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Lost Boy (EngWnt x Male Reader)

This was inspired by Lost Boy

8,869 words

Warning: Swears, Angst and fluff moments

Why am I here? This is isn't home. Well you didn't know what a home is.

You say as you wait outside the famous St George Park. You feel the rain hit the top of your head and shoulders as you hear the car that dropped you off drive away. You sighed as nerves and anxiety crept in. You wanted to be here but also wanted to be home back in Japan.

You missed the feeling, you missed your apartment, you missed your training grounds, your teammates and the Kawasaki Frontale faithful.

You were scared to be in a land that you only been to with your team once before. Truth is you were an orphan, you were left at an orphanage in Japan in Kanagawa from there you grew up and at the age of 13 you joined the Kanagawa youth squad and once you hit 16 you became part of the first team 3 years later, 42 assists and 77 goals for the club. You wanted to play for the japan national team but you kept getting the cold shoulder. You started to deflate, lose motivation and felt the same feeling you felt since you could remember. The pain your so called parents gave you.

Worthless

Dissapointment

Lost

"Lost Boy, Lost Boy, Lost Boy" A smile came to your face and you recollected that chant Kanagawa fans would chant for you. The story of you being a orphan made the fans sympathise with you and your constant big player status on the field made you a fan favourite and was gifted the name Lost Boy.

That chant was something special it made you feel like you belonged, like a son to the crowd. The first time you heard it you had to fight back tears but bowed to the crowd.

It was your Neverland

You looked down before composing yourself, you started to walk into the reception of St George Park and you spot Serena Wiegman and Gareth Southgate waiting for you.

You think about how you ended up in the situation. Playing for England?!?!

You remember playing a man of the match worthy game in the AFC Champions League against 2 time champs from Ulsan Hyundai. Scoring 4 goals and assist. As you walked off the pitch to the famous Lost Boy chants, you didn't notice Serena Wiegman who was enjoying a vacation watching you from the crowd.

She approached you outside the locker room with your manager. Seeing your talent, the fans love for you and potential. She researched your background and found out that you have English relations due to your mother. And Serena wanted to give you a chance as she believed you not playing international football a crime. You was overwhelmed. Leaving Japan, going to England, no friends, no faces you know except for Serena.

But you knew deep down that this could change your life for the better.

"F/N, I'm so glad you are here" Serena said as she approached you with a warm smile. You go for a hand shake but Serena gave you a hug. She made you feel welcome and made you feel protected. You gave her a slight hug back and she turned to Southgate making sure to keep a hand on your back to let you feel comfortable. "F/N this is Gareth Southgate, the manager of the England Senior team." You extended your hand to the man who shook your hand. "Pleasure sir" you said respectfully in English "Nice to meet you L/N, Wiegman told me all about you. I have seen some of your stuff, I hope you step up" He said in a cold tone, you wanted to frown but hid it. It felt like he wasn't happy you were here "Mr Southgate, I said it before and ill say it again. This young man is an extraordinary talent and no offence to the team but his passion for the game shines brighter then your passion when you played for England"

God damn, you eyes slightly widen as you look back and forth between the duo. The tone of her voice sounded like a mother defending her child Talk about putting pressure on you. Southgate clearly wasn't happy with the comment but didn't say anything back. "Anyway, let me show you around. Serena" He said leading the way for you before saying goodbye to Serena "Actually i will come along" The Dutch women said "But what about the girls?" you looked back at Southgate before turning back to the lady. "They will be fine, the staff are already their for the girls training, i will see them after Y/N is settled in" She as she patted your back.

You smiled at her as the three of you walk into the building. You thought about what Serena was talking about. The girls? Her team is here training. The Lionesses! You remember watching them in the Euro's 2022 and it was inspiring to watch and witness. You had hope to cross paths in some way with one of them just to seek knowledge from the European champions if you crossed paths. But the whole team was here!

As you were taking to each rooms and facilities, you made sure to shake everyone's hand. The staff should be treated like they are part of the team. This made Serena smile when she picked up on the gesture whilst Southgate thought it was you trying to look good in front of him.

"This concludes our journey. I must depart now, as we have some new arrivals later. The rest of the team will arrive later tonight. Make yourself at Home F/N. Serena" Gareth said leaving in a hurry as he left you outside your hotel door. You let a sigh and ran your hands through your hair. "Well he sure is something" You say in a light hearted tone as you felt Serena's hand on your shoulder "He is a stubborn man, he rarely changes his team up and when i suggested you he laughed it off. But because of my belief I even went to the FA" your eyebrows raised as she nodded at tour response "Yes I made a case that you are what the men's team needed and they listened and push him on it." You looked at Serena with admiration. She really did believe in you, all that worry and nervous energy turned into determination.

You were going to make sure you proved Southgate wrong, repay Serena and show the world who F/N L/N is "Thank you Serena, you wont regret this" She smiled like a mother and patted your back "Now go rest, you must be tired' You smiled and shook your head "I managed to get sleep on the journey here. If its no issue since none of my teammates are her, can I watch you train the lionesses for a bit" Her curious look turned into a wide smile "Of course" You smiled and dropped your belongings in your room "May I ask, why do you want to watch." She asked curiously as you followed her "Well, you and the Lionesses are one of the top teams in the world, I'd be stupid to not want to watch h and learn from you and the women" She smiled, she found admirable that you would want to learn from the women when a lot just bash female footballers "Why me I'm just the manager?" she would say curious on what wanted to learn from her

You grinned as you walked alongside Serena. "Why you? Really? Well for starters, you're not just 'just the coach.' You're Serena Wiegman, the brilliant mind behind one of the most successful women's national teams in the world. You've achieved incredible success and I have a lot to learn from you. Plus, watching the Lionesses in action is an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Your team's skill, tactics and teamwork are truly works of art to me." Serena chuckled at your response and your excitement, clearly appreciating your enthusiasm and respect for the women's game. "Well, I'm flattered, F/N. We'd be glad to have you watch our training. I believe that learning from each other, regardless of gender, is how we all grow and improve in this beautiful sport."

You followed Serena out to one of the 3Gs the team was training on, You were feeling better then earlier, With Southgate gone and you can be around a pitch and watching football made you happy and at peace. Though nerves did run through as you were gonna be watching top flight pros playing

As you stepped onto the pitch and the view of the Lionesses practicing their drills came into focus, you couldn't hide the awe on your face. It was a sight to behold, the precision, the skill, and the teamwork of the reigning European champions were truly impressive.

You watched as Lucy Bronze skilfully dribbled the ball, Keira Walsh executed pinpoint passes, and Bethany England alongside Alessia Russio showcased her finishing ability. It was clear why they were considered among the best in the world.

The enthusiasm and energy of the Lionesses were infectious and it felt like a privilege to witness their training session. As you followed Serena, you couldn't help but feel a sense of motivation and inspiration.

As the Lionesses gathered in hushed conversation on the pitch, you found yourself still engaged in discussion with Serena Wiegman. Talking about her thoughts and expectations of the team as they near the Women's World Cup. The moment was a unique one for you as you were not only adapting to a new country and a new team but also facing the uncertainty of how you would be received.

Serena's voice was reassuring and she had the ability to put you at ease. She spoke about her belief in your abilities and her dedication to seeing you succeed in the England Men's team. Her unwavering support was like a lifeline. Keeping your confidence up and alive as you days counted down to your international debut.

"You know, F/N," Serena said, Turning towards you with her arms crossed, her eyes filled with determination, "I have high hopes for you. Your passion for the game and your incredible talent can bring a new energy to our national team and football. I believe that your presence will not only benefit you but also inspire our Lionesses. " She smiled as she glanced at the powerful women training and pushing their limits. "We have an incredible family of football here in England and I want you to feel at home."

You couldn't help but smile. Serena's words resonated with you and they helped the anxiety and homesickness that had lingered since your arrival in England fade away for that moments. It was the reassurance and guidance you needed. "Thank you, Serena," you replied with genuine gratitude as you bowed your head to her. "I appreciate your belief in me and your efforts to bring me here. I'm determined to give my best and contribute to the England Men's team. And if there's ever an opportunity for our teams to come together and train, I'd love to be a part of it."

Serena nodded, her eyes filled with warmth. "I'm glad to hear that, F/N." She stepped towards you placing a firm grip and pat on your arm "We're not just about men's and women's football here; we're one football family. Your presence here is a testament to that, and I'm certain you'll make a positive impact."

As you continued your conversation, little did you know that the Lionesses were observing you from a distance. The collective curiosity and intrigue of the England Women's National Team would soon lead to a new chapter in your journey, one filled with camaraderie, mutual respect and the realization that you had indeed found a football family

On one side of the pitch near the goal, Mary Earps, Ella Toone and Alessia Russo exchanged curious glances and hushed whispers.

Mar, the goalkeeper, leaned in and said, "Have you two seen that guy talking to Serena? Who is he, and what's he doing here?" as she played with the football in her hands

Ella Toone shrugged her shoulders, her eyes still fixed on you. "I have no idea, but he seems to be quite interested in what Serena is saying. Could he be a new coach or something?" She said crossing her arms as curiosity settled in

Alessia Russo chimed in, "I don't know, but he doesn't look like a coach. Maybe he's a new player or something? We can ask Serena later."

"Yeah you can ask for his number HAHA OW" Ella showed shout after receiving a kick from Alessia to the backside

Meanwhile on the other side of the pitch, Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh and Bethany England were engaged in their own discussion. Lucy, with a sharp eye for talent, recognized you from a few clips she had seen online. "I swear seen that guy before," Lucy remarked, nodding in your direction. "He's a player, I'm sure of it. I saw some clips of him and he's got some serious skills if its who I think it is."

Keira Walsh, the midfielder, leaned in with interest. "Really? He looks like he's in deep conversation with Serena. Maybe he's a new addition to the men's team? Don't think I seen him in any of the youth teams in the past" Lucy nodded in thought

Bethany England, who had been eyeing you with curiosity chimed in, "Well, if he's here to play, he must be pretty good. We should introduce ourselves later and make him feel welcome."

As the training session continued, more and more of Lionesses kept a watchful eye on you, curious to learn more about the mysterious player who had captured Serena Wiegman's attention.

Serena would excuse you as she would approach the team to go over things about upcoming matches as you headed to the stands to watch the rest of the session from there. As Serena addressed the team and laid out their plans for the upcoming match, the Lionesses listened attentively. Afterward, Leah Williamson was the first to break the ice, curiosity getting the best of her.

"If I may" Leah began, "who is that boy you were talking to earlier? Is he a new coach or part of the England media team?"

Millie Bright, seated nearby, chimed in with her own question, "Yeah, he looked quite engaged in your conversation. Is he here to help with our training or something?"

Serena smiled and decided to share a bit about you, the new member of the England Men's team. "Actually, that young man you saw is F/N L/N. He's not a coach or part of the media team. F/N is a talented footballer, and he's recently joined the England Men's national team. I believe he has a lot to offer and you might see him around from time to time. As he requested to watch todays training" The mention of your name and the explanation from Serena piqued the interest of the Lionesses. They exchanged intrigued glances, realizing that you were not just a casual observer but a actual player.

"If his apart of the men's team, why is he watching us and not with Southgate?" Lauren Hemp who handed a drink to Jess park as she spoke up. The question was a thought was on most of the girls minds.

"Good question Lauren" Serena began. "F/N is here because he's new to England and he wanted to observe the training and learn more about the style and strategies of English football. He's keen on acclimating himself to the English game as quickly as possible. Whilst he's officially a part of the men's team, he's interested in learning from our team as well."

Serena's explanation seemed to make sense to the Lionesses. With them and Lauren nodded in understanding. It was clear that you were genuinely eager to immerse yourself in English football. The curiosity about your presence now seemed to be mingled with a sense of mutual respect for your dedication to the game. It was indeed a unique situation to have a male player from the men's team showing genuine interest in observing and learning from the Lionesses. It was a testament to your dedication and willingness to go the extra mile to improve your skills and understanding of football.

As the training session continued, you couldn't help but notice the collective gaze of the Lionesses directed your way. You had been absorbed in watching their drills and skills, trying to absorb as much as you could from the reigning European champions, but you couldn't ignore the fact that you had become the center of attention. Which was starting to make you anxious and paranoid

Whilst you were checking your Instagram notifications, you looked up from your spot of the Lionesses, You took a double take and realized they were watching you with expressions ranging from curiosity to amusement. Feeling a bit self-conscious, you flashed a small, sheepish grin and gave a little wave in acknowledgment of their attention as you slowly sinked into the chair and hoodie

"Aww, so cute." Millie Bright couldn't help but tease with a playful smile. Her comment drew light laughter from some of the other players. "Lets adopt" Rachel Daly would say as she gave Bright a should bump as the duo laughed. It seemed that your friendly wave had endeared you to the Lionesses even more.

Leah Williamson leaned over to Lauren Hemp and whispered, "Well, I have to say, he's certainly not what I expected from a guy joining the men's team. Seems like a good guy." Lauren Hemp nodded in agreement. "Definitely. We should introduce ourselves later and make him feel welcome." Knowing that whenever someone joins a new team or place for the first time it can be overwhelming"

As the training session with the Lionesses concluded, Serena Wiegman decided it was a good time to have a private conversation with one of her most experienced players, Lucy Bronze. The two of them found a quiet corner of the field

"Lucy, I need to talk to you about something important," Serena began, her expression grave. Lucy, ever the professional, sensed the gravity of the situation and nodded for her coach to continue. Serena took a deep breath. "You know the new player, F/N L/N, who you all have been eyeing?" Lucy's eyes lit with recognition. "Yeah, I saw him talking to you earlier. He's a really talented player from what I have seen. What about him?" As said as she crossed her arms

Serena leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "Well, the thing is, his arrival hasn't been entirely smooth. Southgate has been... less than welcoming, let's say." She would say in a displeased tone, Lucy raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Really? But why? He's a great talent. What's Southgate's problem?"

Serena sighed, her disappointment evident. "I don't know for sure, but it seems that Southgate has a certain way of doing things, and he's resistant to change. He's been dismissive of F/N ever since my recommendation and since F/N arrival, despite his incredible talent and potential."

Lucy's expression hardened as she glanced to where you were sitting before placing her hands on her hips and turning towards Serena. She had a reputation for being outspoken and a supportive teammate. This situation didn't sit well with her. "That's not right. If he's here to help the team, Southgate should at least give him a chance. Is there anything I can do to help?" She would ask with good intent as she suspected Serena was telling her this for a reason

Lucy nodded firmly. "Don't worry Serena, We should have each other's backs that's what makes a team. I'll make sure the team knows about this and that we extend a warm welcome to F/N." Serena smiled, her trust in Lucy reaffirmed. "Thank you, Lucy. I knew I could count on you. Let's make sure that F/N feels like a part of this football family and let's show Southgate how wrong he is. We need to look out for him on and off the pitch. He knows no one in country, he needs some friends. I cant speak for the men's team but I trust you and the girls" Lucy was driven to make sure you are welcomed and had new friends.

After returning to your room and finishing a workout, you realized that your roommate had yet to arrive. It gave you some time to unwind and reflect on the day's events. Your thoughts swirled with excitement about watching the Lionesses' training session and the camaraderie that seemed to be developing between you and the women's team. As you were catching your breath, a sudden knock at the door interrupted your solitude. You quickly made your way to the door, opening it to find Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh, and Bethany England standing there, wearing friendly smiles.

"Hey there, F/N right?" Lucy greeted you with a warm and welcoming tone. "Mind if we come in for a chat?"

Your surprise at their visit quickly turned into a grin as you stepped aside to allow them entry. "Of course, come on in. It's great to see you all again. What brings you here?" You were sweating bricks

Bethany England was the first to speak, her friendly demeaner shining through. "We thought we'd swing by and officially welcome you to England, We thought it may be a bit daunting coming to a place where you know no one"

Keira Walsh nodded in agreement. "Yeah, We also heard about your conversation with Serena. It's not often we get a male player showing interest in our training sessions and we wanted to say hello."

Lucy chimed in "Plus, we wanted to let you know that we're here for you. If you have any questions, need any advice or just want to hang out, we're your go to squad." She said in a cheeky voice in the end

Your heart swelled with gratitude and appreciation as you looked at the three Lionesses who had taken the time to visit you. "Thank you, that means a lot. I'm really excited to be here, and I'm looking forward to learning and growing learning here. I'd love to get to know you all better and train together sometime." This was the first time you were getting attention not for your popularity or status. In Japan your teammates were stick around you for popularity and when the cameras where gone they didn't go near you. so this was refreshing, so you were eager to make actual friends

Bethany England grinned. "That sounds like a plan. We'll make sure to coordinate some joint training sessions in the future. But for now, let's just hang out and get to know each other better. We were about to head to the cafeteria and eat, You wanna tag along?" You smiled and nodded excitedly "Of course"

"Great, Come on Youngblood" Lucy would say as Keira patted your back and guided you out of the room following Beth and Lucy.

As you all settled around a table in the bustling cafeteria, the Lionesses were quick to initiate a conversation about your background. "So, F/N," Lucy Bronze began, "tell us a bit about yourself. How did you end up here in England?" She said as she took a bite out of her meal

You leaned back in your chair, ready to share your story. "Well, I grew up in Japan and football has been a huge part of my life since I was a kid. I played for Kawasaki Frontale for a since I was 13 and always dreamt of representing my country. But that never happened, they kept rejecting me." You said sadly, the trio couldn't help but feel for you. Playing for England was big for them and if that got rejected constantly it would hurt. You then smiled "And it was Serena Wiegman who saw me playing one day, She was in Japan and saw me during a match and gave me the opportunity to join the England Men's team. She went out of her way for me and I couldn't be more grateful to her." You smile before you take a bite out of your meal

Keira Walsh nodded in understanding. "That's impressive. It takes a lot of determination to leave your home country and start fresh. And for Serena to go out of her way for ya says a lot about what she thinks you. We're glad you're here." You smile at Keira who smiles back. Bethany England added, "And you're going to learn a lot from the coaching staff here. Our training is intense, but it's what has made us successful."

You gave a cheeky smirk. "If the training wasn't intense and didn't push me to my limit then I wouldn't be here" Lucy gave a light laugh at your change of demeanour as Beth looked Keira and gave her a look saying 'Lucy is going to love this guy' To which Keira nodded back "That's the attitude Youngblood" You chuckle, You were glad at the trio looking after you and couldn't but like the new nickname Bronze seemed to have give you.

Bethany England leaned forward, her curiosity showing on her face. "F/N, what did your parents think about you leaving Japan and coming all the way to England? It must be hard being away from them"

The question caught you off guard and you felt a pang of anxiety. You hadn't shared your orphan background with them yet and you weren't sure how to respond. You never like to talk about it or people asking you about them in interviews. Your mind raced, trying to come up with a plausible explanation that wouldn't reveal your painful past.

But just as you were about to stammer out a response, a strong hand landed on your shoulder. You turned to see Millie Bright, a tall and confident giant of a defender, offering a warm smile. She leaned in to speak, introducing herself to you.

"Hi, I'm Millie Bright and this is Rachel Daly. We couldn't help but couldn't this welcoming party" she said with a friendly tone, effectively shifting the focus away from the question about your parents.

Rachel Daly, Millie's Best Friend, extended her hand to you with a friendly grin. "Nice to meet you, F/N." You eagerly shook her hand before shaking Daly's hand. However, Lucy Bronze, who had noticed your hesitation earlier, couldn't help but keep an observant eye on the situation. She had sensed there was more to the story, but out of respect, she chose to let the matter drop, at least for now. She decided to get up and walk around the table towards you, She grinned and playfully ruffled your hair a move that caught you off guard. "Well, F/N, it's been a pleasure getting to know you. Enjoy your time with our lovely Millie here. She's the best at making sure our 'Child' is well taken care of."

Millie Bright, "Yeah Yeah, you three better have been on your best behaviour whilst with F/N. We can't have you being a bad influence on our new 'son' here." She gestured to herself and Daly. You were thrown off by the comment but recovered with chuckle understanding the English banter. "Come on son" She would say dramatically as she throw her tattooed arm over your shoulders and guided you away from the group.

As you walked alongside Millie, you couldn't help but notice the warmth and friendliness that radiated from her. Her easygoing demeaner put you at ease and you quickly felt a sense of comfort in her presence. Millie, with a playful twinkle in her eye, began to strike up a conversation. "So, F/N, tell me a bit more about yourself. What are your hobbies or interests outside of football? I want to learn more about ya"

You welcomed the chance to talk more about yourself and opened up to Millie. "Well, besides football, I enjoy golf ,reading and playing games. It's a great way to unwind and take my mind off things. What about you? Any interesting hobbies or hidden talents?" You say interested in her thoughts

"Oh, I can definitely hold my own in a game of darts, Painting and I make a mean lasagne. You'll have to come over sometime, and me and my other half will cook up a feast for you." You smile at her, surprised at her welcomes "You could bring your partner with you too" She nudged you "Oh no I don't have a partner. That too much hassle for me" You say nervously. It was true, trying to manage a football career and relationship seemed a lot of work, Millie would give you a surprised look, she assumed you would have a partner by your looks "But I'd love that. Thanks, Millie. And it's been great getting to know you and the rest of the team. I was a bit nervous at first, but you've all made me feel so welcome."

Millie patted your back reassuringly, You tried to not be sent to the floor by her strength. "We're like a big, sometimes chaotic, but always supportive family. You'll fit right in, F/N. Plus, you've got a great sense of humour. That makes you alright in my books"

"Ah so this is where the 'son' thing came from" Millie looked at you with a proud face "Oh you see, Young one , You're now officially part of the family. And that means you have no choice but to accept me and Rachel as your 'football moms.' You're stuck with us now." You couldn't help but smile at her. You felt a emotion that was foreign to you. To hear someone call you 'son' even if it was a joke made you emotional but you kept strong

"I wouldn't have it any other way mother dearest" You say to Millie who responded with a cackle as she ruffled your hair "Good Lad" When you reached your room and it was time to say goodbye, Millie's demeaner grew more serious. She took your phone and added her WhatsApp number, ensuring that you had a direct line to her. You was bamboozled at her actions as you stood there confused as she done it

She looked you in the eye, her tone sincere. "F/N, even though we've just met, I want you to know that you can reach out to me anytime if you need anything or if something comes up. I've got your back and that goes for both on and off the pitch." Her protectiveness and genuine concern touched you deeply. You nodded "Thank you, Millie. I really appreciate it. I'm looking forward to being a part of this football family" You say with heart as Millie smirked "Good night my child" She would say in a mock voice. "Good night mother dearest" With a warm smile, you say and watched as she headed back down the hall way.

As you entered your room, You saw a figure standing there. It was your roommate and new teammate. "hello there" You say hoping they heard you. The man turned around at you and looked you up and down. " Hey" You smiled faltered, One he didn't reply with 'General Kenobi' and two he clearly had no interest in you. You walked up and stuck out your hand "My name is F/N L/N. I hope we get to know each other more and get game time together" You say in hopes you misread his emotions. "Nice to meet you, My name is Jordan Sancho" but there was a clear disconnect in his demeaner. It was as if he was putting on a façade of politeness "Well Jordan "I'm looking forward to getting to know you and working together on the team," you said, slightly repeating what you said earlier, hoping to break through the icy atmosphere. Jordan simply nodded in response and the room fell into an awkward silence. It was clear that there was something more going on with him and you couldn't help but wonder what might be causing this behaviour. The awkwardness in your shared room with Jordan seemed to stay as small talk was made sporadically but without much enthusiasm. You couldn't help but feel the tension and it was evident that he had reservations about your presence.

The following morning, it was time for a team meeting with the England Men's team. As you entered the meeting room, many of your new teammates greeted you warmly, and the captain, Harry Kane, offered a friendly handshake and a welcoming smile. However, it was Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, and Jack Grealish who stood out. They not only greeted you but also invited you to sit with them. Their eagerness to welcome you was palpable and it helped to ease some of the tension that had lingered since your arrival.

Phil Foden leaned over with a grin. "Hey, F/N right? we saved you a spot right here." You smiled thankfully as you sat next to the city trio.

"How you finding it?, settling in alright?" Walker would ask making you feel at ease "Its a lot, I wont lie but I'm happy to be here and play for England" you said with determination, Receiving a pat from Walker. "That's the spirit lad". You notice Jack Grealish offered you a warm handshake. Which you shook with a firm grip "Mate, it's great to have you here. Need anything we are your boys. What you say we go get a bevvie later?"

"A what?" You would say confused "A buvvie?" You say. You may have had great English speaking skills but lacked on slang, Foden noticing your confusion laughed "He meant like a beer or any alcoholic drink" You gave a noticeable "Oooooh" Scratching the back of your head in embarrassment "Sorry I'm not fully caught up on the slang here" You felt a pat from Walker "Don't worry lad, we can teach you all you need to know. But you have great English though" He said with surprise "Well I home schooled with a one of the Guardians at the orphanage who also had a accent which is why I sound like I'm from here." The trio nodded but then Jack spoke up "Orphanage?" You stutter, you slipped up. You started to feel the stares from the trio and those overhearing the conversation.

"Ok, everyone sit down" Thankfully Southgate entered the room to start the talk to the group, Making the trio forget and focus on him. As he began his presentation, he took a moment to introduce you to the squad. However, his introduction was laced with bitterness, making it clear that he believed your presence was primarily due to Serena Wiegman's influence. "Here with us, we have F/N," Southgate began, his tone sharp and a touch resentful. "He's joined the squad for this international break, and it's no secret that he's here largely because of Serena's insistence. As a result, he'll be replacing Marcus Rashford for these matches." Is he fucking serious? You thought as you then notice how silent the room was and you couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. The weight of being seen as a replacement for a another player who had been and the implication that you owed your presence to someone else that wasn't even Gareth's choice was palpable.

However, Phil Foden, sitting next to you, reached out and patted your shoulder in a gesture of support. He didn't say anything, but his reassuring touch and understanding gaze conveyed that you were not alone in this moment. You glanced and saw that Kyle and Jack were also looking at everyone who were looking at you. Southgate quickly moved on to discuss the details of the upcoming matches. Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Germany. But the tension in the room remained and you couldn't help but feel the weight of expectations and doubts hanging over you just doubled.

Later in training you made it your mission to prove to them that you weren't just here due to Serena's backing but your skill. You impressed Kane, Foden and sterling with your shooting and dribble skills. Kyle and Saka would be paired up with you for 3 v 3 which let you build a friendship, trustfulness and learn how they play.

You received the ball from Saka and was about to lob the ball over Kane as you saw Walker running behind but then you found yourself landing on you upper back as you felt something shoot through your right foot. You knew someone just two footed you but the thought of it happening in training was disgusting to you. You looked up and stood up to see it was Harry Maguire. You pushed the larger man nearly sending him on his ass. "What the fuck was that Maguire! That was reckless as fuck!" The man regained his posture and glared again "I don't care who you are, L/N. you've got to earn your place here. If you can't handle a challenge like that, you won't make it." He said before walking away. Despite Kyle and Saka checking on you and Harry clearly getting a talking down to from Kane you knew what you was gonna do

"Earn my place you say? alright" you mumble to yourself

After the intense exchange with Harry Maguire, you were determined to prove yourself and demonstrate your resilience. He had clearly underestimated your ability and resolve, and you were not about to let his challenge go unanswered.

The first attempt to get past Maguire was a spectacular nutmeg that left him dumbfounded and you calmly slotted the ball into the net. The laughter and applause from your teammates resonated across the field.

For the second attempt, you displayed your dribbling skills as you deftly maneuvered the ball around Maguire, causing him to lose his balance and fall on his ass like a baby. Once again, you found the back of the net with precision and can feel the anger radiating off Maguire.

The third attempt was the most rewarding. As Maguire attempted to shoulder barge you off the ball, you gracefully evaded his challenge, sending him tumbling into the dirt. With remarkable composure, you scored yet again and the team couldn't contain their amusement and admiration for your resilience and skill. Whilst some worried that they would need to step up their game to keep a spot on the first team.

As you were about to move to the next game, you felt a hard push you forward harshly as you heard your teammates around respond with audible woahs. You turned around with a glare and was face to face with Maguire who was fuming. "What's wrong Harry, do I have dirt on my face?" You would say making fun that he had dirt on his face from when you sent him to the ground. Before Maguire could cuss you out, Kane got in-between you two, as you two were pulled away, Kane turned to Maguire as Grealish stood on front of you in a protective manner

"Maguire!, that's enough," Kane said firmly, looking Maguire in the eye. "We're here to work together as a team, and this kind of behaviour isn't helping anyone. If this continues I will make sure you wont play the next game"

As Kane continued to address Maguire, other players began to gather around and it became clear that the incident had divided the team. Some players like Foden, Walker, Saka, Sterling, Pickford were clearly on your side, believing that you had been provoked and had demonstrated your skill in response. Others, Noticeable Manchester United players like Sancho, Shaw and non United players like Henderson were against you, showing support for Maguire.

"ENOUGH" The team was silent as they heard Southgate speak up. "BACK TO TRAINING NOW." He turned to you and walked up to you ignoring Maguire "F/N, I don't know how you train back in Japan but this place is for the most professional of footballers. Act like it. We don't need any more incidents like this." You bite your tongue back, You knew he was trying to goad you into responding but you just looked down and had to swallow your pride. He left without saying anything to Maguire. You couldn't help but feel pissed off that he turned a blind eye to Maguire's actions and choose to blame you for the entire incident but in the back of your head you knew you had to fight for Serena, You career and those who are supporting you. don't lose your head you thought. The mixed emotions of anger and hurt were mixing around in you. Anger due to the treatment from the manager and players who have it out for you and Hurt that you felt like a target to most of the team.

You would feel a hand n your shoulder and turned to see it was Kane "You ok?" He asked and you just shrugged "Been through worst" Kane would frown " I don't know what the gaffers deal is but you were not to blame there. You did what anyone would do. when I saw your name on the call up post I searched you up and you are a fantastic player and you will do great things for England. I don't see why Gareth is treating you like this but I know you will make him and the others acknowledge you once they see you on the pitch" with that he would pat you on the back and leave. You smiled happy knowing that your captain believed in you and supported you it added more fuel to the fire that was building. You couldn't wait to show them what you could do.

Later you would be doing some last minute mess around with some of the team before heading in. You were shooting against Pickford in goal when a idea came to your mind as you saw Pickford away from his line. As you kicked your toes under the ball it would glide up into the sky and float over Pickford who was left standing in awe as the ball landed in the net. Screams of approval and claps came from Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, and Declan Rice, who had all witnessed the audacious chip with delight. Kyle clapped you on the back. "That chip was a thing of beauty, mate!". Declan Rice would ruffle your hair "That was mad man, could use you at Arsenal" he would joke around.

"THATS MY BOY" You all would turn to the voice in the distance and see the women's team from afar walking along to the training facility building and saw a wild Millie bright cheering her boy. You would wave to her slightly embarrassed. You could see the faces of the other Lionesses laugh at Millie's antics with the exception of a few who were confused. You were happy that you got to show off and some of your new friends on the men's and women's team saw it. It also reminded you of what Millie said last night about if you need someone to talk too. You wanted to vent to her about the day. Sure you could with the boys and maybe Lucy, But Millie was the one straight up with you and you know you wouldn't be a burden going to her about it. And you didn't want to make Serena stressed out about it when she has to focus on a whole team.

"Looks like you pulled lad" You would hear Jack say in a cheeky tone but confusion would show on your face as you didn't understand what he was saying

Phil Foden, sitting nearby, noticed your confusion and decided to clarify. He leaned in and explained, "It means it looks like you've caught someone's attention romantically, mate."

You shook your head, a slight blush still on your cheeks and responded, "Oh, no, it's not like that. Millie and I are just friends." It was true, you had no feelings like that for Millie

Foden couldn't help but laugh at your quick dismissal of any romantic involvement. "Alright, mate, just friends it is. But Millie sure seems proud of her 'boy' over there." The group laughed as you knew this wasn't going away anytime soon.

After training you would take a shower and change, Heading down a hallway to the cafeteria until you would see Sancho, The man stopped in front of you. He didn't sugercoat his words. "Look, L/N, let's get one thing straight. We're just teammates, and I don't care for you taking Rashford's place." The words hit you like a punch to the gut. The camaraderie you had hoped to build with Sancho, seemed to have hit a major roadblock. It was a stark reminder that not everyone on the team welcomed your presence, and the feeling of isolation and negativity weighed heavily on you. The man would walk past you as you signed before running your hands through your damp hair and walk around a corner.

Lost in your thoughts, you didn't notice the approaching figure until it was too late. You accidentally collided with someone, and as they stumbled backward, you reached out instinctively to prevent them from falling. You would lock eyes with the figure. It was Alessia Russio. "Whoa, sorry about that," you quickly apologized, steadying her.

Alessia would smile sheepishly "Its alright, I wasn't looking where i was going, L/N right?" You would smile back "Yes but call me F/N. and you are Russio right?" Her smile got brighter as she would respond "Yes but you can call me Alessia" But then her face turned slight concerned noticing the slight frown on your face, "Is everything okay? You seem a bit off." You hesitated for a moment, debating whether to share your recent encounter with Jordan Sancho. But ultimately, you decided to confide in Alessia, who had shown genuine kindness.

"I had a bit of a run-in with a teammate from the men's squad," you admitted. "It's just been a rough day, and some of them aren't very welcoming." She would give you a knowing look. "Yep been there, Don't let them get to you. You're here on merit, and you have the talent to be with the national team. We all saw that lovely chip earlier" You would smile sheepishly as the words comforted you. She was right and you couldn't help but smile brightly and look into her eyes getting a clear look at them. You slowly felt like you were being hypnotised and unknowingly to you so did Alessia

*Wolf whistle* You would both snap out of it and turn to the sound

"What do we have here, then Ella?" You would turn to Mary Earp's alongside Ella Toone. Caught off guard by the duo you would then notice you were both holding each other. In a panic you would both separate and try to recompose yourself. You braced yourself, you had hoped this two United players wouldn't be like the ones from earlier Alessia quickly turned to face the two Manchester United Women's players, a friendly smile on her face. "Hey, Mary, Ella! This is F/N, This is one of the new players for the men's team. F/N, meet Mary and Ella." You smiled and stuck out your hand. "nice to meet you both"

Mary and Ella exchanged knowing glances, clearly amused by the situation. Mary was the first to shake your hand "Oh, F/N, you're fitting in quite well with the ladies, I see," Mary teased, her playful tone still very much intact. You tried to fight back the blush on your cheeks and then Ella would shake your hand "You two make a cute pair" Alessia would kick Ella as you looked down embarrassed.

Ella would play off the kick however. "AH Mary I'm falling" She would say falling to Mary who caught her "My hero" Mary would then play also "Fear not my love, i am here to protect you" She said in a mocking. Alessia was bright red "That's it" She then ran after the two down the hallway leaving you behind. You sighed in relief, The teasing made it obvious that you found her attractive and didn't want to embarrass yourself when you only just met them.

"They can be a lot sometimes. Sorry about them," You jumped at the force turning to them who would put a hand on your arm "sorry didn't mean to scare ya" In a apologetic voice. You saw it was Leah Williamson "I'm Leah." She shook your hand "F/N" You responded to her. You felt the same way when you met Kane. You felt nervous meeting the women's captain.

Leah sensed this and then shifted the conversation to the upcoming men's game against the Netherlands, showing a genuine interest in your thoughts. "So, how are you feeling about the men's game against the Netherlands?"

You appreciated her friendly demeaner and openness. "I'm feeling excited and ready. It's a great opportunity, and I'm eager to contribute to the team's performance. I'll give it my all."

Leah nodded in understanding and gave a smile. "That's the spirit. Just so you know. The squad was talking about you last night." A wave of anxiety washed over you" All good things and just know We're all behind you and we'll be cheering you on. Just remember, it's just another game of football. Enjoy it." She would pat you on the shoulder. You couldn't help but feel moved by the words she said. It really felt genuine and she wanted you to succeed. With that she began to walk away before stating "I heard you like golf, we should play sometime"

"I'm down" you would shout to her as she walked down the hall "Good lad!"

You sat there, in the stadium of light. England were beating san Marino 6 - 0 in the 67th minute. The day was filled with preparing and trying to focus. Of course there was media, Asking you how you felt and if you think you were ready for this. Also the online response was mixed. From those who thought you weren't good enough, didn't know you and of course the Rashford situation. But there was an upside, those who gave you a chance watching your clips or the interviews on the England YouTube channel drew a liking towards you an da big one was it showed you watching the Lionesses train and talking to Serena which shocked but drew interest to you, from fans loving the face you were supportive of the women's game and to people it as you trying to learn as much as you could.

Excitement coursed through your veins as you observed your teammates on the field, the crowd, each play and each goal filling you with a sense of pride. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, with fans cheering for their team and the players demonstrating their skill and determination. Yet, alongside the excitement, there was also a twinge of restlessness. Sitting on the bench, you were eager to contribute, to step onto the field and to make a statement in the match. The desire to prove your worth and show your capabilities was a burning motivation within you. As you closely watched the game unfold, you couldn't help but mentally prepare yourself for the moment when you might be called upon to join the action. The second half played out before you and you remained focused, all the days of studying the tactics and learning from the experienced players around you lead to this

The opportunity to represent England in an international match was a dream come true and you were determined to make the most of it. Your emotions were a mix of excitement, anticipation, and readiness, as you waited for your chance to step onto the pitch and contribute to the team's success.

As the second half of the match against San Marino continued, you couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation. However, as the minutes ticked away, Southgate didn't look at you once. You were waiting for him to tell you to warm up. Anxiety built up as you wanted to burst onto the field and show everyone your worth. You knew that your fans in Japan and around the world were watching, Serena and the Lionesses were too. Why isn't he calling to you. It was the 80th minute and you could even hear the crowd close to you say

"Put the new kid on!"

"Why isn't he putting L/N"

"We want to see what he can do"

The minutes ticked down

81th minute

82th minute

83th minute

84th minute

85th minute

86th minute

87th minute

88th minute

89th minute

90th minute

*Final whistle blows*

It never came

You sat there in disbelieve as when you saw Southgate shook the opposing mangers hands you caught him smirking at you as you sat there hurting.

Part 1 End

[girlactionfigure]

THURSDAY HERO: Carl Lutz

Carl Lutz was a Swiss diplomat in Hungary who saved tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust by providing them with transit visas and creating safe houses throughout Budapest.

Carl was born in 1895, in Walzenhausen, Switzerland, to a devout Methodist family. When he was 14 his mother died of tuberculosis. The next year he left school and started working at a textile mill. Carl yearned to explore the wide world outside his sleepy mountain town, and at age 18 he moved to the United States, settling in Granite City, Illinois. For five years he worked and saved money for college, then in 1918 enrolled in Central Wesleyan College in Missouri.

In the summer of 1920, Carl took a summer job in Washington DC working at the Swiss Embassy. He loved the international environment and the rewarding work. Carl’s gracious personality and keen intelligence made him well suited for diplomacy. He enrolled in George Washington University, graduating in 1924 with a BA in law and history. Two years later, Carl moved to Philadelphia, and then St. Louis, to serve as Swiss Consul in those cities. Around this time he married Gertrud Fankhauser, a Swiss human-rights activist,

Carl was sent to Jaffa in 1935, where he was Swiss Vice-Consul. In 1936, he and Gertrud watched an unarmed Jew being lynched by a mob of Arabs. They were horrified and helpless to do anything. The tragic incident haunted Carl and perhaps contributed to his later stunning heroism in Europe.

The Swiss government recalled Carl from the Middle East in 1942 and sent him to their embassy in Budapest, Hungary. He represented not only Switzerland, but also countries that had broken ties with Hungary after it allied with Nazi Germany. As soon as Carl arrived in Budapest, he began working with the Jewish Agency for Israel to provide Hungarian Jewish children with transit visas, enabling them to emigrate to Palestine, then under British Mandate.

In 1944, the Nazis occupied Budapest and immediately started rounding up Jews and sending them to death camps. It was late in the war, and the Nazi war machine had gotten chillingly efficient at murdering Jews. During a two month period, 440,000 Jews were deported to Auschwitz. Carl Lutz kicked into high gear to save lives. As a diplomat, part of his job was to cultivate relationships with Hungarian officials, as well as German Nazi leaders in Budapest. He used these connections to negotiate a special deal – he could issue protective letters to 8000 Jews, enabling them to move to Palestine.

Carl used clever tricks to increase the amount of Jews he could save. He enabled each letter to cover an entire Jewish family of any size, rather than just one person. Taking the ruse further, he issued tens of thousands of protective letters, making sure each had a number between 1 and 8000, so that busy officials wouldn’t realize that more than 8000 letters had been issued. “The Germans are very correct people. They admire discipline and order. So when Nazi commandants saw these letters, they accepted them,” said Eric Saul, founder of “Visas for Life,” a project that honors diplomats who saved Jews during the Holocaust.

As thousands of Jews were being shoved onto cattle cars and taken to their death, Carl was desperate to save as many as he could. With the integral help of his wife Gertrud, he set up 76 “safe houses” all over Budapest, designating them as under the control of the Swiss government, and therefore beyond the reach of Hungarian or German authorities. One of them was the Glass House, a former glassware manufacturing facility previously owned by Arthur Weiss, a Hungarian Jew. In the summer of 1944, Weiss’ business was forcefully taken from him and he disappeared, leaving the large building empty. Carl rented the space to open the newly created Swiss Embassy’s Emigration Department for Representing Foreign Interest. Over the next few months, over 3000 Jews found refuge in the Glass House.

During this time, the Nazis overthrew the Hungarian ruler and installed the fascist Arrow Cross Party as the new government. The Arrow Cross was viciously anti-Semitic, and after taking power they started massacring Jews in the streets. One day, Carl was strolling by the Danube River when an Arrow Cross officer shot a Jewish woman right in front of him. Bleeding, the woman fell into the river – and Carl, in his suit and tie, jumped in after her. He rescued her from the water, and demanded to speak to the Hungarian officer who’d ordered the shooting. Projecting confidence and authority, he proclaimed that the wounded Jewish woman was a citizen of Switzerland and was protected by international law. As the Nazis stood mouths agape, Carl quickly helped the woman into his car and took her to safety.

In November 1944, the Arrow Cross gathered 70,000 Jews from transit camps and hiding places and forced them on a death march to concentration camps in Austria and Germany. Carl and Gertrud followed along in their car next to the exhausted marchers and used every opportunity to surreptitiously pull people out of line and provide them with protective documents. Carl later described the scene, “For these people it was the last glimmer of hope, for us, this was the worst form of spiritual torture. We saw the people being lashed with dog-whips and lying in the slime and mud with bloody faces…. Whenever possible I would drive alongside these people on their way to the concentration camps to try and show them that there was still hope.”

After Hungary was liberated in early 1945, Carl and Gertrud returned to Switzerland. Without a shared humanitarian mission, the marriage fell apart and they divorced in 1946. Three years later, Carl married Magda Csanyi, a Jewish woman he had saved, and adopted her daughter Agnes.

Carl was not honored for his heroism for many years. On the contrary, when he got back to Switzerland he was criticized for exceeding his authority by saving Jews; the government didn’t want their neutrality called into question. In 1958, the Swiss understanding of World War II started to change, and Carl Lutz was “rehabilitated” and honored as the great man he was. The riverside promenade where he saved the wounded Jewish woman from drowning is now the Carl Lutz Rakpart. A street in Haifa, Israel was named after him, and in 1965, Carl became the first Swiss national to be honored as “Righteous Among the Nations” by Israeli Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem. There are other memorials to him in Washington DC, Israel, Switzerland, and Budapest, where the Glass House is now a small museum. Carl died in 1975 in Bern, Switzerland.

For saving the lives of over 62,000 (!) Jews, we honor Swiss diplomat Carl Lutz as this week’s Thursday Hero.

[graciegoeskrazy]

darling that’s what humans do

george + charli + xcx!r

warnings: broken bones! Urgent care/er, a bit of fighting, crying, xrays,

a/n: two fics in two days? Who is sheeee???? I starting writing and finished this today. It’s short ish and idk how I feel about it so I just decided to post it anyway lolz. Enjoy ig?!

“George, do we have plans for dinn—"

George looked up and his eyes landed on you crumpled on the floor. His heart skipped a beat, and without a second thought, he sprinted toward you, panic etched across his face. You were cradling your elbow, your whole body trembling as pain pulsed through your arm.

“Shit.” He knelt down, positioning himself right in front of you, his voice softer now, but still filled with urgency. “You alright?” he asked, his brows furrowed with concern.

“Don’t touch it, don’t touch it,” you pleaded, your voice fragile as tears began to well in your eyes. The sharp sting radiated up your arm, intensifying with every heartbeat.

“I won’t, I promise,” George replied gently, his tone steady despite his racing thoughts. “I just need to take a look, alright?”

You nodded, biting your lip to keep from crying out as you slowly moved your other arm away, revealing the bruises already blooming across your skin and the unnatural angle of your forearm. His face tightened, a sigh escaping him. “Oh, kiddo, I think you broke it.”

The look you gave him then—wide-eyed, a mix of fear and confusion—was something George wasn’t prepared for. He’d never seen you like this, and it broke something in him. His usual calm exterior cracked at the sight of you so vulnerable, so scared.

“C’mon, let’s get you to the car, yeah?” His voice was tender as he stood, immediately helping you up by gripping your uninjured arm with careful precision. He steadied you, his movements deliberate, every action measured to keep from causing you more pain.

Without hesitation, George guided you toward the front door. He didn’t stop to grab his phone or wallet, leaving everything behind. His sole focus was on you—getting you to the hospital, making sure you were safe.

The world outside was a blur as he opened the car door for you, gently easing you into the passenger seat, his hands shaking ever so slightly. “We’ll get you fixed up, I promise,” he murmured, more to himself than to you, though his eyes remained locked on yours, filled with quiet reassurance.

……….

An X-ray technician walked into the room, and explained the basics of what was gonna happen before helping you into a wheelchair to wheel you into the exam room. You gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, the usual spark in your eyes dimmed, your enthusiasm drained. George watched you, his heart sinking with every step you took. He wasn’t prepared for how much it would hurt him to see you like this—so quiet, so defeated. The sadness clung to you like a shadow, creeping further into your expression with every passing second, and something shifted inside him. He felt powerless, desperate to fix things but knowing he couldn't.

As you shuffled toward the door, you looked back at George, eyes pleading for reassurance. He sat up as he spoke, “I’m gonna text Momma, alright?”

You nodded again, barely meeting his eyes, the pain too overwhelming for your usual bright response. It crushed him, seeing you like this—so far from your energetic self. He quickly pulled out his phone, typing with trembling fingers, his mind racing as he tried to hold it together for both of you.

……….

George | r u still at the studio?

Charli | yea wrapping up now. Y?

George | Y/n fell. we’re at the urgent care on carter st.

Charli | what? Is she okay?

George | shes getting xrays right now. I think it’s broken

Charli | oh my god ur joking

George | No.

George | I’m sorry baby

Charli | I'm on my way.

……….

He stared at the screen for a moment after sending the last text, the words hanging in the air. The guilt gnawed at him, as though somehow he should have prevented this, should have been able to protect you. When the door opened again and you were wheeled back inside, George’s heart clenched. He slipped his phone into his pocket, his eyes never leaving you.

The X-ray technician gave a brief, polite goodbye and closed the door behind him.

“Mom’s on her way.” he said softly, but all you could do was nod again, the weight of everything too much to bear at the moment. George swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay strong, even though seeing you like this was breaking him more than he’d ever let on. “You doing alright?” He said, taking you out of your zoned out state.

You sighed and shrugged, “I’ve been better I guess.”

……….

“Mum’s here, I’m gonna go get her. You gonna be alright?”

You nodded and gave a small smile.

He made his way out the door and to the parking lot to meet Charli.

“You broke my daughter?” She said, slamming the front door.

“No, no. No, no, no. I didn’t break her.”

“Well she’s broken!” She said, throwing her bag over her shoulder.

“But I didn’t break her.”

“So she broke herself?” She said, shrugging.

“No! She just tripped and broke her arm!”

“And what did she trip over?”

George sighed. “...a pedal me and Matty were using…”

“So it sounds to me like she wouldn’t have tripped and broken her arm in the first place if you blokes hadn’t placed it there. Right?” She started walking towards the front door or the clinic and away from George.

“Charli-”

“We’ll talk about this later. I want to see y/n.”

His girlfriend being angry wasn’t what he necessarily expected, especially not at him. He was too tired to fight it. One thing they could agree on was that you came first, and you needed all the comfort and help you could get right now.

George led her to the room, letting her walk in first. Her expression changed upon seeing your face. “How are you feeling my sweet?”

You smiled at her own smile. “I don’t know. I think the pain meds are starting to wear off.”

She smoothed your hair. “We can get you some more.” She turned to the door where he was standing. “George? Will you find the Nurse?” He solemnly nodded and walked out the door. Turning back with a smirk that didn’t go unnoticed by you.

You spoke softly once the door closed, “Don’t be mad at him, Mom.”

She tilted her head in fake confusion. “I’m not mad, why would I be mad-”

“I know when you guys get angry with each other…”

She sighed, dropping the act. “Anyone who hurts my baby I get mad with.”

“He didn’t hurt me. I hurt myself and it was an accident.”

……….

The doctor finally returned, clipboard in hand, and offered a reassuring smile. “It’s definitely broken, but there’s nothing a couple of weeks in a cast won’t fix.” Relief washed over the room, even if only slightly, as you all now waited for a nurse to come in and wrap up the visit. The promise of heading home soon lingered in the air.

You lay stretched out on the exam table, slowly sucking on a lollipop one of the charge nurses had given you during the paperwork shuffle. It was a small distraction from the lingering ache in your arm, though the real tension wasn’t from the pain—it was from your mom and George.

They sat side by side, close enough to touch, but the space between them felt like miles. Neither had spoken a word to the other, both stubbornly avoiding eye contact as though locked in some invisible standoff. Your mom had her arms and legs crossed tightly, her posture stiff, while George sat beside her, slouched in defeat, his hands resting limply in his lap.

You glanced between them, the tension more painful than your broken arm. Finally, you couldn’t take it anymore. “Oh my god, can you guys just apologize already?” Your voice broke the silence, startling them both. “I’m gonna be just fine. There’s literally no point in fighting.”

They both let out soft, sheepish laughs, clearly caught off guard by your bluntness. From your laid-out position on the table, you watched as their defenses slowly crumbled. Charli turned to George first, her lips tugging into a soft, tentative smile. He glanced back at her, the tension in his face easing, and after a moment, he reached for her hand.

“I’m sorry for not telling you right away,” George murmured, his thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles. His voice was quiet, full of regret. “I should’ve called you the second we were in the car.”

He lifted her hand and kissed her wrist, the small gesture enough to make your mom’s face soften entirely. She smiled back at him, her own walls lowering. “I’m sorry for being angry with you. I had no reason to be. You were doing the right thing… You saved her, and I’m sorry.”

They exchanged a quiet look, the kind of wordless understanding that spoke louder than any argument. Slowly, they leaned in and shared a soft, forgiving kiss, the weight of the tension between them finally lifting.

You couldn’t help but roll your eyes playfully, letting out a dramatic sigh as you lay back down on the table. “Thank goodness.”

They both laughed, the sound warm and full of relief, and for the first time that night, everything felt just a little bit lighter.

[homehauntsyou]

Caveat that I'm not Catholic and know nothing about saints, but I have heard some people who grew up in it say that when they were kids they got really into the saints, and would I guess assign? ones to their family members, specific saints that they would pray to for a specific person.

Do you think Sam would do this for John and Dean, maybe Bobby as well, and who do you think would be for each?

oh my god i love this so so much!! i would just like to preface this with the fact that i am no longer a practicing catholic, so i am just going off of practices that i remember from when i was younger :) if i get something wrong please let me know!! i'm going to fit in a keep reading bar here because this turned out to be very long & i don't want to make someone who isn't interested in saints scroll too much <3

essentially, people tend to pray to the saint that is the patron of the thing they are struggling with. for example, when my mom can't find her car keys, she usually says a prayer to st. anthony in the hopes that he'll help her find them. while i have never necessarily "assigned" a person a saint, if someone i knew was going through something that was related to a particular saint, i would pray to that saint, if that makes sense. so i really love the idea of sam doing that for the people that he loves & it just ending up being pretty much the same saint every time to the point where it is like he has assigned them that saint (and him also finding comfort in that consistency.)

i'll do john first because i think he's relatively the easiest in this case. there are two¹ options that really stand out to me - st. joseph the worker and st. george, who are both considered saints of protection². st. joseph is known for being the protector of family (and, more obviously, the patron saint of fathers) and i do love the idea of, despite his complicated relationship with john, him praying to the patron saint of both of those. st. george is also a good option - he's the patron saint of soldiers and is prayed to for the defeat of good over evil (or smth to that extent), which i think could be extra applicable if john is out on a hunt and sam is particularly worried.

dean is much harder because there's SO much going on there between them that i don't think just one saint can capture. i think the ones that really stood out for me were st. george and st. christopher. st. george for the same reasons as john - protection during a hunt & the viewing of dean's role especially as a solider. i think i like the idea of praying to st. christopher just a little bit more though. he's the patron saint of traveling (especially for people who travel by car) and i think sam would use that as a way to tie in the impala and how they kind of view it as their home. the car/traveling is so intristic to the way that they live that i think he could kind of just view st. christopher as an overall protecter of their family in the way that st. joseph can be. so a combination of george & christopher i think.

bobby³ is also kind of hard and maybe this is too obvious/not exciting enough but i do like the idea of sam praying to gabriel for him. he's the angel of messengers and i think bobby kind of fits into that role of guidance for them. (this would probably only be early-seasons/before gabriel's identity is revealed though.)

also i would just like to add that, even though she is not a saint, i do think that sam would consistently pray to mary (winchester) and would view her in a similar way to the way one might view a saint. to him, she is essentially like the patron saint of their family and he would pray to her in that way.

little elaborations to earlier notations -

¹ i didn't include st. michael for john because he's typically more associated with defeating the devil specifically vs. st. george who's more focused on the concept of warriors & defeating evil in general :)

² i also didn't include any patron saints of hunting, only because it makes more sense to me for sam to be praying for protection during the achievement, rather than just overall accomplishment. also in spn, it seems like hunters consider themselves to be more like soldiers/warriors than the traditional animal hunter so i don't know if sam would really find them applicable anyways.

³ i don't know for sure if sam would pray for bobby prior to s1/when they become close again, but i definitely think bobby reaches that level of closeness during canon, if not before.

[littlemuoi]

My 30 years protecting the Queen: dry humour, heartfelt gifts and travelling the world by Hugo Daniel (September 17th 2022)

Taking in the beauty of a misty Scottish moor amid the bustle of a Balmoral grouse shoot, the royal protection officer Dick Griffin turned to check on his charge, the Queen, only to get the shock of his life.

It was September 1995 and, at first glance, the then 69-year-old monarch had disappeared. As he searched anxiously through the thick fog, he finally caught sight of her — lying flat on the ground, a dead grouse beside her.

“Because it was so foggy we couldn’t see [that the grouse had] hit her in the chest,” Griffin said. “You can imagine the velocity of something like that falling down to the ground — it just flattened her completely. So I had to get her up and discreetly brush all the feathers and plumes away from her. She was shaken up and badly bruised.”

The equerry who had shot the bird was understandably embarrassed. “But then [they] saw the funny side of it, because the Queen saw the funny side of it. She said, ‘What an odd thing to happen’.”

Griffin, 71, shared his memories of more than 30 years as a protection officer for the royal family over a cup of coffee in a Pret a Manger near Buckingham Palace. His son, Gareth, 42, is a uniformed firearms officer and was on duty at the palace when the Queen’s coffin arrived there on Tuesday evening.

Since her death, a news clip from the Platinum Jubilee has re-emerged in which Griffin revealed how, during a walk on the Balmoral estate, the Queen posed for a photo with two American tourists who did not recognise her.

He said he was glad the story had been a “comfort” to people, with many reposting it and calling it their “favourite Queen story”. He described her as a “remarkable, caring, wonderful person”.

Griffin, who had been due to have lunch with the Queen next month, will attend the smaller, more personal committal service at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel tomorrow after the funeral at Westminster Abbey. He says all seven police officers who worked for the monarch have been invited.

Griffin now gives talks about his career to raise money for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex air ambulance.

His three decades with the royals began in 1982 as part of a team that reorganised palace security after Michael Fagan broke into the Queen’s bedroom. After that, he was assigned to act as Prince Edward’s protection officer at Cambridge University from 1983 to 1986. He worked on assignment for Prince Philip for 13 years until 1999 and then for the Queen until he retired in 2013.

He travelled with the Queen and Prince Philip to 161 countries. “Often you were in the car with them, just chatting away. She would ask about my family and all my marathon running. Once I went to South Africa to do the Comrades marathon, which is 55 miles, and you had a chip on your shoe so people could follow you at home. She got one of her footmen in front of a computer for ten hours to follow me, to see how I was getting on. The footman wasn’t too impressed.”

When Griffin’s running club in Bromley, southeast London, held a party to celebrate his 100th marathon, the Queen marked the occasion with a letter, showing her wry sense of humour. In it, she jokes: “We are delighted that your employers allow you sufficient time to train for, and take part in, such events.”

At his first meeting with the Queen and Prince Philip in 1983 at Windsor Castle, a week before he went to Cambridge with Edward, the couple were keen to learn about the background of the man who would be guarding their youngest child.

“We were sitting on lovely chairs and the staff were giving us coffee and the Queen said to me, ‘Can you tell Philip and me what you used to do before you came to royalty protection?’

“It was probably a question I’d prefer they’d not asked, because my job for the past six years had been [at Scotland Yard’s obscene publications branch policing] prostitution, the brothels, the sex shops and pornographic cinemas.

“The Queen said, ‘Good gracious, Mr Griffin. What on earth does Edward need a police officer with your qualifications for?’ and, before I could answer, Prince Philip said, ‘I don’t know. But they can have some wonderful parties at Cambridge.’

“That was my first experience of Prince Philip and his one-liners.”

The next time Griffin met the Queen, he remembers her sitting on the floor of the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle to watch a private performance of a play that Edward and friends had originally performed at Cambridge, in which Griffin had a cameo role.

The roof was leaking. “Water was landing on top of the Queen’s head. She was all dressed up, having just come from dinner. Several members of the household offered her a seat, but she said ‘that’s not necessary’ and sat on the floor in the aisle and put a programme over her head to keep dry.

“That was one of my first impressions of the Queen, and I just thought, ‘What an amazing lady.’”

Griffin’s three-decade career as protection officer spanned security threats ranging from the IRA to Isis.

“Of course with Islamic terrorism and suicide bombers, we had to really ramp things up,” he said. “But nothing fazed the Queen and Prince Philip. We’d try to encourage them sometimes not to be so open on walkabouts, but nothing would change her.”

He was in the car with the Queen on the day two months after 9/11 when an American Airlines flight crashed in Queens, New York. It would turn out to be an accident, but there were fears at first that it was terrorism-related.

“I was bringing the Queen back from Windsor Castle and my mobile phone rang and it was my son. I spoke to Gareth and he said there might be another terrorist attack.

“I told the Queen, and then, five minutes later, Tony Blair rings up to brief the Queen, and I always remember her saying, ‘Yes, prime minister, I know. My policeman’s son has just phoned to tell me.’”

In 2005 Griffin’s first grandchild, Joshua, was born and the Queen insisted on meeting him.

“She said to me in the car one day, ‘For the last nine months, all you’ve talked about is how excited you are about being a grandfather, and now your grandson has been born, you haven’t even bothered to introduce me.’ So I had to arrange a date and time so the Queen could have a cuddle. She was thrilled.”

He saw her love for her own grandchildren, too. For Christmas in 2010, Griffin and the other protection officers decided to give the Queen a wind-up clockwork duck that played music and laid an egg every 30 seconds, something they had found at a flea market on a recent state visit to the United Arab Emirates.

“My wife wrapped it up all beautifully with ribbons and gave it to the equerry to present it to the Queen on Christmas Day. We got this beautiful letter from the Queen saying how much she enjoyed it and Edward’s son, James, had so much fun playing with it.”

In the letter, the Queen wrote: “To the PPOs, many thanks for the unusual Christmas present from you all. It certainly livened things up and little James’s face was a picture when the duck laid her eggs! Thanks for making us laugh.”

When Griffin retired, in 2013, the Queen gave him the best gift of all. She had paid for him to have a retirement party in the state department at the palace, with 200 guests, and at eight o’clock she joined the party, with Prince Philip and the Earl of Wessex.

“That was the biggest present she could give me,” he said.

[keneestorytimelibrary]

Rockey Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Since my disastrous date, Raffa and I haven’t spoken to each other. The level of pettiness we have towards each other deserves an award. I walked past his office, and slammed open the door without knocking. To Raffa, that is probably the most annoying thing I could do to him, not to mention I would badly scuff his wall. I would run before he got a chance to catch up to me, and do something. The neighbors could probably hear us cursing each other out on a regular basis.

Raffa had also made the habit of putting salt in my coffee, putting as much as half a cup! Do you know what half a cup of salt tastes like? ABSOLUTE HORSE SHIT! 

To get back at him, I once (I only had a chance to say it once) called him Elmo in front of everyone. To be honest, I only managed the “El” before he gave me the meanest death glare.

“You don’t scare me!” I screamed at him. He dropped everything he was doing, and chased after me with a knife. I could hear Celia and Antonio chase after Raffa.

As a result of that, he left me outside one morning while it was raining. I was sick for three days! I did get him back, and used his toothbrush. He got sick, and spent the next two days sending me mean texts, which I gladly returned.

This all happened in a matter of a week and a half. At this very moment, Nicoló and Antonio called for an intervention. It was in the middle of the day, when I was dragged out of my room and into the office. Antonio managed to keep Raffa in the office, while Nicoló pushed me inside. I could tell Raffa was pissed when he saw me.

“Look, listen you two. We need to act like adults and resolve whatever issue you both have.” Antonio started. I stuck my tongue at Raffa, who responded with a middle finger.

“Come on you guys, that date was several days ago. And to be honest, none of us believed he was good enough for you.” Nicoló said honestly. 

“We didn’t even go on our first date! Whether he was good enough or not, it was up to me to decide.”I replied. I can understand feeling protective of me, but I never had a chance to figure it out on my own. “Not to mention, I highly doubt the jerk-off over there felt the same way. He just wanted to ruin my date.”

“If you knew whether a guy was good for you or not, you wouldn’t have been engaged to a dumbass…” Raffa said under his breath. I quickly shot him the stank eye, but his focus remained on some useless document he had on his desk. This man was pissing me off to no end.

Just as I made the resolve to leave the room, my phone began going off. I recognized the number immediately, and felt my heart drop.

“Hello?” I said, using my professional voice. I had all three guys staring at me, waiting to see what the call was about. My face and voice quickly morphed into panic.

“WHAT!? What the hell happened!? Is he hurt?!” I asked, pacing around the room. “Fine, I’m on my way!” I quickly hung up, and made my way to the door.

“What’s wrong?!” Raffa asked, getting up from his desk, and walking up to me.

“Matteo was in a fight.” I quickly said. Without asking another question, Raffa grabbed a pair of car keys, and ran out of the office with me. Antonio and Nicoló followed suit.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Matteo’s school, St. George Preparatory Academy, was a three stoned building that took about a block and a half of space. They had archery, horseback riding lessons, swimming, and Robotics and Engineering courses, among other things. With the strict limit of 150 students in the entire school (grades 3-6), the school board emphasizes the desire to “cultivate, and widen our student’s education, to help shape the world into a better place.” 

Well, they were about to add another phrase to their motto. “WHOEVER TOUCHED MY KID IS GOING TO DEAL WITH ME. I DON’T CARE IF IT WAS ANOTHER KID; MY HANDS ARE RATED E FOR EVERYBODY!” I was hellbent on finding Matteo, and ringing the neck of whoever touched him.

Raffa led the way into the school, as the four of us ran straight to the main office. This was my first time inside the school since I started working. It wasn’t Raffa’s first time though...he didn’t even bother waiting for a school rep to greet us.

Down the recently waxed floors, with dozens of school photos of past alumni that looked like they followed you wherever you went, Matteo sat on a hard bench, eyes glued to  the floor. I wasn’t close enough, but I could tell almost immediately that he was hurt. There were several band aids along both arms, and upon closer inspection, he had a black and blue eye. Though it could’ve easily been worse, in my head, leaving so much as a scratch on my child meant death.

“Matteo, what happened?!” Raffa and I asked at the same time. I ran up to him and began inspecting his wounds. He looked scared, and incredibly sad. Whoever did this to him was going to pay!

“Some kids were messing with a little girl, so I stepped in…” Matteo said. “It got out of hand, and even one of the kid’s nannies got involved.”

Something inside me snapped. ‘A grown adult touched my kid?! OH HELL NO!’

Raffa, Antonio, and Nicoló were all on the same page as me, though they didn’t confirm it verbally. 

The area we found ourselves in was in front of the principal’s office. The door was a beautiful mahogany, that seemed to reflect everything. Even the door knob looked extravagant; it looked like the biggest diamond I’ve ever seen.

“Should we wait here to be escorted in?” Nicoló asked, putting a steady hand on Matteo’s shoulder. “We need to make sure to not escalate the situation any further.”

“Agreed, we do not need to stir the pot.” Antonio added. Their words fell on deaf ears though; Raffa and I were already opening the principal’s door.

“WHO THE FUCK TOUCHED MY KID?!” I yelled, startling everyone in the room.

[mpregandproud]

Isaac (Part 5)

We had already been on the road for three hours. We were halfway between Sandra's town and the city where Isaac and I were living and where I moved to when I started college. I had made that drive thousands of times in those four-plus years and it had never felt as long as it did that day. I was tense, I sensed that something bad had happened. I was worried about Sandra, of course, but one question kept hovering over me: would my children be okay?

Since we rushed out of the house, I kept rubbing my belly. It was as if my body was asking me to protect the three lives I was carrying inside me. I was telling them that they would be safe with me, that nothing would happen to them. Could I really guarantee their safety? Would I really be able to give them a good life? A whirlwind of questions and doubts flooded my head, and Isaac's hand.

He was driving the car, but he practically never let go of my left hand. I barely told him that the call was from St. George's Hospital, where Sandra was supposed to deliver. I was told that something had happened with her and that I should report to the hospital immediately. Isaac's reaction was instantaneous, he set about packing two travel bags with clean clothes and some necessities. In 10 minutes he had everything packed for him and me as well while I wandered around the house with a blank stare and my hands on my belly. Isaac called the university where he was teaching to ask for a few days off so he could come with me. He knew very well that my insecurity and anxiety, even though they seemed to have been overcome, were still there, and that he was one of the few things that put my life in order.

We arrived after two in the afternoon. We asked at reception for Sandra Díaz and were taken to a large meeting room. There the hospital director, the head of maternity and a couple of lawyers introduced themselves. I knew one of the lawyers, he was a friend of Sandra's, I had dinner with him several times while I was married to her. That whole scene only made me even more tense, until James, the hospital's lawyer, began to speak.

"Mr. Norris, thank you for coming so quickly. I imagine the gentleman with you is your current partner, your ex-wife's lawyer has brought us up to date. I'm sorry to have to give you this news, but considering your pregnancy, we felt it best not to tell you anything until you were here. Three days ago, Sandra, your ex-wife, went into labor and it was her mother, Linda, who brought her here. Unfortunately, on their way to the hospital they were hit by another hit-and-run vehicle. Linda died and Sandra was badly injured. She was immediately transferred to this hospital and we performed a cesarean section to try to save the babies. The boy did not survive, but the girl is safe and sound, being cared for by the nurses. Sandra, she clung to life for a few more hours, until she passed away early this morning," the lawyer said coldly. Isaac gripped my hand tighter than ever, and draped his other arm over my shoulder supporting me. I needed something to give me stability at that moment. I needed Isaac. The four people in front of me offered their condolences and regretted what had happened.

After a brief pause, Ernest, Sandra's lawyer and friend, spoke. "I'm very sorry we have to meet under these circumstances, Dan. Sandra hasn't stopped talking about you these last few weeks since she came back to town. For her, leaving you, was the biggest mistake of her life. She admired you, and she admired what you had built with Isaac. She wanted you to be a part of her children's lives, she wanted them to know a man as good and caring as you. Now, sadly, that little girl will never get to meet her mother. How unfair life is”. Ernest found it hard to say those words, he was very fond of Sandra. Once she told me that when they studied together at the village high school they were like sweethearts. "The thing is that the only family Sandra had left was her mother, and she died in the accident. Before she passed away we presented her with different solutions and she was clear from the very first moment that she would like you, the girl's father, to take care of her. One of her last wishes was for you and Isaac to be the parents of the little girl. I know it's all very hasty but we should settle this matter today, otherwise the child would go to social services," Ernest said. "Think about it, Mr. Norris, talk it over with your partner and let us know in a few hours what you want to do," the hospital director added. "If you want to see the girl you can ask one of our nurses to accompany you to the maternity service to see her," the head of that department added.

The four of them left, Ernest being the only one who came over to give me a hug. We both burst into tears at that moment. He already had a partner and a baby girl, I had already divorced Sandra and was expecting triplets with Isaac, but neither of us had forgotten her. He smiled and said goodbye to me, shook Isaac's hand and walked out of the room to leave us alone. I turned and before I even started crying again Isaac wrapped his strong arms around me. I soaked his shirt with my tears, but he didn't let go of me at any point, nor did he make any pretense of trying to stop my crying. He let me cry until I had completely let it all out. And after that, when I had hardly any tears left to shed, he grabbed both my hands, smiled at me, looked at my lips and kissed me. "I want you to know that I love you and that I will support you 100% in whatever decision you make," he said.

We asked a nurse to accompany us to the maternity ward. There in a crib was the little girl. She looked just like me, except for her eyes, which resembled Sandra's. I was seeing a little cross between me and my ex-wife, I couldn't believe it. It was the most beautiful and exciting thing I had ever seen in my life. I took the baby girl in my arms and rested her on top of my belly. I spent long minutes cradling that precious little girl in my arms, while Isaac fiddled with her tiny hands. She was perfect, precious, beautiful... she was my daughter. Isaac knew from the moment I saw her that I wanted to take her with me. I don't know if it was pregnancy hormones or my parenting instincts, but I couldn't conceive of my daughter being raised by other people. "We'll have to prepare her room at home, buy her a beautiful crib, toys and lots of clothes. And name her," Isaac told me, without needing to ask me if I wanted to take her. "Her name will be Sandra," is all I told him.

We met again in the afternoon with the committee and processed all the paperwork. Little Sandra already had a father, and in the same paperwork, Isaac legally adopted her. Her mother would not be able to take care of her, but her father would be with her all her life.

For the next two days we were in the hospital. The nurses taught us several tricks to give her a bottle, too bad my breast is still not able to give her milk. We learned how to change diapers. We learned how to be parents in an express way. Looking at the situation, it will be good for us to practice with Sandra for when the triplets arrive.

My pregnancy, as you can imagine, was the center of attention during those days. Isaac took the tightest clothes he had around the house, so much so that part of my belly had to be worn up in the air at times. I was four and a half months pregnant with triplets, my belly was unmistakably pregnant. The head of maternity offered to reveal the sex of the babies we were expecting. I was tested and was pregnant with a girl and two boys. The tests were all in order, except for the weight, which was too much for this stage of pregnancy, although it was nothing alarming, at least medically speaking, my clothes did not agree.

When we left the hospital I asked Isaac for the most complicated favor. "Honey, I want to stop in my village on the way back to our house. I want to talk to my parents and introduce you and little Sandra, my family. I think I'm finally ready to take this step."

Go to Part 6

[birdy-the-artist]

Reanne's black Lincoln came to a halt on the shoulder of a barren desert road. Claire hadn't really been paying attention to where they were going; all that Reanne had told her was that they were headed to St. George, Utah, and they'd been driving across miles and miles of featureless land for what felt like a million years. Realistically, though, it had probably been about a day. Somewhere along the way, she must've dozed off, and she now found the car stalled and the sun hanging directly above. Reanne climbed out of the car and motioned for Claire to follow.

"Did it break down?" Claire asked wearily, rubbing her eye. She noted that what should have been oppressive, blazing desert heat in mid July didn't seem to be affecting her much. Perhaps that was another vampire thing, or it was due to the protection of the strange enchanted stone around her neck. Reanne shook her head as she popped the trunk.

"We're running early, so I thought I'd stop and teach you to shoot." The older vampire began hauling things out of the trunk, including a cardboard box of bottles that clinked noisily when she set them on the ground. They were followed by what looked like a few small briefcases, and then, perplexingly, a fold up chair. Claire's brow furrowed as she watched.

"Why do I need to know how to shoot?" Claire asked, her nose wrinkling a bit. Not that she was strictly opposed to the idea, it just seemed a bit... out of the blue. Reanne returned the question with an incredulous look.

"Have you even been listenin' to me, kid?" she asked, bewildered. "We're huntin' down recruiters! What, you think when they see you comin' they're just not gonna fight back? Maybe give you a little pat on the head and an apology for the inconvenience? Hand over their gun and their dick while they're at it?"

"Geez, okay, I get it," Claire grumbled. In hindsight, maybe the question WAS kind of stupid, but that didn't mean Reanne had to be rude about it. "I wouldn't be asking so many dumb questions if you just explained yourself better, you know."

Reanne muttered something that Claire couldn't make out, but offered no rebuttal. Apparently, even the old vampire herself had to admit that she could be frustratingly obtuse at times. Claire could only surmise that this came with age... Or, perhaps, part of being a vampire was an incessant need to cultivate a thick air of vague mystique. Whatever it was, it was getting old very fast.

Wordlessly, Reanne began to set the bottles up in a neat row atop an ancient looking wooden fence that lined the road. She then sauntered back towards the car where the briefcases still sat, set one of them on top of the now closed trunk, and opened it to reveal a small gun. Tiny, in fact. It was a revolver, but could barely even be called a pea shooter, by the looks of it. Upon being handed the freshly loaded little thing, Claire looked it over and found herself unimpressed. "You want me to use THIS?"

"Mhm." Reanne was now setting the folding chair up and settling into it, casually flicking open a Vogue magazine that she'd seemingly produced from nowhere.

"So you're not even gonna teach me how to use a real gun?" Claire's eyes narrowed a bit, her brow furrowing even further. "What's in those other cases?"

"Nothin' you're allowed to touch," came the bored reply.

"Like?"

Reanne looked up from the magazine briefly. "Are you gonna keep asking questions or are you gonna shoot those bottles already?"

Claire scowled and turned towards the fence, taking a stance she'd seen Reanne do when shooting. She held the gun up and cocked it, then leveled it with some uncertainty towards one of the bottles. She focused on it in silence for a moment, taking in the green light that glittered off of it in the sun, then carefully squeezed the trigger.

BANG!

A small explosion of dust burst up from the ground behind the fence, the meager sandy debris drifting away in the hot wind. The green bottle stood proud and untouched on the fence. Claire chanced a look back at Reanne, only to see that she'd been watching with carefully concealed interest.

"... That was terrible," Reanne said finally, the casual flatness of her voice putting Claire's teeth on edge.

"Well, it's my first fucking time shooting one of these things!!" Claire exploded. "You didn't even bother to show me anything!"

"Well, you clearly know how the thing works," Reanne answered, once again engrossed in her magazine. "So do it again. But try actually hitting one of the bottles this time."

With a growl, Claire did as she was told. Minutes turned into an hour, and she still hadn't hit any of the bottles.

"Can we go now?" she whined. "Look, I've been practicing this for, like, a million years now."

"Hit one damn bottle," came the reply. Reanne had set the Vogue edition down and was now simply watching Claire, her arms crossed and her expression worryingly unreadable. One thing was clear, though- she was patient, and she wasn't planning on moving from her seat any time soon.

Claire stomped her foot, reloaded the gun as she spat explatives into the sandy ground beneath her feet, and marched back over to where she originally stood before unleashing shot after shot into the row of glimmering bottles. After the third shot came, finally, the satisfying sound of shattering glass as an old, brown whiskey bottle exploded into a shower of shards. Claire let out a victorious whoop, throwing her hands into the air. "YES! You see that?!"

Before her mentor could reply, she reloaded the gun yet again and resumed her brute force strategy, finding herself rewarded with two more hit targets. Claire whirled around with a smug grin. "How's that?"

"Better," Reanne answered thoughtfully. "Though if you gotta reload your gun four times to hit three targets, your aim could still use some work."

"Okay, well-" Claire had begun to gesture rather exaggeratedly with her retort, but as her right arm lifted and the hand holding the gun tightened ever so slightly, she found herself interrupted by another shockingly loud bang. Carefully opening her eyes, she found herself starting directly at the figure before her, who was wearing her own expression of shock, mingled with annoyance. She also had a neat, fresh little bullet hole right in the middle of her forehead.

"Shit," Claire mumbled, stumbling back as Reanne finally got up and approached. "Sorry! I'msorryI'msorryI'msorry-"

"Hand over the gun," Reanne grumbled, holding a hand out expectantly. "Practice is over."

"... Really?" Claire replied, her voice laced with mock innocence. "Damn, I should shoot you more often."

"Shut up." Reanne snatched up the little gun and began stowing it away. "Grab them bottles."

"Yes, ma'am," Claire muttered giving the sky a characteristically dramatic eye roll.

[qippabtch]

Deaf Americans and 9-1-1

It was sweet that he thought of me when he heard another police department over our region's shared police frequency, requesting the assistance of an officer fluent in American Sign Language with the arrest of a Deaf individual. Maybe the appropriate response would have been something along the lines of, hey, neat!

But I didn't think it was neat, and I still don't. In fact, it bothered me. the official symbol for ASL interpreters, based on the sign for "interpreting"

"That's super illegal," I texted Gabe back. "They can’t use an officer. A Deaf person has the right to a certified interpreter."

"Interesting," he sent back. "That's good to know."

But I wasn't done. "Just think about it," I continued. "If their Miranda rights aren’t read, correctly and in full, the entire arrest is bonk. How much worse do you think it could be if an un-licensed cop plays interpreter and screws something up? Even if they don’t, there’s no accountability. It’s a really risky game to play, as a department. You don't fuck with the ADA unless you want a serious lawsuit."

In 1990, then-President George H. W. Bush signed the ADA into law. The Americans with Disabilities Act was meant to protect individuals with a wide array of disabilities, a category that includes the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

“The ADA broadly protects the rights of individuals with disabilities in employment, access to State and local government services, places of public accommodation, transportation, and other important areas of American life. The ADA also requires newly designed and constructed or altered State and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities."

There are a few different ways that dispatchers are expected to comply with ADA expectations. The first method is using TTY technology, with which our 9-1-1 systems are required to comply. There's also text-to-911 services, some of which work better than others, and silent call procedures, in which a party unable to unwilling to speak aloud can still communicate with dispatchers. 

But even after the call, there are a thousand different ways that a deaf person can be failed by emergency responders. From police interactions to neglect in the courtroom, the issue is broad and systemic, and fixing it is going to require more than just attention and awareness.  

For a d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing person, the right to an interpreter is probably the most important right protected by the ADA. After all, the primary barrier of deafness is communication. How are you supposed to know what you're in trouble for when you're arrested, or follow along in your own court case, or tell the police what happened if you're a victim of a crime?

The ADA is supposed to protect against these sorts of injustices, but unfortunately, as demonstrated by the fact that we heard one of our own local PDs requesting an officer with ASL knowledge over the radio, the follow-through just isn't always there. The resources allocated to teaching law enforcement how to deal with individuals with disabilities are severely lacking. As Professor of Sociology Alex Vitale of Brooklyn College states, “Police compliance with ADA provisions is pretty poor across the board. It’s clearly not a priority for a lot of police leaders." 

In some places, in spite of the ADA, violations happen all the time. In 2012, St. Louis police tasered a deaf man on the side of the road, only for it to turn out he was having a diabetic emergency. Then in 2014, an elderly deaf man was dragged from his car and beaten by officers, before being charged with resisting an arrest by the same department that cleared the officers of all wrongdoing. A month later, a deaf man had been similarly beaten, tased, and choked out after being mistaken for a burglar. The officers had seen him signing, trying to communicate with them, and believed the movements to be signs of aggression, and had responded in kind.

This problem has been addressed by independent journals, such as The American Civil Liberties Union and The Atlantic, as well as in a humorous episode of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, guest-starring Deaf activist and entertainer Nyle DiMarco.

However, there hasn't been much coverage of D/deaf interactions with law enforcement in the mainstream media, with the exception of those reports where things do get out of hand. Like with many issues of civil rights, pleas for systemic change continue to go unaddressed, or are only addressed after tragedy occurs. More often than not, too, these are underwhelming measures that smack of PR damage control, and are unlikely to maintain traction after the initial outcry dies down.

There is a reason the law requires anyone who is serving as an interpreter in any official capacity to be certified. Without those protections, children may be coerced into interpreting for parents, which opens up all sorts of issues, both for the child and for the efficacy of services being provided.

Many of the same issues arise when unqualified third parties are asked or compelled to serve in the same way. Interpreters are held accountable to standards of care, much in the same as their doctors and judges are. They are trained in the language's nuance, in skills for effectively communicating complex ideas to and for their Deaf clients. Furthermore, there is a code of ethics, compliance to which can help ensure privacy, regulate appropriate intervention, and serve as a framework for professionalism.

Of course, a national interpreter shortage is part of the issue. In college, I chose the ASL Linguistics track, which focuses on the science of language with ASL as a model, rather than the ASL Interpreting track. This was a decision that many of my peers and even some professors expressed disappointment in, as there is such a profound disparity between the needs of the community and the available resources. I chose dispatch over working directly in the Deaf community, but my background both through my education and in the jobs I worked between the years of 2018 and 2023 has given me insights that I assume the department making the request did not have.

However, as a hearing person with no experience trying to run a law enforcement agency, I am far from qualified to decide what is and is not an acceptable risk. I don't know what was going on at that department. I don't know what kind of attempts may have been made to locate a certified interpreter before they put out that request over the radio. What I do know is that it's still unacceptable. 

Unfortunately, I don't have the answer. I'm just one dispatcher, in one small-town PSAP, with one set of ideals that I wish I could see reflected in the big wide world outside. But I can write, and so I do. I write to inform, to entertain, to commiserate with you, dear reader, dear stranger. I write in hopes that someday, somebody with more power than me understands what needs to be done, and sees it through. 

In the meantime, we can write. We can write to our representatives, calling them to action. We can write to police departments out of which atrocities are born, and demand justice for those wronged. We can write, and we can speak up. We can learn sign language and support organizations that support our local disabled communities. We can listen to the voices of those who experience the world a little differently to us, and maybe, just maybe, we'll be part of the force of change that makes the world a better place for all.

For Americans who want to make a difference, to find and contact your state representative, visit the U. S. House of Representatives website and search by your state and district. The same can be done for state senators here. The National Association of the Deaf has a great letter template that you can use as well. If you are able to and wish to donate financially to local or global Deaf activism groups, the bottom of this Wikipedia page contains a list of organizations from all over the world.

[agentcable]

Supernatural Season 2 Ep. 10 "Hunted"

After Dean tells Sam what their father said before he died, a distraught Sam leaves without Dean. Sam meets Ava, a psychic who tells him she came to warn him about his death. Dean finds out Gordon is after Sam and goes to save him

If you want to watch the series for yourself, stop reading! This post contains spoilers to the storyline.

Scott Carey is talking to Dr. George Waxler about his psychic ability. He can electrocute things just by touching them. Dr. Waxler looks at his notes, surprised. Scott offers to shake his hand, but Dr. Waxler just ask him another question.

Scott walks through a dark parking lot to his car. Two trains passes overhead. A figure passes by in the shadows. Scott unlocks his car and sees a figure in the reflection. He turns around and the figure stabd him in the chest. Scott falls against the car, blood flowing from his mouth.

At the lake, Dean tells Sam a secret John whispered to him before he died. John told Dean to protect Sam and that if he couldn't, Dean wold have to kill him. Sam is upset and angry. He wants to know what that means. He thinks about whether he'll turn evil and what the demon wants from Sam. Dean says he's sorry for not telling Sam sooner. He asks Sam to wait and says they should plan their next move.

Sam leaves the motel and steals a car.

He gets to an empty building at 5637 Monroe St. He checks it out. He goes to the back door, opens it, and goes in. He sets off a tripwire and is blown up. Blood spills onto the screen, leaving only an empty shoe. A bright light shines through a window. We see a young woman sitting up in bed, sweating and out of breath. The man wakes up and asks what's wrong. She says she had another nightmare.

Sam walks into the Roadhouse, nervous and afraid to face Ellen. Ellen isn't surprised to see Sam. Dean has been calling all day, asking if she's seen him. Ellen asks about them. Sam asks how Jo is doing. Ellen doesn't know because after helping Sam and Dean, she wanted to keep hunting. Ellen told her to leave. Jo sends postcards from time to time. Ellen says it's not their fault and that she forgave John a long time ago.

Sam asks Ash to find people like him with psychic abilities and dead mothers. Ash's database finds four names.

Sam, Max, Andy, and Scott. Ash says the address for Scott is a cemetery in Lafayette, Indiana. Scott died a month ago. He was stabbed in a parking lot. The police have no suspects. Ellen says she has to call Dean and tell him where Sam is. Sam asks her not to tell Dean. He means well, but he needs answers. Dean can't protect him.

Sam visits Scott's father, pretending to be a friend from high school. Mr. Carey says Scott had changed a lot in the last year. He started with headaches and nightmares, then became paranoid and depressed. They tried to get him help, but Scott refused. He locked himself in his room. Sam finds three bottles of medication on Scott's dresser and takes one. In the closet, he finds a collage of yellow eyes taped to the wall. This makes him think Scott was connected with the Yellow-Eyed Demon.

As Sam walks to his motel room, he sees someone following him. He grabs her and asks who she is. It's the girl who had the nightmare. She says, that Sam is in danger.

She introduces herself as Ava Wilson. She tells Sam she's not crazy or on drugs. She says she's been having nightmares for about a year. She didn't think much of it. Then a month ago, she had a nightmare about a guy getting stabbed in a parking lot. A few days later, she found an article about Scott Carey's death. She shows it to Sam. She says she had another nightmare last night, where she saw Sam die. Sam realizes she's one of the psychics the demon wants. Ava thinks Sam is crazy. He asks about her mother's death in a fire. She says her mom lives in Palm Beach, which proves she doesn't fit the pattern.

Ellen calls Dean and says Sam is in Lafayette, Indiana.

Ava asks Sam to leave town, but he says he can't because he's looking for answers. Ava came from Peoria, Illinois, to save Sam. But since Sam won't leave, she'll leave him to his funeral. She grabs her purse and leaves. Sam says she might never know the truth about her nightmares if she leaves.

Ava makes an appointment with Dr. Waxler to steal Scott Carey's file. She freaks out when she sees Sam on the ledge outside the window of the high-rise building. To distrat Dr. Waxler, she tells him about how she once ate eight packets of Pop Rocks and drank a can of Coke. She asks if that's considered suicide.

Back at the motel, Ava is out of breath. Sam and Ava listen to Scott's visit with Waxler. In the recording, Scott tells Waxler that the Yellow-Eyed Demon has plans for him and that there's a war coming, People like him will be the Soldiers, and things will change. Dean sees Sam at the motel and is relieved. He sees Ava from a distance and starts laughing.

Shots are fired through the motel room windows. Sam and Ava hide behind the table, but Gordon Walker keeps shooting from the roof of the building across the street. Dean attacks, but Gordon knocks him out with the back of the rifle.

Sam and Ava walk up to the empty roof where Gordon was shooting. Sam finds 233 caliber rounds, which shows Gordon put a suppressor on the rifle. Ava is feaking out, so Sam says he's not crazy. He just watches T.J. Hooker. Sam calls Dean, who is tied up with Gordong holding a gun at him. Dean tells Sam to meet him at 5637 Monroe St.

Sam knows Dean's in trouble because he used the term "funky town", which is their code word for when there's a gun pointed at them. Sam gets Ava to go home to be safe. At the building, Gordon tells Dean that he wants revenge, but he's a hunter, not a killer. He says Sam is fair game because Sam is a psychic.

Gordon tells Dean that he was in Louisiana performing an exorcism on a teenage girl. She was a low-ranking demon who muttered about a war. The soldiers are humans fighting on the demon's side. The demon plans to use the Special Children, who have psychic abilities, as soldiers. The demon said he knew Gordon. Gordon knows about Sam's visions from his connections to the roadhouse. He says the special children will kill. Gordon set two tripwires in the building to blow up and kill Sam.

As Gordon expected, Sam searches the outside of the building and heads around to the back door, walking into Ava's vision. Sam opens the back door and goes in slowly. Dena is tied to a chair. The first explosion breaks down part of the wall and sends pieces of wood flying. Dean scream through his gag, crying. A second explosion goes off a few seconds later. Gordon checks the other room with his sniper rifle. He sees Sam's shoe and thinks he's dead. Sam is right behind him with a gun, demanding Gordon drop his weapon. Gordon puts the sniper rifle on the ground but then punches Sam. Sam gets Gordon back on the ground, holding the rifle to his head. Gordon yells, to do it and show his brother who the killer really is. Sam stops himself from pulling the trigger and his Gordon again with the rifle. Sam unties Dean, who is ready to shoot Gordon. Sam stops him, saying Gordon's been taken care of.

Sam and Dean walk back to the car when Gordon comes out of the building with guns, shooting everywhere. Sam and Dean run and duck as they go. They hide in the grass. As Gordon approaches the intersection, five squad cars surround him and order him to drop his weapons. Gordon's been taken care of for about three or four years.

Dean calls Ellen angry that she told Gordon about Sam's visions. Ellen says she didn't tell anyone about Sam. Dean thinks she told someone because Gordon said he knew people at the Roadhouse. She says she's not disloyal and didn't tell anyone. But the Roadhouse is full of hunters with their own patterns and connections. Gordon could have found out this info from anyone.

Sam tries to call Ava several times, but only gets her voicemail. Sam says he wants to keep hunting and wants Dean to stay by his side. Dean says "Bitch" and Sam says "Jerk" and smiles. Sam has a bad feeling and gets Dean to go to Peoria to check on Ava.

At Ava's house, Sam and Dean find her fiancé Brady dead in their bedroom with blood on the bed. There are traces of sulfur on the ledge of the window, proving a demon was there. Sam finds Ava's engagement ring at the foot of the bed.

----------

For more behind the scenes, follow up here:

Podcast "Supernatural - Then and Now" hosted by Rob Benedict and Richard Speight Jr.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 10.20 (after 1960)

1961 – The Soviet Navy performs the first armed test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, launching an R-13 from a Golf-class submarine. 1962 – China launches simultaneous offensives in Ladakh and across the McMahon Line, igniting the Sino-Indian War. 1973 – Watergate scandal: "Saturday Night Massacre": United States President Richard Nixon fires U.S. Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus after they refuse to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox, who is finally fired by Solicitor General Robert Bork. 1973 – The Sydney Opera House is opened by Elizabeth II after 14 years of construction. 1976 – The Luling–Destrehan Ferry MV George Prince is struck by the Norwegian freighter SS Frosta while crossing the Mississippi River in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana. Seventy-eight passengers and crew die, and only 18 people aboard the ferry survive. 1977 – A plane carrying the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashes in woodland in Mississippi, United States. Six people, including three band members, are killed. 1981 – Two police officers and a Brink's armored car guard are killed during an armed robbery carried out by members of the Black Liberation Army and Weather Underground in Nanuet, New York. 1982 – During the UEFA Cup match between FC Spartak Moscow and HFC Haarlem, 66 people are crushed to death in the Luzhniki disaster. 1986 – Aeroflot Flight 6502 crashes while landing at Kuibyshev Airport (now Kuromoch International Airport) in Kuibyshev (now present-day Samara, Russia), killing 70 people. 1991 – A 6.8 Mw earthquake strikes the Uttarkashi region of India, killing more than 1,000 people. 1991 – A massive firestorm breaks out in the hills of Oakland and Berkeley, California killing 25 people and destroying more than 3,000 homes, apartments and condominiums. 1995 – Space Shuttle Columbia launches on STS-73. 2002 – Top Gear, the revived popular British TV motoring magazine premiered on BBC. 2003 – The Sloan Great Wall, once the largest cosmic structures known to humanity, is discovered by students at Princeton University. 2005 – The general conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) passes the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. 2011 – Libyan Crisis: Rebel forces capture Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi and his son Mutassim in his hometown of Sirte and kill him shortly thereafter, ending the first Libyan civil war. 2017 – Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) declare victory in the Raqqa campaign. 2022 – Liz Truss steps down as British Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party amid the country's political crisis, serving for the least time of any British Prime Minister [49 days].

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"200 TO GET WORK FILLING DITCHES," Kitchener Record. May 16, 1934. Page 16. --- Work In Progress From Kitchener To St. George; Jobs Given At Kitchener ---- About 200 unemployed men of the district between St. George and Kitchener, throughout the urban and rural districts, will find employment on the ditch-filling and highway pavement contracts which started yesterday morning, The Record was advised today. The work is being done under the supervision of the Ontario Department of Highways.

Men desiring work are being told by the foremen on the jobs to apply at the government employment bureau at Kitchener. The complete registration for the district is being made up there and foremen must go by the instructions received from that office.

Work on filling in the ditches be- tween Kitchener and Preston start- ed at both ends, one squad working at the Kitchener end and the other at the Freeport end operating towards Preston.

Gravel is being supplied from convenient pits in the district and is being hauled by dump truck to the jobs.

M. Phillips, superintendent of the government employment bureau was in Preston yesterday, and also at Galt, it is said, securing the co-operation of the employment agencies in these places, towards filling the positions.

Help is being paid 35 cents an hour, The Record learned though the report was not verified.

Besides the highway filling work there is a large highway contract underway between Galt and Brantford and it is said that men from the Galt, Dumfries and St. George district are being placed on this line.

Though little has actually been accomplished as yet in the ditch filling scheme between Kitchener and Preston motorists who have seen what is completed remark favorably upon the plan. The shoulders of the roadways are being filled in, in some places five and six feet of gravel having been added. Places where it was impossible for a car to "pull up" on the side of the road will afford such protection when the job is finished.

Work on the various projects will last until fail.

[sassysuitdonut]

Uncover Gozo in 4 Days: The Ultimate Travel Itinerary

Transport Options to Your Accommodation

Upon arrival, you have a few options to reach your accommodation. Public buses are available and they connect Mgarr to Victoria and other towns. However, for a hassle-free experience, consider pre-booking a taxi or using a ride-sharing service. If you’re planning to explore the island extensively, renting a car might be the most convenient option.

Recommended Areas to Stay

For first-timers, staying in Victoria offers the advantage of centrality. It’s the hub of the island, making it easier to travel to various attractions. If you prefer a coastal setting, Marsalforn and Xlendi offer excellent sea views and dining options.

Afternoon: Exploring Victoria

Visit the Citadel

The Citadel in Victoria is not just a tourist attraction; it’s a symbol of Gozo’s resilience and history. The fortified city offers a journey through time, from its Phoenician roots to its role in the Knights of St. John. Don’t miss the Cathedral of the Assumption, a baroque masterpiece with an illusionistic flat dome. The adjacent museums, like the Gozo Archaeology Museum and the Natural Science Museum, offer deeper insights into the island’s past and natural history.

St. George’s Basilica

Another architectural gem is St. George’s Basilica. The marble interiors and intricate frescoes are awe-inspiring. If you’re lucky, you might catch a local choir performance, enhancing the basilica’s ethereal atmosphere.

Local Markets and Shopping

Victoria is also the commercial heart of Gozo. The daily market in Independence Square is a must-visit. From fresh produce to artisanal crafts, it’s a microcosm of Gozo’s rich culture. For souvenir shopping, head to the narrow lanes off the main square; you’ll find handmade lace, locally produced honey, and the iconic Maltese cross jewellery.

Evening: Dinner in Victoria

Recommended Restaurants Serving Traditional Gozitan Cuisine

End your day with a culinary journey at one of Victoria’s authentic restaurants. Ta’ Rikardu, located within the Citadel, offers traditional Gozitan dishes like “Gbejniet” (sheep’s cheese) and “Fenkata” (rabbit stew). For a modern twist on local cuisine, consider booking a table at Maldonado Bistro, where Chef George’s creatively incorporates local ingredients into the menu.

Day 2: Coastal Wonders

Morning: Dwejra Bay

Azure Window Ruins

Begin your day at Dwejra Bay, home to the iconic Azure Window ruins. Though the arch collapsed in 2017, the site remains a popular diving and photography spot. The geological formations around the area are equally captivating.

Inland Sea and Diving Opportunities

Adjacent to the Azure Window is the Inland Sea, a lagoon connected to the open sea through a narrow tunnel. It’s a diver’s paradise, offering a unique underwater seascape teeming with marine life. Even if you’re not a diver, a boat ride through the tunnel to the open sea is a must.

Fungus Rock

Don’t miss Fungus Rock, a 60-meter high limestone islet. It was once highly guarded by the Knights of St. John due to a rare medicinal plant that grew there. Today, it’s a protected nature reserve, but you can admire it from a distance or capture its grandeur through your lens.

Afternoon: Ramla Bay

The Red Sandy Beach

Ramla Bay is renowned for its unique reddish-golden sand. It’s the largest sandy beach in Gozo and offers a perfect setting for relaxation or family fun. The shallow waters make it ideal for swimming and snorkelling.

Calypso Cave

Overlooking Ramla Bay is Calypso Cave, said to be the cave referred to in Homer’s Odyssey. Though the cave itself is often closed for safety reasons, the viewpoint offers a panoramic vista of the entire bay.

Water Sports and Relaxation

If you’re an adrenaline junkie, Ramla Bay has you covered. From jet-skiing to paddleboarding, water sports facilities are readily available. Alternatively, you can simply rent a sunbed and bask in the Mediterranean sun.

Evening: Xlendi Bay

Cliffside Walks

Xlendi Bay is more than just a picturesque fishing village. The cliffs surrounding the bay offer some of the best sunset views in Gozo. The walking path starts from the bay and leads you to the top, offering panoramic views that are Instagram-worthy.

Seafood Dining Options

After working up an appetite, treat yourself to a seafood feast. The Boat House, known for its fresh fish and generous portions, is a local favourite. For a more intimate setting, try Ta’ Karolina, which offers al fresco dining right by the water.

Day 3: Historical and Cultural Exploration

Morning: Ggantija Temples

Significance and History

Your third day in Gozo should ideally start with a visit to the Ggantija Temples, one of the most important archaeological sites not just in Malta but in the world. Older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, these megalithic structures date back to around 3600 BC. The name “Ggantija” derives from the Maltese word for “giant,” and folklore suggests that the temples were built by a giantess.

Guided Tour vs Self-Exploration

While you can explore the site on your own, a guided tour offers invaluable insights into the temple’s architecture, religious significance, and its role in ancient society. Audio guides are also available for those who prefer a self-paced experience. Don’t forget to visit the on-site museum, which houses artefacts like pottery and statuettes unearthed from the site.

Afternoon: Ta' Kola Windmill & Xaghra Square

Importance in Gozitan History

After the temples, make your way to the Ta’ Kola Windmill in Xaghra. This well-preserved windmill is a testament to Gozo’s agricultural heritage. Built in 1725, it offers a glimpse into traditional grain milling techniques and is one of the few remaining windmills in Malta with its original grinding machinery intact.

Nearby Attractions: Cafes, Shops, and Local Life

Once you’ve had your fill of history, take a leisurely stroll to Xaghra Square. This bustling area is a hub of local life, filled with cafes, shops, and the occasional street performer. Look out for local products like Gozitan lace and artisanal food items like pastizzi, a delicious pastry filled with ricotta or peas.

Evening: Folk Music and Dance

Where to Experience Traditional Gozitan Music and Dance

To truly immerse yourself in Gozitan culture, spend your evening enjoying traditional music and dance. The village of San Lawrenz often hosts folk music events, where you can experience the unique sounds of the “Ghana,” a form of Maltese folk music. If you’re visiting during the summer, check out the local festas, vibrant community festivals that often feature traditional dance performances.

Recommended Venues and Events

La Stella Philharmonic Club and Aurora Opera House are two venues where you can often find traditional performances. Keep an eye on their event calendars for any folk music concerts or traditional dance shows.

Day 4: Outdoor Adventures

Morning: Hiking in the Gozitan Countryside

Recommended Trails: Wied il-Mielaħ, Ta’ Cenc Cliffs

Gozo’s landscape is a hiker’s dream, offering a mix of terrains from rugged coastlines to serene countryside. Wied il-Mielaħ is a valley trail that leads to a natural limestone arch, offering stunning views of the sea and surrounding farmlands. Ta’ Cenc Cliffs, on the other hand, offer a dramatic landscape where the land meets the sea, and is a haven for birdwatchers.

What to Bring: Essentials for a Hiking Trip

Pack plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat to protect against the Mediterranean sun. A good pair of hiking boots is essential, as the terrain can be rocky. Don’t forget your camera; the views are breathtaking.

Afternoon: Kayaking and Snorkelling

Best Spots: Mgarr ix-Xini, Hondoq Bay

If you’re a water enthusiast, Gozo has plenty to offer. Mgarr ix-Xini is a secluded bay perfect for kayaking and snorkelling. The bay is rich in marine life and offers a serene environment for underwater exploration. Hondoq Bay, with its crystal-clear waters, is another excellent spot for snorkelling and is particularly popular among locals.

Rental and Guided Tour Options

Several operators offer kayak rentals and guided snorkelling tours. Gozo Adventures and St. Andrew’s Divers Cove are reputable options that provide all the necessary equipment and safety briefings.

Evening: Farewell Dinner

Best Places to Have a Farewell Dinner

For your last evening in Gozo, make it memorable by dining at one of the island’s top restaurants. Ta’ Frenc is an award-winning restaurant set in a 16th-century farmhouse, offering a fine dining experience with a focus on local ingredients.

Gozitan Dishes You Must Try Before You Leave

Before you say goodbye to this enchanting island, make sure to try some quintessential Gozitan dishes. Apart from the already mentioned Gbejniet and Fenkata, try “Aljotta,” a fish soup, and “Pastizz,” a flaky pastry filled with ricotta or mushy peas.

Tips and Recommendations

Best Modes of Transportation Around Gozo

Public Buses: An Eco-Friendly Choice

Gozo’s public bus system is not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly. The buses are generally punctual and connect most major attractions and towns. If you’re staying in Victoria, the central bus terminal serves as a convenient hub for various routes. However, do note that the frequency of buses can be less on weekends and public holidays.

Car Rentals: For the Independent Explorer

Renting a car gives you the freedom to explore Gozo at your own pace. The island is relatively small, so driving from one end to the other takes less than an hour. Companies like Gozo Car Hire and Mayjo Car Rentals offer a range of vehicles to suit different needs. Remember, driving is on the left side of the road in Gozo, as in the rest of Malta.

Taxis and Ride-Sharing: Hassle-Free but Pricier

For those who prefer not to drive, taxis and ride-sharing services offer a convenient but more expensive option. Always agree on a fare before starting your journey to avoid any misunderstandings.

Bicycles: For the Adventurous Soul

If you’re up for a bit of physical activity, consider renting a bicycle. Gozo’s landscape is hilly but manageable for someone with moderate fitness levels. Just be cautious of the local traffic and always wear a helmet.

Local Customs and Etiquettes to Be Aware Of

Religious Sensitivity

Gozo is predominantly Catholic, and religious customs are deeply ingrained in the local culture. When visiting places of worship like the Citadel’s Cathedral or St. George’s Basilica, dress modestly by covering your shoulders and knees.

Tipping Practices

Tipping is not obligatory in Gozo, but it’s a common practice to leave around 10% of the bill when dining out, especially if you’re pleased with the service.

Greetings and Interactions

A simple “hello” or “good morning” can go a long way in Gozo. The locals are known for their hospitality, and a polite greeting is always appreciated. When entering shops or other small businesses, it’s customary to greet the owner or staff.

Packing Essentials for a 4-Day Trip

Clothing: Versatility is Key

Pack light but versatile clothing that can be layered. Summer days can be very hot with the average temperature of around 31° but can go up to 40° Evenings can be cooler, especially near the coast, so a light jacket or sweater is advisable. If you plan on visiting religious sites, bring along a scarf or shawl for modesty.

Outdoor Gear: Don’t Forget the Essentials

For those planning to hike, snorkel, or kayak, appropriate gear is essential. A sturdy pair of hiking boots, a high-quality snorkel mask, and water shoes can enhance your outdoor experiences. Many places offer rentals, but having your own gear ensures comfort and fit.

Tech Gadgets: Capture the Moments

A good camera is a must for capturing Gozo’s scenic beauty. If you’re an avid snorkeler or diver, consider bringing a waterproof camera to capture the underwater wonders. Don’t forget extra memory cards and a portable charger.

Health and Safety: Be Prepared

It’s wise to pack a basic first-aid kit with essentials like band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and any prescription medications you may need. Also, sunscreen and insect repellent are must-haves for any Mediterranean trip.

Accommodation Options in Gozo

Traditional Farmhouses: A Rustic Retreat

Why Choose a Farmhouse?

For those looking to immerse themselves in Gozo’s pastoral charm, renting a traditional Gozitan farmhouse is an unparalleled experience. These centuries-old stone buildings offer a rustic yet comfortable setting, often featuring modern amenities like private pools, fully-equipped kitchens, and Wi-Fi.

Popular Areas

The villages of Gharb and San Lawrenz are popular spots for farmhouse rentals. These areas offer the tranquillity of the Gozitan countryside while still being conveniently located near attractions like the Ta’ Pinu Basilica and Dwejra Bay.

Booking Tips

Farmhouses are especially popular during the summer months, so booking well in advance is advisable. 

Boutique Hotels: Luxury Meets Local

Unique Features

Boutique hotels in Gozo offer a blend of luxury and local culture. These establishments often feature individually designed rooms, high-end amenities, and a focus on sustainability.

Where to Find Them

Victoria, the island’s capital, hosts several boutique hotels that offer easy access to cultural landmarks like the Citadel and St. George’s Basilica. Xlendi and Marsalforn, with their coastal allure, also offer boutique options.

Recommendations

Quaint Boutique Hotels and The Duke Boutique Hotel in Victoria are highly rated for their attention to detail, customer service, and luxurious amenities.

Bed and Breakfasts: Home Away From Home

Personalised Experience

If you’re looking for a more personalised lodging experience, a bed and breakfast might be your ideal choice. These establishments offer a cosy, home-like atmosphere, often run by locals who can provide invaluable insights into Gozo’s hidden gems.

Popular Choices

Ta’ Maria B&B in Ghasri and Ellie Boo Bed & Breakfast in Xaghra are popular choices, known for their warm hospitality and delicious homemade breakfasts.

Hostels: Budget-Friendly and Social

Community Vibe

For solo travellers or those on a budget, hostels offer not only affordable accommodation but also a chance to meet like-minded travellers. Most hostels in Gozo offer both dormitory-style and private rooms.

Top Picks

Santa Martha Hostel in Marsalforn and Mia Casa in Victoria are known for their clean facilities and vibrant community atmosphere. These hostels also offer organised activities, from guided hikes to cooking classes, providing a more enriching travel experience.

Luxury Resorts: The Ultimate Indulgence

High-End Amenities

For those looking to splurge, Gozo’s luxury resorts offer top-of-the-line amenities like spa services, gourmet dining, and private beach access.

Where to Stay

The Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz is one of Gozo’s premier luxury resorts, offering a range of indulgent amenities from multiple pools to a world-class spa.

Final Thoughts - The Perfect 4-Day Itinerary in Gozo

This comprehensive 4-day itinerary offers a curated blend of Gozo’s historical landmarks, natural wonders, and cultural experiences, ensuring a well-rounded and enriching visit to this enchanting Mediterranean island. Coupled with practical tips on transportation, local customs, packing essentials, and a diverse range of accommodation options, this guide aims to equip travellers with all the tools they need for an unforgettable Gozitan adventure.

[maranofamilylawyers]

Why It Is Important To Seek Legal Assistance From A Qualified Solicitor

When seeking legal advice, it is important to choose a solicitor with the right qualifications. A qualified lawyer will be able to navigate the complex legal complexities associated with family law and personal injury claims. They will also keep abreast of changes in the law.

The mission of a legal aid program is to ensure equal access to justice by providing high-quality civil Legal Assistance Hurstville to low-income people. These programs are independent, nonprofit, and free of charge.

Family law

LSNYC provides direct legal representation to DV survivors in all family law matters including obtaining and enforcing protection orders; pursuing and defending uncontested and contested divorces; child custody and access; parenting agreements; and spousal support/maintenance. It also provides assistance in resolving disputes without the need for a court hearing.

Antony has a thorough understanding of the principles behind compensation law and

is well placed to provide advice on how they affect his clients’ cases. He is committed to achieving successful outcomes and provides client service that is second to none.

Those with low incomes may qualify for free legal services provided by Legal Aid. These agencies offer help in a variety of areas, including housing, family, employment, domestic violence, consumer, and public benefits. They also provide free information on the law and court procedure.

Criminal law

Whether you’re in Hurstville or any other Sydney suburb, it is essential to seek legal assistance after being arrested for a criminal offence. A good criminal lawyer will ensure that you are aware of your rights and will help you to avoid any unnecessary punishments. They can also challenge evidence or the way in which police have obtained it, which may result in a reduced or even dismissal of charges.

If you’ve been charged with a drug-related offence, you should immediately consult a criminal defence lawyer. They can help you fight the charge by arguing that the drug was not in your possession. They can also negotiate for alternative penalties like community service or treatment instead of prison time.

AM Legal Compensation Lawyers is a Sydney-based law firm that offers expert legal services. They have a strong track record in helping clients with their injury claims. Their principal, Antony Mastrogiannis, is a respected compensation lawyer who is committed to protecting the interests of his clients.

Personal injury law

Whether you’ve been injured in a car accident Legal advisor Sydney, work injury, or medical malpractice, personal injury law provides support for victims by helping them receive compensation. These compensations cover medical expenses, compensate for lost wages, and acknowledge the victim’s pain and suffering. Personal injury cases are complicated and require a skilled attorney to handle them effectively.

A qualified attorney can help you file accident-related paperwork with insurance companies, handle court filing requirements, and prepare for a trial, if needed. They can also negotiate with the responsible party’s insurer to secure a fair settlement and ensure that you’re adequately compensated.

Antony Mastrogiannis is a lawyer Hurstville who specializes in personal injury law and workers’ compensation claims. He is an accredited specialist in personal injury law and regularly attends seminars to keep abreast of changes to the legal system. He is passionate about helping his clients and believes in providing them with personalised legal services. He has a Bachelor of Laws and is a member of the St George and Sutherland Shire Law Society.

[blueflameswordsman]

Huge update in the George Floyd situation

youtube comments

Chauvin is in double danger because he has been labeled as an anti-black racist and is also a former police officer. The fact he is innocent and was "thrown under a bus" by those who should have defended him but instead prosecuted/persecuted him is even more concerning/disgusting.

This is a complete disgrace and to add insult to injury the Supreme Court REFUSES to review this case in view of the toxicology report on St. George...I am completely disgusted by our "Justice" system

Never forget what Maxine Waters did

She openly encouraged violence, rioting, and destruction, which is NOT protected speech under the law.

They better let that man out of prison, and pay him MILLIONS ( far more then what the floyd family gotten in fact for they should never had gotten that money ) because he’s got a gigantic lawsuit. They knew he didn’t murder him.

It’s amazing that kyle Rittenhouse was able to overcome the corrupt court system. Luckily he had a good judge

He's a political prisoner. A martyr. Question is how long do the good folk just sit back and let this happen, hoping the corrupt system will do the right thing at some point

Incredible that a judge isn’t aware that “all means all” in regards to evidence.

This case made me sick to my stomach. My family has been in law enforcement for 2 generations. This was a tragedy and justice was not served.

He’s exactly right. The results of this trial has been a discomfort under my skin ever since I heard the verdict also. It’s such an outright obvious injustice. He did not receive a fair trial and it’s because he’s white and Floyd was black. Anyone who observes the facts of this case objectively will come to this conclusion. Knee was on the back , Floyd had many times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system, he was out of the car because he said he couldn’t breathe in the car, much footage showing all this was kept from the public, one of the jurors admitted to being an activist, the list goes on. I hope we get a politician who will do something, I would rather live in a just society with riots than an unjust society to appease rioters.Show less