop laughing like a child who had just seen the greatest movie of all time, she was genuinely excited. Never in her life had she been in a car with such an erratic driver. All she could see was smoke surrounding her, the smell of burning tires filled her head. The car then straightened out again, growling loudly as it rolled out of the smoke, dropping down a gear, only for it to slowly start zig zagging across the track, the tires screeching from underneath, before it was launched forward again.

Lana’s head slammed against the head seat of the car. She wasn’t ready for the sudden torque to kick in as hard as it did. Austin was laughing like a school boy, then slammed on the break, which made Lana’s head hit the dash of the car. She shook her head before looking at Austin, who lifted up the visor of his helmet. He looked over at her, one hand on the wheel, a smile visible on his face. “How was that, Clark?” His tone was filled with adrenaline and excitement.

“Fuckin’ crazy.” Lana laughed, looking at Austin with a wide grin plastered on her face. “Where the hell did you even learn how to do that?” She asked, leaning back in the seat.

“Oh y’know,” he shrugged, “I lived in the West Coast.”

Dal was leaning on the wall, a cigarette popped into his mouth. He inhaled deeply, exhaling from his nostrils and mouth. He looked up from the ground, seeing Jules in front of him. He raised a brow, confused as to what she was doing. He assumed she came to the fair with Randy, but he wasn’t anywhere to be found.

Jules had gotten into an argument with Randy. Something about how she considered flirting with another girl to be cheating. While Randy disagreed and said that it wasn’t cheating. The topic only came up because when Jules left Randy alone, she had saw him flirting with some other girl, and had heard a bit of their conversation. Randy had left her alone after that, deciding that arguing with her was a waste of time.

Dal frowned when he listened to Jules complaining to him. But he knew why she was there, she was seeking drugs. He had given her a ticket then a photo card, telling her it was alright and that Tray will treat her fair when she asks for the drugs. She was happy when she got the photo card, thanked Dal for being understanding, then dipped. Dal too, would get high whenever he felt down, but then again- Dal never took hardcore drugs. He’d usually just smoke some pot when he felt down. But, everyone had different ways of coping.

When Jules had left, about a good ten minutes later, Lana, Jade, and Austin had appeared. They didn’t want to get any drugs, but in fact had gotten Dal some cotton candy. Actually, Austin was the one who got Dal the cotton candy. When they met, Dal could smell the scent of burning tires. “Were you by the track causing all that ruckus?” Dal asked, taking a deep drag from his cigarette, his eyes focused on Austin who handed him the cotton candy bag.

“Yeah, why?” Austin asked when Dal dropped the cigarette on the ground. Squeezing it underneath his Vans, he looked up at Austin lazily.

Blinking his dazed eyes, he smiled fondly as his friend. “Nothin’ it was just some damn good driving.”

Tray had leaned over the counter when he saw Jules outside, handing him the photo card Dal had given her. Tray noticed that Jules’ face was puffy, swollen, and red, as if she had just been crying her eyes out. Even her mascara was all ruined, and Tray felt a wad of sympathy for her. So, he gave her three crepes in total, but only one bag of acid. The bag had two pills inside, that were stamped with smiley faces.

Tray knew she was alone, and when a pretty girl like Jules was out alone, high? A man could take advantage of her. So Tray had given her the weakest drug he could, it would affect her no doubt, but not so much where she could be taken advantage of- or, so Tray hoped. “Thanks Tray!” Jules grinned up at him.

“No problem twig.” He shook his head. Twig was Jules’ nickname that Tray had given her. He called her twig because she was thin. Real thin. “You gonna go anywhere?” He asked her gently.

“Yeah, maybe to the mirror maze. Wanna see how it feels when you’re tripping balls.” She said in a giddy tone, excited for what was to come.

Tray frowned sadly. “You ought to be careful.” He said in a brotherly like tone.

“I know, I know.” She stepped away from him, glancing back. “Oh yeah- Jack says hi!” And with that, she had left Tray alone.

Dal was looking at the trio. “Why isn’t Jules with you?” He asked, looking at Jade.

“What? She’s with Randy.” Jade answered in a puzzled tone, she was confused as to why Dal was concerned about Jules.

“She didn’t tell you?” Dal blinked. “Randy and her got into a fight and he left her alone.” His eyes glanced over all three of them, Jade was wide eyed, Austin looked worried, while Lana was enjoying the cotton candy that was being shared. Worry had washed over Jade like those waves at the beaches that take those little kids from beneath.

Jade gulped her worry down, “Do- do you know where she went?” She stammered, not doing a good job at hiding her worry.

“If she went to see you, she’s with Tray right?” Lana piped up, finished the cotton candy.

“Yeah, he’s at the food truck.”

“Thanks.” Jade gave him two bucks for tips, and when she was about to leave, Austin had already been ahead of them. He was heading for the food truck.

When they went to the food truck, Tray told them that Jules was at the mirror maze, she wanted to go there and trip balls. Thought it would help her, and they thanked him. While they were walking towards the maze, Austin had began talking. “Listen,” he started, “I should probably get her.” He looked over at Jade.

“You barely even know her!” Jade protested, disagreeing with the idea. Lana agreed though, the fact that Austin barely knew Jules was actually a huge benefit. This was due to the fact that Jules had a habit of retaliating with her family members every time they tried to help her, or so… Jade told Lana.

“Yeah but she knows that I’m the reason you’re here right? Plus, she has no ride.” Austin countered, half turning to Jade.

“Actually, considering how Jules is. I think it’d be great if Austin went in.” Lana piped up from behind Austin. Jade glared at Lana, who had simply shrugged then grabbed some cotton candy from the bag Austin was holding to eat.

“You better not hurt her.” Jade threatened, and Austin smirked in response. He saluted to Jade jokingly, before handing in 4 tickets to go into the mirror maze.

“You don’t gotta worry, Jade.” Lana began, leaning down when she saw a can of Orange Fanta that was spilled on the ground. She picked it up, and took a sip out of it. “Austin wouldn’t hurt a fly if his life depended on it.” And Jade groaned, slightly annoyed with Lana. “Want some? It’ll cheer you up.” She held out the Fanta to Jade.

“Dude.” She sneered in disgust. “I am not going to drink that off the floor.”

“Aye man, as long as it has flavor, I think it’s still good.” Lana shrugged it off, taking another sip from the Fanta.

Jade squinted her eyes at Lana. She’s not even high and she’s acting like this. She thought to herself, looking back in the maze.

Austin had been staring down at the ground, which was also made of mirrors. But the difference was that he knew where he was stepping, and that there were lines and shoe prints the mirrors, which had basically showed him a trail so he wouldn’t get confused.

He could hear crying echoing throughout the maze as he kept walking, and he figured it was Jules. He kept his calm, listening to her sobbing in the maze. He couldn’t lie to himself, he was slightly excited to meet Jules. He didn’t say much to her, but she was rather beautiful. She looked sweet and cute. “Randy’s one lucky dude.” He whispered to himself, as he continued to carefully walk on the mirrors.

Before he had known that he even reached the center, he could finally hear the cries die down. Which caused him to look up, and he saw her. Juliette. She was standing in the middle of the maze of mirrors. Her face was covered in smudged mascara, face red, eyes swollen from crying too much. She noticed Austin walking in the maze, he had been staring at the ground the whole time, clearly having no trouble walking towards her.

Austin stood still, staring at her. He looked entranced, and for some reason this made Jules giggle at him since he looked a bit clueless. He looked like he had just seen the most beautiful woman, he looked starstruck, like his heart was stolen. He was in awe. Trying to process what he was looking at.

Jules could see that his arms looked dirty, as if he had been messing with yet another car. Tori had told her about how he would fix cars often, which was why he always looked so dirty. “What’re are you doing here?” She asked, breaking the silence.

“Your sister wanted me to come get you.” He said, walking towards her. He had his hands in his pockets when he stopped in front of her. Leaning down close to her face to examine her, without thinking he gently grabbed her chin. Took out a napkin from the depths of his pockets to wipe the mascara that was smudged all over her face. It was awkward, at least to Jules. But Austin seemed to focus on wiping her face clean to even notice. When he was finished, he put the napkin away, then walked passed her cooly. “C’mon, we gotta get outta here.”

“But—“ She began, whining already. He stopped walking to look back at her, then took her hand in his. Their fingers intertwining, without even saying a word to her, he led her towards the exit.

“Is Randy going to take you home?” He asked without looking at her.

“Nuh uh,” she replied like a toddler.

“Then I will.”

—

The ride back home was cramped, a little Corvette with 7 people was not at all ideal. In fact, Austin had gotten into a bickering session with Tori. Who had inherently refused to sit on his lap, more or less look at him, which made him grow frustrated.

“Listen Sanchez, I gotta take you, Bradley, Williams, Wulfheim, Spencer, Clark, and my ass back home! I understand that the driving conditions aren’t really ideal but we don’t really have a god damn choice now do we?!” He snapped in a tone that showed his annoyance. “Unless you wanna get Ash-“


“No!” She shouted at him, almost looking up at Austin but then looked down at his boots.

He sighed, then leaned down. His voice was as gentle as the morning dew. “Can you please just work with me here? Please?” He murmured, pleading with her. She looked at him now, their eyes locked. “If you’re not gonna come, I will leave you here. I have to take Clark home.” He flicked his head towards Lana, who had been staring up at a light pole, watching the moths fly towards the light.

Jade and Jules were standing side by side, watching Lana with a sneer on their faces. They were genuinely confused with what Lana was even doing. She looked high, truly, and utterly high. “That girl has one short attention span…” Jules murmured as they both watched.

“You said it…” Jade agreed, nodding her head slowly.

Alex slowly approached Lana, poking her on the shoulder. “Huh?” She turned around to face Alex.

“Get in the car, Austin and Tori have came to an agreement.” She ordered, and Lana gave a nod. She opened the passenger side, sat down and kept the door open in case someone would need to sit on her lap. With Austin pushing the seat down, Beth was the first to come in, then Jade, and lastly Jules. Just like Lana had predicted, someone would have to sit on her lap, and that someone was Alex. When Austin sat down in the drivers side, Tori had sat on his lap.

“It’s really cramped in this car…” Beth murmured with her head pressed against the glass.

“Yeah, no kidding.” Alex agreed, her head was tilted to the side because of how big she was. Her cheek was practically pressing against the ceiling of the Corvette.

“I’m gonna sell this god damn car and get a motorcycle if I keep hearing you guys complain.” Austin growled from underneath his breath. He was annoyed, mainly because there was 7 people in a car that was basically meant for only 2 people. Not only that but everyone was staining the seats as well.

Austin had dropped almost everyone off, except for Tori. The reason was because she asked him if he could stay over at her place, which he gladly agreed to. He hadn’t noticed the bruise that formed on her neck when Ashton had choked her at the fair. It was too dark in the Corvette and outside to even notice.

When Tori got home with Austin behind her, she had told him to change into a tank top and shorts after he got out of the shower. He obliged, nodding his head along to her words before he disappeared in the bathroom. Once she heard the shower head turn on, she looked in the mirror, staring at herself.

The bruise was of a crimson color, the handprint that belonged to Ashton. Austin was sure to see it, and she knew he’d freak out when he did. She didn’t know how Austin felt for her exactly, but she knew he felt somewhat protective over her. When Austin was finished with the shower, Tori braced herself in case he freaked out, but he didn’t.

Austin approached Tori quietly, looming over her. He had his hands in his pockets, staring at her figure in the mirror, before his eyes went to her neck. Tori noticed how his face slowly distorted into a glare. “Ashton?” He asked, grabbing her shoulders to turn her around so Tori could face him.

“Yeah,” she looked up at him, seeing him lean down to bring his hand to her neck. His finger traced the outline of Ashton’s hand.

“Damn him.” He said in a hushed tone underneath his breath. “I could kill him you know.” Looking at her eyes, he pulled away.

“No, don’t, I don’t want you to hurt him. I love him.” Like usual, Tori was defending Ashton for his behavior. Austin gave a her a solemn nod, telling her that he wouldn’t hurt Ashton, or even snitch him out. Turning his back on her, he walked over to her bed, laying down underneath the blankets. Tori was quietly for a few moments, noticing how he hadn’t said anything to her. “You won’t hurt him right Aus?” She asked, crawling into bed with him.

“No, I ain’t gonna hurt him, you don’t want me to right?”

“Yes, I don’t. I don’t want you saying a word either.” She murmured, seeing his arm stretch out for her to use as a pillow.

“Then I won’t.” His voice was soft, reassuring her that he would listen to her, and she laid her head on his chest, her arm around his chest. With his arm lazily wrapped around her torso, he let out an annoyed sigh. “I won’t do shit.”

[phonologix-1]

How Speech Therapists Help Kids Achieve Better Communication Skills

Communication is a cornerstone of human interaction, and for children, it plays a vital role in their overall development. However, some kids face challenges in expressing themselves, understanding language, or engaging socially. This is where speech therapists come in, providing targeted support to help children overcome communication barriers and thrive.

In this blog, we’ll explore the various ways speech therapists assist children in achieving better communication skills, empowering them to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.

What Does a Speech Therapist Do?

Speech therapists, or speech-language pathologists (SLPs), specialize in assessing, diagnosing, and treating communication disorders. These can include:

Speech Disorders: Issues with articulation, fluency (stuttering), or voice quality.

Language Disorders: Difficulty understanding or expressing language.

Social Communication Disorders: Challenges with social interactions, such as using body language or understanding conversational cues.

Feeding and Swallowing Disorders: Problems with chewing, swallowing, or oral motor skills.

How Speech Therapists Help Kids Improve Communication

1. Building Vocabulary and Language Skills

Speech therapists work with children to expand their vocabulary and teach them how to use words and sentences effectively.

Example: A therapist might use picture cards, storytelling, or games to teach new words and how to structure sentences.

2. Enhancing Articulation and Pronunciation

For children struggling with unclear speech or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, therapists use exercises to improve articulation and clarity.

Example: A child who says “wabbit” instead of “rabbit” may practice forming the correct “r” sound with guidance.

3. Addressing Stuttering and Fluency Issues

Therapists help children with stuttering by teaching techniques to manage fluency, such as slowing down speech, controlling breathing, and using pauses effectively.

Example: Through practice and positive reinforcement, a child learns to speak with greater confidence and ease.

4. Developing Social Communication Skills

Speech therapy also focuses on improving social communication, which includes understanding nonverbal cues, turn-taking in conversations, and maintaining appropriate eye contact.

Example: Role-playing games may be used to teach children how to initiate and sustain conversations with peers.

5. Supporting Alternative Communication Methods

For children with severe speech or language challenges, therapists may introduce augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools, such as picture boards or speech-generating devices.

Example: A nonverbal child may use a tablet with AAC software to express needs and emotions effectively.

How Speech Therapy Sessions Are Structured

Speech therapy sessions are tailored to a child’s specific needs and developmental stage. Common approaches include:

Play-Based Therapy: Incorporating toys, games, and activities to engage younger children.

Repetition and Practice: Encouraging consistent practice of sounds, words, or phrases.

Parental Involvement: Teaching parents strategies to reinforce therapy goals at home.

Progress Tracking: Monitoring improvements and adjusting the therapy plan as needed.

The Role of Parents in Supporting Speech Therapy

Parents play a crucial role in reinforcing what their child learns during therapy sessions. Speech therapists often guide parents on how to:

Encourage communication at home through daily routines.

Create opportunities for conversation and interaction.

Use positive reinforcement to build confidence.

When to Seek a Speech Therapist for Your Child

If you notice any of the following signs, it may be time to consult a speech therapist:

Limited or unclear speech for their age.

Difficulty understanding or following instructions.

Frustration when trying to communicate.

Lack of social interaction or engagement.

Problems with chewing, swallowing, or feeding.

Success Stories: The Impact of Speech Therapy

Speech therapy has transformed the lives of countless children by helping them overcome communication challenges. For example:

A 4-year-old with a speech delay learned to form sentences and confidently express needs.

A child with autism improved social communication skills, enabling better peer relationships.

A teenager recovering from a brain injury regained clarity and fluency in speech.

Conclusion

Speech therapists play a pivotal role in helping kids achieve better communication skills, enabling them to navigate the world with confidence and ease. From building vocabulary to mastering social interactions, their work ensures that children overcome obstacles and unlock their full potential.

If you’re concerned about your child’s communication skills, don’t wait. Consult a qualified speech therapist to start their journey toward effective and confident communication.

Would you like additional tips or resources on supporting your child’s communication at home? Let me know!

[speechgears-india]

Chewing Tube for Autism: The Perfect Tool for Sensory Support

Discover the benefits of the chewing tube for autism from SpeechGears! Specially designed to support sensory needs and oral motor development, this durable and non-toxic tool helps children stay calm and focused. It’s the perfect solution for managing sensory challenges in a safe and hygienic way. Whether at home, school, or therapy, it’s an essential tool for your child’s comfort and growth. Don’t wait—explore the Oro Tube Dottednow at SpeechGears!

[arlington-dental]

The Truth About Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes in 2025

As we move further into 2025, dental care technology continues to evolve, offering new solutions for maintaining oral hygiene. Among the most debated topics in the world of dental care are electric versus manual toothbrushes. With so many options available, how do you know which one is best for you? At Arlington Dental Care, we’ve broken down the facts about these two popular choices to help you make an informed decision about your oral health.

The Basics: Manual vs. Electric Toothbrushes

Let’s start with the basics. Both manual and electric toothbrushes are effective at cleaning your teeth when used correctly, but they offer different advantages and drawbacks. Here’s what you need to know:

Manual Toothbrushes: These are the traditional toothbrushes most of us have used for years. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and bristle types, and you control the brushing motion.

Electric Toothbrushes: Powered by a motor, these toothbrushes vibrate or rotate to provide a more automated brushing experience. Some electric toothbrushes even come with built-in timers and pressure sensors to guide your brushing technique.

1. Effectiveness in Cleaning

In 2025, the primary reason many people choose an electric toothbrush is its superior cleaning power. Electric toothbrushes can offer more consistent brushing motions, ensuring that every surface of your teeth gets cleaned more thoroughly. Studies consistently show that electric toothbrushes remove more plaque and reduce gingivitis better than manual brushing, particularly for people who have difficulty brushing thoroughly or those with limited mobility.

For those who struggle with proper brushing technique, the rotating or oscillating head of an electric toothbrush can do much of the work for you. Additionally, many electric toothbrushes have built-in timers that ensure you brush for the recommended two minutes—something that can often be overlooked when using a manual toothbrush.

2. Ease of Use

Manual toothbrushes may be easier for some people to handle. They’re lightweight, portable, and require no charging or replacement parts other than the bristles. However, for individuals with conditions like arthritis or limited dexterity, electric toothbrushes can provide a more comfortable and effective experience. The automated motion requires less effort, which means you can focus on holding the toothbrush in place while it does the work for you.

Moreover, many modern electric toothbrushes come with adjustable settings, allowing users to customize their brushing experience—whether it’s adjusting the intensity or selecting a specific mode for sensitive teeth or gums.

3. Price and Maintenance

One of the most significant differences between electric and manual toothbrushes is the cost. Manual toothbrushes are incredibly affordable, with many options available for just a few dollars. On the other hand, electric toothbrushes can cost anywhere from $30 to several hundred dollars, depending on the brand and features. While electric toothbrushes have higher upfront costs, the advanced technology they offer can make them a worthwhile investment for long-term oral health.

However, it’s important to note that electric toothbrushes require ongoing maintenance, including replacing the brush head every 3–6 months. Some higher-end models may also need charging stations or specialized chargers, which can add to the overall cost. Manual toothbrushes, in contrast, are much simpler and don’t require any extra accessories beyond the toothbrush itself.

4. Environmental Impact

In an age where sustainability is top of mind, it’s important to consider the environmental impact of your dental tools. Manual toothbrushes are generally considered more eco-friendly since they are made of fewer materials, and some brands even offer biodegradable options. However, many electric toothbrushes are made of plastic, and their batteries can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly.

That said, many electric toothbrush manufacturers are increasingly focusing on sustainability. For example, some brands offer rechargeable models that reduce the need for battery replacements, while others are incorporating eco-friendly materials into their products.

5. Customization and Advanced Features

Electric toothbrushes in 2025 offer an array of features that manual toothbrushes simply can’t match. For example, many models now come with:

Smart technology: Some electric toothbrushes sync with mobile apps to track brushing habits and provide feedback, helping you improve your brushing technique.

Pressure sensors: These sensors alert you if you're brushing too hard, preventing potential gum damage and tooth wear.

Multiple modes: From whitening to gum care, electric toothbrushes offer specialized settings to address various dental needs.

While manual toothbrushes are simple and effective, they lack the bells and whistles of an electric model. If you’re someone who enjoys having more control and features in your brushing routine, an electric toothbrush could be a good investment.

6. Long-Term Benefits

Over time, the investment in an electric toothbrush can pay off, especially if you struggle with maintaining a consistent brushing routine or if you’re prone to dental issues like gum disease or cavities. Electric toothbrushes make it easier to stick to a proper brushing routine, leading to cleaner teeth and healthier gums.

If you’re diligent about brushing with a manual toothbrush, you can certainly maintain good oral health—but it may require more effort to achieve the same results that an electric toothbrush can provide with less time and energy spent.

Conclusion: Which One is Right for You?

In 2025, the decision between an electric and manual toothbrush largely depends on your personal needs and preferences. Here’s a quick summary to help guide your decision:

Choose an electric toothbrush if you want a more effective, time-efficient brushing experience with customizable features and if you have specific dental concerns like gum disease or sensitivity.

Stick with a manual toothbrush if you prefer simplicity, are on a budget, or find manual brushing more comfortable.

At Arlington Dental Care, we believe that both electric and manual toothbrushes can help you achieve great oral hygiene if used properly. Whether you opt for the convenience and power of an electric toothbrush or the simplicity of a manual one, the most important factor is consistency in your brushing habits.For personalized advice or more information on your dental health, feel free to schedule a consultation with us today! Your smile deserves the best care possible, and we’re here to help you every step of the way.

[babiesbasic]

Top 5 Baby Feeding Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Introduction

Feeding your baby is an exciting milestone, but it can also come with its fair share of challenges. Whether you’re dealing with picky eating, mealtime messes, or food refusal, these challenges can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, with patience, the right tools, and a few practical strategies, you can overcome these common obstacles and create a more enjoyable feeding experience.

In this article, we’ll explore the top 5 baby feeding challenges parents face and share proven solutions to tackle them with confidence.

1. Baby Refuses to Eat

The Challenge

It can be stressful when your baby refuses to eat, turns their head, or pushes food away. This is common, especially when introducing solids or new foods.

Solutions

Follow Your Baby’s Cues:

Babies know when they’re hungry or full. Don’t force them to eat; offer food and let them decide how much to consume.

Offer Variety:

Serve colorful, soft foods with different textures like steamed veggies, mashed avocado, or banana slices.

Make Mealtime Fun:

Use silicone suction plates with sections to present food in an appealing way.

Add playful food shapes or let your baby explore with their hands.

Tip: Offer smaller portions initially, and avoid pressuring your baby—it may take a few attempts for them to accept new foods.

👉 Explore fun and practical silicone feeding sets here: https://babiesbasic.com/.

2. Excessive Mess During Mealtime

The Challenge

Babies naturally explore food by touching, throwing, or smearing it—creating a mess that can drive parents crazy.

Solutions

Use Suction Plates and Bowls:

Suction bases prevent dishes from being tipped over or thrown.

Invest in Silicone Bibs with Food Catchers:

These bibs catch crumbs and spills, reducing mess on clothes and floors.

Place a Splash Mat Under the High Chair:

Use a wipeable mat to protect your floor and make cleanup easier.

Tip: Embrace the mess! Allow your baby to explore food—it’s part of learning to eat independently.

👉 Shop mess-free suction plates and silicone bibs here: https://babiesbasic.com/.

3. Baby Is a Picky Eater

The Challenge

Babies may refuse certain foods, textures, or flavors, leading to frustration for parents trying to ensure proper nutrition.

Solutions

Introduce New Foods Gradually:

Offer one new food at a time alongside familiar favorites.

Mix Textures and Flavors:

Combine mashed or pureed foods with soft finger foods like sweet potato sticks or steamed carrots.

Be Persistent but Patient:

It can take 8–10 tries for a baby to accept a new food. Keep offering it without forcing.

Make Food Fun:

Use bright, colorful plates or arrange food into shapes to encourage exploration.

Tip: Create a positive mealtime environment—avoid bribing or pressuring your baby to eat.

4. Transitioning from Purees to Solid Foods

The Challenge

Moving from purees to solids can be tricky, as babies may struggle with chewing, self-feeding, or accepting new textures.

Solutions

Start with Soft, Finger-Sized Foods:

Foods like avocado slices, steamed broccoli, or soft-cooked sweet potato sticks are easy to hold and chew.

Use Sectioned Plates:

Introduce solids alongside small amounts of purees for a smoother transition.

Encourage Self-Feeding:

Let your baby hold silicone spoons and practice scooping foods on their own.

Tip: Always supervise your baby during mealtime to ensure safe chewing and swallowing.

👉 Find ergonomic silicone utensils here: https://babiesbasic.com/.

5. Difficulty Drinking from Cups

The Challenge

Transitioning from bottles to cups can be challenging, as babies need to learn new motor skills to sip and drink independently.

Solutions

Start with Silicone Training Cups:

Soft, BPA-free silicone cups with handles make it easier for babies to grip and sip.

Introduce a Straw Cup:

Straw cups promote oral motor development and help babies learn to sip.

Offer Small Sips of Water:

Start with small amounts of water at mealtime to help your baby practice.

Tip: Be patient and consistent—practice makes perfect as your baby learns this new skill.

👉 Shop baby-friendly silicone cups here: https://babiesbasic.com/.

6. Bonus Tips for Overcoming Baby Feeding Challenges

Stick to a Routine: Offer meals and snacks at consistent times every day to create structure.

Eat Together: Babies learn by watching others. Sit with your baby during meals to model healthy eating habits.

Offer a Variety of Foods: Keep meals interesting by including different colors, textures, and flavors.

Make Mealtime Relaxed: Remove distractions like toys or screens and focus on creating a positive experience.

7. FAQs About Baby Feeding Challenges

Q: What should I do if my baby refuses to eat?

Stay calm and patient. Offer small portions of different foods and allow your baby to explore without pressure.

Q: How can I reduce mealtime mess?

Use silicone suction plates, bibs with food catchers, and splash mats to contain spills and crumbs.

Q: How do I introduce solid foods after purees?

Start with soft, easy-to-grip finger foods and let your baby practice self-feeding alongside purees.

Q: What if my baby is a picky eater?

Introduce new foods gradually, combine familiar favorites with new options, and keep mealtimes positive and pressure-free.

8. Why Choose Babies Basic for Mealtime Tools?

At Babies Basic, we provide high-quality, baby-safe feeding tools that simplify mealtime and make it stress-free:

Suction Plates and Bowls: Prevent spills and mess.

Soft Silicone Spoons and Utensils: Perfect for tiny hands and gums.

Silicone Bibs with Food Catchers: Keep clothes clean and reduce cleanup.

Training Cups: Help babies transition from bottles to independent drinking.

Conclusion

Feeding challenges are a normal part of your baby’s development, but they don’t have to be stressful. By using the right strategies and baby-friendly tools like silicone suction plates, bibs, and utensils, you can make mealtime smoother and more enjoyable. Stay patient, consistent, and positive—your baby will learn and adapt over time.

Ready to simplify mealtime? Explore our range of mess-free, baby-safe feeding tools at Babies Basic and create a happier feeding experience for you and your baby!

[healthwellnessrevolution0]

Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects writing abilities, including handwriting, spelling, and organizing thoughts. It can cause frustration and impact a child’s confidence and academic performance. However, with the right strategies and tools, children with dysgraphia can overcome these challenges and thrive. This article explores four effective strategies to help children manage and improve their writing skills: visual and technological supports, adapted writing activities, oral expression, and fine motor activities. Each approach is designed to address specific difficulties, promote confidence, and foster essential skills for lifelong success. I. How Visual and Technological Supports Help with Dysgraphia? Children with dysgraphia face significant challenges with writing, including poor handwriting, difficulty organizing thoughts, and struggles with spelling. These difficulties can negatively impact their confidence and academic success. Visual and technological supports provide tailored solutions to address these issues effectively: -Visual Supports: Enhancing Understanding and Structure. Visual aids assist children in organizing their ideas and improving the clarity of their work: Graphic Organizers: Tools such as mind maps, flowcharts, and diagrams enable children to visually arrange their thoughts before writing, reducing cognitive load and aiding in idea sequencing. Highlighted or Lined Paper: Paper with bold or colored lines helps maintain proper letter alignment and spacing, enhancing handwriting legibility. Tracing Templates and Letter Guides: Providing models for letter formation allows children to practice writing, thereby improving fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. -Technological Supports: Easing Physical Writing Demands: Technology offers alternative methods for written expression, accommodating the needs of children with dysgraphia: Speech-to-Text Software: Applications like Dragon Dictation enable children to dictate their ideas, converting speech into text and bypassing handwriting challenges. Word Processors with Spelling and Grammar Tools: Programs such as Microsoft Word and Google Docs assist in reducing spelling and grammatical errors, facilitating clearer written communication. Educational Apps with Stylus Support: Notability and GoodNotes simulate handwriting while offering features like letter tracing and handwriting guides, providing an interactive and supportive writing experience. -Why These Tools Are Effective for Overcoming Dysgraphia? Streamlining the Writing Process: By simplifying or automating mechanical aspects of writing, visual aids and technological tools free up mental energy. This enables children with dysgraphia to concentrate on their creative ideas and content instead. Building Self-Efficacy and Engagement: When children create clear and well-organized work using these tools, they gain a sense of accomplishment. This positive reinforcement motivates them to participate actively and take pride in their learning journey. Personalizing Support: Every child with dysgraphia has unique needs. Visual and technological supports offer customizable solutions, such as adjusting font size, letter spacing, or the level of writing assistance provided. Fostering Essential Skills: By simplifying writing mechanics, these tools teach children vital skills like visual organization and digital literacy, which are indispensable for academic and future success. -A Practical Example: Consider a child who struggles to organize thoughts before writing an essay. By using a mind-mapping app like MindMeister, they can visually arrange their ideas. Once the structure is clear, they can use speech-to-text software to convert their spoken ideas into written text. This approach eliminates frustration and ensures that their content is well-organized and legible. Visual and technological supports help children overcome the mechanical barriers of writing, allowing them to communicate their ideas clearly and creatively. By fostering confidence, improving academic outcomes, and teaching valuable skills, visual and technological aids help children with dysgraphia thrive in academic and personal settings. II. How Adapting Writing Activities Helps Children with Dysgraphia? Adapting writing activities provides children with dysgraphia the tools and methods they need to bypass their difficulties and succeed. These adaptations focus on reducing the cognitive and physical strain of writing while building the skills and confidence necessary for effective communication. Here's how: -Providing Alternative Methods of Expression: Writing can be substituted or supplemented with methods that better suit the child's strengths: Speech-to-Text Tools: These allow children to speak their thoughts, which are then transcribed into text. This bypasses handwriting challenges while enabling them to express themselves freely. Typing Activities: Keyboarding skills are often easier for children with dysgraphia to master than handwriting. Incorporating typing activities as a primary mode of communication can significantly reduce frustration. -Incorporating Multisensory Techniques: Writing can become an engaging and accessible activity when it involves multiple senses: Tactile Writing Practice: Using sand trays, clay, or textured materials helps children form letters and words through touch and movement, reinforcing motor skills. Visual and Auditory Feedback: Digital tools with features like real-time correction and letter animation provide immediate, clear feedback that helps children understand their progress. -Simplifying and Structuring Writing Tasks: Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps reduces overwhelm and helps children stay focused: Graphic Organizers: These help structure ideas visually before beginning to write, enabling children to map out their thoughts step-by-step. Sentence Starters and Writing Prompts: Providing beginnings for sentences or questions helps children overcome the intimidation of starting with a blank page. -Using Specialized Tools and Materials: Adapting writing tools and materials ensures physical comfort and better control: Pencil Grips and Ergonomic Pens: These make holding a writing instrument easier and more comfortable, improving handwriting consistency. Lined or Grid Paper: Highlighted or raised-line paper helps children align their letters properly and maintain spacing between words. -Why These Adaptations Are Effective? Addressing Physical and Motor Challenges: Dysgraphia often involves difficulty with fine motor control, which makes forming letters and maintaining proper spacing difficult. Activities like tactile writing or using adapted tools directly target these motor challenges, allowing the child to practice in ways that feel less frustrating. Reducing Cognitive Overload: Traditional writing tasks demand focus on multiple aspects simultaneously: letter formation, spelling, grammar, and organization. Adapting these tasks such as by allowing dictation or using graphic organizers enables the child to focus on one skill at a time, reducing stress and improving output quality. Encouraging Autonomy and Growth: Adapted writing activities enable children to succeed on their own terms. Tools like speech-to-text software or typing empower them to work independently, building resilience and a stronger belief in their capabilities. Promoting Skill Development: Through adapted activities, children gradually develop essential skills like fine motor control, spelling, and idea organization. Over time, these adaptations can be reduced as their abilities improve. -Examples of Adapted Writing Activities: Interactive Story Writing: Using apps like Storybird or Book Creator, children can combine images with short text entries, making writing fun and visually engaging. Digital Notebooks: Applications like OneNote or Evernote allow children to organize their thoughts using text, images, and voice notes, reducing reliance on handwriting. Collaborative Writing Games: Group activities like sentence-building games or "fill in the blank" challenges encourage participation and make writing less intimidating. Adapting writing activities for children with dysgraphia focuses on equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to succeed academically and express their creativity. By tailoring tasks to their needs, we create an environment that supports skill development, builds confidence, and fosters a lifelong positive attitude toward learning. These adaptations help children move beyond their limitations and realize their full potential, both academically and personally. III. How Encouraging Oral Expression Helps Children Overcome Dysgraphia? Oral expression provides an essential alternative for children with dysgraphia, enabling them to articulate their ideas without the physical and cognitive constraints of writing. It serves as a bridge, allowing them to express complex thoughts clearly while bypassing the challenges posed by poor handwriting, spelling, and organization. Here's how it works: -Bypassing Writing Barriers: Oral expression eliminates the need for fine motor skills required for writing. Children can focus entirely on the content of their thoughts rather than struggling with letter formation or spelling. Example: During class, instead of requiring a written essay, teachers can ask students to verbally summarize their understanding of a topic. -Organizing Thoughts Through Speech: Speaking thoughts aloud helps children structure their ideas logically. This is especially beneficial for children with dysgraphia, who often struggle with organizing their thoughts on paper. Verbal articulation encourages clarity and sequential thinking. -Strengthening Communication Skills: Verbal activities improve a child's ability to express ideas fluently. Regular practice builds their vocabulary, improves grammar, and boosts confidence in communicating effectively. -Why Encouraging Oral Expression Is Effective? Alleviating Frustration and Promoting Self-Expression: By focusing on verbal communication, children can share their thoughts freely without the barriers of writing. This success boosts their self-esteem and encourages them to participate more actively in learning. Example: A child who struggles to write a story can narrate it instead, showcasing their creativity without the constraints of writing. Promotes Academic Success: Encouraging oral assessments and verbal responses enables children to fully participate in learning activities. They are evaluated based on their knowledge rather than their handwriting or spelling skills, leading to fairer assessments and improved academic performance. Improves Critical Thinking: Verbalizing thoughts helps children think more critically. Explaining ideas aloud requires them to process and refine their understanding, which benefits overall cognitive development. Supports Writing Development: Oral expression can act as a precursor to writing. When children become skilled at organizing and articulating their thoughts verbally, they can gradually transition these skills to written tasks with less difficulty. -Practical Strategies for Encouraging Oral Expression: Oral Presentations: Allow children to present projects verbally instead of submitting written reports. This gives them the opportunity to share their knowledge and engage actively in class. Storytelling Exercises: Encourage children to narrate stories, either from their imagination or based on prompts. This improves their narrative skills and creativity while eliminating the stress of writing. Classroom Discussions and Debates: Create opportunities for group discussions and debates, where children can express their opinions and ideas. This fosters confidence and enhances verbal communication. Speech-to-Text Technology: Introduce tools like Dragon NaturallySpeaking or Google Docs' voice typing feature. These tools convert spoken words into written text, allowing children to produce written work with ease. Question-and-Answer Sessions: Replace written tests with oral assessments where children can answer questions verbally. This evaluates their knowledge without penalizing them for writing difficulties. Encouraging oral expression is a powerful tool for helping children with dysgraphia overcome their challenges. It provides a platform where they can demonstrate their abilities, build confidence, and develop critical thinking skills. By incorporating verbal activities and assessments into their daily learning, we can create an inclusive environment that allows these children to thrive academically and personally. This approach not only supports their immediate needs but also lays the foundation for improved communication and writing skills in the future. IV. How Fine Motor Activities Helps Children Overcome Dysgraphia? Fine motor activities target the small muscles in the hands, fingers, and wrists, which are essential for tasks like writing, drawing, and manipulating objects. For children with dysgraphia, improving fine motor skills is crucial to addressing handwriting difficulties and enhancing their overall writing abilities. Here's how: -Strengthening Hand Muscles: Writing requires strength and endurance in the handmuscles. Fine motor activities such as squeezing stress balls, manipulating clay, or using hand grippers help build these muscles, enabling better control of writing instruments. -Improving Coordination and Precision: Dysgraphia often involves difficulties with letter formation and spacing. Activities like tracing letters, drawing patterns, or threading beads improve finger dexterity and hand-eye coordination, leading to more precise movements when writing. -Enhancing Grip and Posture: Many children with dysgraphia struggle with holding a pencil correctly or maintaining a steady hand. Tools like pencil grips combined with activities that focus on pinch strength, such as picking up small objects with tweezers, can significantly improve grip and stability. -Increasing Writing Stamina: Writing can be physically exhausting for children with weak fine motor skills. Exercises that target endurance, such as repetitive drawing or handwriting practice with breaks, help build stamina, making it easier for children to complete longer tasks. -Why Fine Motor Activities Are Effective? Directly Address the Physical Challenges of Writing: Fine motor challenges, such as difficulty forming letters or maintaining spacing, are common in dysgraphia. Strengthening these foundational skills helps children write with greater ease and consistency. Building Handwriting Confidence: When children notice their handwriting improving through consistent fine motor practice, they gain the confidence to tackle writing tasks without hesitation, fostering a positive attitude toward learning. Lay the Foundation for Lifelong Skills: Fine motor activities not only improve handwriting but also prepare children for other essential tasks such as typing, drawing, and crafting. These skills are invaluable for academic success and everyday life. Foster a Multisensory Approach: Many fine motor activities involve tactile, visual, and sometimes auditory feedback, making learning more engaging. This multisensory approach is particularly effective for children with dysgraphia, as it reinforces neural connections and improves skill retention. -Examples of Fine Motor Activities for Dysgraphia: Creative Painting Exercises: Encouraging children to paint using fine brushes not only builds hand control but also makes the practice enjoyable. Origami or Paper Folding: Crafting shapes through folding enhances precision and finger dexterity in a fun and rewarding way. Hand Strengthening Exercises: Squeezing stress balls, therapy putty, or foam objects. Climbing on monkey bars to engage hand and wrist muscles. Finger Dexterity Tasks: Threading beads or lacing activities. Using tweezers to pick up small objects or sorting games with coins. Tracing and Letter Practice: Letter tracing on sandpaper or gel boards for tactile feedback. Practicing writing on raised-line paper to guide proper spacing. Creative Play: Playing with modeling clay to form shapes, letters, or objects. Completing puzzles or maze games to encourage precise hand movements. Interactive Technology: Apps that simulate tracing letters and shapes, such as Dexteria or Writing Wizard. Digital tablets with stylus pens to practice controlled strokes in a fun, engaging format. -Practical Tips for Implementing Fine Motor Activities: Make It Fun: Choose activities that align with the child’s interests, such as crafting, drawing, or playing games, to keep them motivated and engaged. Incorporate Into Daily Routines: Simple tasks like opening jars, tying shoelaces, or peeling stickers can be effective fine motor exercises and easily integrated into everyday activities. Seek Professional Guidance: Occupational therapists can design personalized plans that target specific motor challenges and ensure that the exercises are both effective and enjoyable. Be Patient and Consistent: Improvement in fine motor skills takes time. Regular practice with gradual progression in difficulty is key to achieving lasting results. Encouraging fine motor activities is a critical step in helping children with dysgraphia overcome their challenges. These activities strengthen the physical skills needed for writing, improve coordination, and build confidence. By incorporating fun, engaging, and consistent exercises into their routines, children not only enhance their handwriting but also develop essential skills that will benefit them in school and beyond. Supporting fine motor development is a foundation for empowering children with dysgraphia to thrive academically and personally. Conclusion: Dysgraphia presents unique challenges, but these can be mitigated with targeted strategies and consistent support. Visual and technological tools simplify the writing process, adapted writing activities foster confidence, oral expression offers an alternative mode of communication, and fine motor exercises build the physical skills necessary for improved handwriting. By implementing these strategies, we can create an inclusive and supportive environment for children with dysgraphia, empowering them to express their thoughts, achieve academic success, and develop skills that will benefit them throughout life. With patience, understanding, and the right resources, children with dysgraphia can overcome their challenges and unlock their full potential.

[shapingtherapies]

Speech Therapy: A Bridge to Better Communication

Communication is at the heart of human interaction, and for those facing challenges in expressing themselves, Speech therapy can be a transformative journey. At Shaping Therapies, Powai, our dedicated team of experts focuses on helping individuals, particularly children, overcome speech and language difficulties.

This blog will explore the benefits of Speech therapy, who it helps, how it works, and why family involvement plays a vital role in the process. Whether it’s expressing thoughts clearly, understanding others, or building relationships, communication plays a vital role in our lives. For those facing challenges in speech or language, Speech therapy can be a transformative journey towards improved communication skills.

What Is Speech Therapy and Who Does It Help?Speech therapy is a specialized service that helps individuals who struggle with communication due to speech or language disorders. These challenges can be developmental, caused by injury, or related to medical conditions. Speech therapy is particularly effective for children with:Stuttering

Articulation disordersLanguage delaysApraxia of speechAutism spectrum disorderAdults can also benefit from Speech therapy, especially those recovering from strokes or brain injuries that impact their communication skills.How Does Speech Therapy Work?Speech therapy typically involves a series of structured sessions with a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT). The therapist evaluates the individual’s communication abilities, identifies areas of difficulty, and then creates a personalized treatment plan. Therapy may include:Articulation exercises to improve clarity of speechLanguage activities to enhance comprehension and expression

Oral motor exercises for better control over muscles involved in speechVisual aids and other communication tools, especially for non-verbal individualsLanguage: Expanding vocabulary, improving grammar, and enhancing sentence structure.Fluency: Reducing stuttering or other fluency disorders.Social Communication: Developing skills for effective interaction with others.Voice: Improving voice quality, volume, or pitch.

Examples of Speech Therapy ActivitiesArticulation drills: Practicing specific sounds in isolation, words, phrases, and sentences.Language games: Playing games that involve vocabulary, grammar, or storytelling.Fluency techniques: Using strategies like pausing, stretching, or easy onset to improve fluency.Social skills training: Role-playing social situations and practicing communication strategies. Can Speech Therapy Improve Communication Skills?Yes, Speech therapy significantly improves communication skills by addressing the root causes of speech and language disorders. Through consistent therapy, children and adults can enhance their ability to articulate words, understand language better, and express thoughts clearly. This not only boosts confidence but also improves social interactions, academic performance, and overall quality of life.

What Are the Benefits of Speech Therapy?

The benefits of speech therapy extend far beyond just better communication.

Some of the key advantages include:

Improved speech clarity: Makes it easier for others to understand you.

Enhanced language comprehension: Helps in understanding and processing information better.

Greater social confidence: Reduces frustration and anxiety in social settings.

Boosted academic and work performance: Improves ability to follow instructions, express ideas, and participate fully.

The Role of Speech and Language Therapists

Speech and language therapists are highly trained professionals who understand the intricacies of communication. They work closely with individuals to address specific challenges, guiding them through exercises, activities, and strategies that promote better communication. They also educate families on how to reinforce these techniques at home, ensuring continued progress outside of therapy sessions.

How Do Speech and Language Therapists Help with Communication?

Speech and language therapists are trained professionals who specialize in diagnosing and treating communication disorders. They use evidence-based techniques to help individuals:

Identify communication challenges: Assess the specific areas where communication is impaired.

Develop individualized treatment plans: Create tailored plans to address the identified needs.Provide support and guidance: Offer encouragement and support throughout the therapy process.Common Speech and Language Disorders TreatedSome of the most common speech and language disorders treated through therapy include:

Stuttering: Disruptions in the flow of speech that can affect communication confidence.Articulation disorders: Difficulty pronouncing words clearly.Language delays: Slower development of vocabulary, sentence structure, or comprehension.

Apraxia of speech: A motor speech disorder where the brain struggles to coordinate the movements needed for speech.

Autism spectrum disorder: Speech therapy can help individuals on the spectrum improve both verbal and non-verbal communication.Family Involvement in Speech Therapy

[1specialplace]

Understanding Lisp and How Therapy Can Help

A lisp is one of the most recognizable speech impediments, often characterized by difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, particularly the "s" and "z" sounds. While it is common in young children as they develop their speech skills, a persistent lisp in older children or adults may require professional intervention to correct. Speech therapy plays a crucial role in addressing this condition, helping individuals achieve clear and confident communication.

What is a Lisp?

A lisp is a type of speech sound disorder that affects the articulation of certain sounds. It occurs when the tongue is positioned incorrectly during speech, leading to a sound distortion.

There are four main types of lisps:

Interdental Lisp: The tongue protrudes between the front teeth during the production of "s" and "z" sounds, making them sound like "th." For example, "sun" may sound like "thun."

Dentalized Lisp: The tongue pushes against the front teeth, causing a muffled or distorted "s" or "z" sound.

Lateral Lisp: Air escapes along the sides of the tongue instead of through the center, giving the sound a "slushy" quality.

Palatal Lisp: The tongue touches the soft palate (roof of the mouth) while producing "s" or "z" sounds, leading to an unclear sound.

Causes of Lisping

Lisping can occur due to various reasons, including:

Developmental factors: Young children often lisp as they learn to pronounce sounds, but this typically resolves as they grow older.

Tongue thrust: An oral habit where the tongue pushes against or between the teeth while speaking or swallowing.

Oral structure issues: Problems such as a high palate, tongue tie, or dental misalignment.

Neurological conditions: Such as apraxia of speech or other motor coordination difficulties.

Behavioral habits: Prolonged pacifier use, thumb-sucking, or bottle feeding can contribute to oral muscle patterns associated with lisping.

Why Address a Lisp?

While some lisps are endearing in young children, they can become problematic if they persist into adulthood. A lisp may impact:

Speech clarity: Making it harder for others to understand.

Self-confidence: Especially in social or professional settings.

Communication skills: Affecting academic, social, or workplace interactions.

How Speech Therapy Helps Correct a Lisp

Speech therapy offers a systematic approach to identifying and correcting a lisp. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) tailors therapy to the individual’s specific needs.

Assessment: The SLP begins with a detailed evaluation to determine the type of lisp, its severity, and any contributing factors, such as tongue placement or oral habits.

Therapeutic Techniques:

Tongue positioning exercises: Teaching correct tongue placement during speech.

Auditory discrimination: Helping individuals recognize the difference between correct and incorrect sound production.

Repetition and practice: Gradual practice starting with sounds in isolation, then moving to syllables, words, and sentences.

Articulation games: Making therapy engaging with fun activities like tongue twisters and storytelling.

Oral-motor therapy: For individuals with weak tongue muscles or tongue thrust, targeted exercises may strengthen oral-motor control.

Parental involvement: For children, parents are guided on how to practice correct sounds at home to reinforce progress.

Technology and tools: Modern therapy incorporates interactive apps, mirrors, and recordings to make sessions more engaging and effective.

How Long Does Therapy Take?

The duration of therapy varies based on the individual’s age, the type and severity of the lisp, and the consistency of practice. With regular sessions and diligent practice, significant improvement is often seen within a few months.

Benefits of Online Speech Therapy for Lisp Correction

Online speech therapy platforms like 1SpecialPlace provide accessible, expert-led sessions for individuals of all ages. With the flexibility to attend sessions from home, personalized therapy plans, and interactive tools, overcoming a lisp has never been more convenient.

Conclusion

A lisp doesn’t have to be a lifelong challenge. With the right support and consistent practice, anyone can improve their articulation and communicate with confidence.

If you or your child is struggling with a lisp, reach out to the expert speech therapists at 1SpecialPlace to begin your journey toward clear and confident speech. Let us help you say goodbye to the lisp and hello to clear communication!

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Understanding the Role of Speech Therapy in Child Development

Child development is a complex and dynamic process, encompassing physical, cognitive, emotional, and social growth. Among these aspects, communication skills are critical for building relationships, learning, and expressing needs. When children face challenges in speech or language, it can impact their overall development. This is where speech therapy plays a vital role in supporting and enhancing a child’s ability to communicate effectively.

In this blog, we’ll explore how speech therapy contributes to child development and why it’s a key resource for families.

What Is Speech Therapy?

Speech therapy is a specialized intervention designed to address speech, language, and communication challenges. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work with children to improve skills such as:

Speech Clarity: Pronouncing sounds correctly and fluently.

Language Skills: Understanding and using words to communicate.

Social Communication: Engaging in conversations, using gestures, and interpreting body language.

Feeding and Swallowing: Addressing difficulties in chewing or swallowing.

How Speech Therapy Supports Child Development

1. Enhancing Communication Skills

Communication is fundamental to a child’s ability to interact with the world. Speech therapy helps children articulate words clearly, expand their vocabulary, and construct sentences effectively.

Example: A child with delayed speech may struggle to say “I’m hungry.” Therapy teaches them to express their needs confidently.

2. Boosting Cognitive Development

Language and cognitive development are interconnected. Speech therapy encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and comprehension skills, enabling children to understand instructions and process information.

Example: Learning to follow multi-step directions, such as “Pick up the ball and put it on the table,” fosters cognitive growth.

3. Supporting Social and Emotional Growth

Children with speech or language difficulties may feel isolated or frustrated in social settings. Therapy equips them with the tools to engage in meaningful interactions, boosting self-esteem and emotional well-being.

Example: A child learns to take turns during conversations or express emotions like happiness and sadness appropriately.

4. Preparing for Academic Success

Language skills are critical for reading, writing, and participating in classroom activities. Speech therapy helps children develop phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension, setting a strong foundation for academic achievement.

Example: Therapy can aid in identifying rhyming words, forming sentences, or understanding story sequences.

5. Addressing Feeding and Swallowing Issues

For children with oral-motor difficulties, speech therapy also focuses on improving muscle strength and coordination for eating and drinking. This enhances their overall health and comfort.

Example: A therapist may use exercises to strengthen the tongue and jaw muscles for smoother chewing.

When Should Parents Seek Speech Therapy?

Recognizing the need for speech therapy early can make a significant difference in a child’s progress. Look for the following signs:

Limited or no speech by age 2.

Difficulty understanding or following simple instructions.

Challenges pronouncing words or forming sentences.

Frustration when trying to communicate.

Stuttering or speech that is difficult for others to understand.

What Happens in Speech Therapy?

Speech therapy sessions are highly individualized, focusing on the child’s unique needs. Activities are designed to be engaging and age-appropriate, such as:

Play-Based Learning: Using toys and games to teach language skills.

Articulation Practice: Repeating sounds and words to improve clarity.

Storytelling and Songs: Enhancing vocabulary and sentence formation.

Interactive Exercises: Role-playing social scenarios to build confidence.

Benefits of Speech Therapy in the Long Term

Speech therapy not only improves immediate communication skills but also provides long-term benefits, including:

Stronger interpersonal relationships.

Greater confidence in academic and social environments.

Reduced frustration in expressing thoughts and needs.

Enhanced ability to adapt to new challenges and opportunities.

Conclusion

Speech therapy plays a transformative role in child development by empowering children to overcome communication barriers and thrive in all areas of life. It’s not just about teaching a child to speak clearly; it’s about giving them the tools to express themselves, connect with others, and achieve their full potential.

If you suspect your child may benefit from speech therapy, consult a speech-language pathologist for a thorough evaluation. Early intervention can make a world of difference, ensuring your child’s journey of growth and development is both enriching and successful.

Would you like tips on how parents can support speech therapy goals at home? Let me know!