#ethan and hannah continue to really love each other a lot!!

[memories-are-mine]

We Survived the Crisis, Babe

I was lazy about posting these on here so yall can have 2 (two) chapters today! 

Comment to get on the taglist! 

ao3 

Chapter 7 - Ethan

Ethan woke up to the sound of laughter, of elated shouts and the name ‘Becky Barnes.’ He decided to wait to process that information until he sorted out whatever drug trip he was on. 

He was feeling somehow better than he had before, despite dying, coming back to life, and proceeding to be drugged by his shop teacher and his nurse friend. His head felt clear despite the tranquilizer, and when he tried to move his bad arm, he found it didn’t hurt. He could still feel that the stab wound wasn’t there, but even that didn’t hurt so much anymore. 

What was happening? 

He opened his eyes and found Hannah’s face just above his, staring at him intently. He jumped a little bit. 

“Jesus Christ, Banana Split,” he murmured. “You scared me.” 

“Sorry,” Hannah whispered, moving so she wasn’t directly above Ethan’s face. She was cradling Ethan’s head in her lap. “Was worried. But the hat worked. Just like Webby said.” 

Ethan reached up a hand and found that he was wearing his hat, the hat he had given Hannah that morning outside Toy Zone. The hat he had told her was magic. Thinking about it, the fact that he’d had a magical hat in his possession wasn’t any weirder than anything else he’d experienced today. 

“The hat?” He whispered, matching Hannah’s tone. “Is it magic?” 

Hannah nodded, then looked around fearfully. “Lets Webby help. But they got us.” 

“Wait,” Ethan said. “Who got us?” 

Hannah gestured towards a large group of people clustered around the stairs to the second floor, who currently had their backs to them. “Bad guys. Lady in the black cape. They want Wiggly.” 

Fortunately, whoever the bad people were seemed to be ignoring them for now. 

With a grunt, Ethan sat up, and Hannah pressed herself against his side. He put an arm around her instinctively. 

He was surprised he had the energy to do that, but he thought about what Hannah said. The hat he was wearing let Webby help. Maybe she was the one behind this, sustaining him. 

You’re right,  Webby said in his head. The hat enables me to lend you the strength to survive. But my power has limits. Especially here. 

Ethan almost felt ecstatic. Webby was watching over him and Hannah. Whatever these assholes wanted, whatever they had in store for Ethan and Hannah, they had a spider from outer space watching over them. That made him feel a lot better.

“But where are we?” He wondered aloud. 

One glance around both answered his question and made him want to throw up. He and Hannah were in Toy Zone, but it was a mess. The register had been thrown against the wall, and the giant spool of twine they used for gift-wrapping was thrown carelessly in the middle of the floor. Lex had always made fun of that twine. 

Where are these kids gonna take ‘em? The fucking jungle? Why are we gift wrapping children’s toys with literal rope? She would always say. 

That wasn’t the part that made Ethan want to throw up. 

 The rest of the place was practically destroyed, too, save for a shelf of plush unicorns and a bin of flowery aluminium child’s softball bats tucked away in the corner. Why the unicorns had been spared, Ethan really wasn’t sure he wanted to know. That wasn’t the throw up part either. 

The throw up part was that ten feet away from where Ethan and Hannah lay, there was the dead body of Frank Pricely, Lex’s boss. He was lying in a pool of blood, flies already starting to gather around his body. Ethan had never liked the guy, but now he felt sorry for him. 

There was no sign of Lex. 

Ethan’s heart sank. What had these people done with her? 

He almost wanted to call out to her, but also really did not want to attract the attention of the cluster around the stairs, who were now laughing raucously. 

“And the only man that’s after her now is Jack Daniels!” Said a high-pitched, annoying woman’s voice that sounded familiar for some reason. 

It brought the entire house down. All of the adults, and adults they all seemed to be, apparently collectively thought that this was the most hilarious thing that they’d ever heard. 

“Whatever that joke was,” Ethan murmured. “It cannot have been that funny.” 

“Shhhh!” Hannah whispered. 

“Hey!” He heard. “The boy’s awake.” 

He looked towards the stairs to find that the entire cult was now staring at them. Without a word, Ethan slipped the hat off his head and gave it to Hannah. She took it without protest. 

“Yes, yes, excellent,” said the same woman’s voice. Where did Ethan know that voice from? “Bring the other heretics to me!” 

Hair-a-ticks? 

Ethan didn’t know what that word meant, but it didn’t sound good. Was it some type of insect? Why would this lady be calling them bugs? 

“What’s a hair-a-tic?” He whispered to Hannah. 

Before she had a chance to answer, the group surrounded them. They hauled Ethan up by the arms and ripped Hannah away from him, pulling her along by her hair. 

“Hey!” he shouted indignantly. “Let her go!” 

The adults completely ignored him. They shoved him and Hannah forward and they stumbled to the bottom of the stairs, then circled around them, boxing them in so that they couldn’t escape. 

Ethan glanced around. His heart was racing. Becky Nursing Scrubs was here, too, but still very much unconscious and being held by two of the psychopaths who had brought them here. She would be of no help. 

Heretic, Webby decided that now would be a great time to play dictionary in his mind, providing a helpful definition that just made things worse. It’s a religious word. It means betraying a certain religion. 

A shiver went down Ethan’s spine. Whoever these people were, they were calling Ethan and Hannah traitors. If there was one thing that Ethan remembered from Ancient History class, it was that traitors were punished by death. 

He had to get them out of this. He owed that to Lex. Also, he was not going to die in a fucking Toy Zone. 

“Get Becky Barnes out of my sight!” The woman’s voice, coming from directly above them now, ordered. 

Ethan looked up and gasped. He did know who this woman was, from the local cable channels that always interviewed her, and the way she had sneered at Ethan, talked down to him when he had been friends with Peter Monroe back in Elementary school. 

The leader of this insane cult, the religion that was after God-knew-what, and who had captured Ethan and Hannah, was the President of the Hatchetfield Boating Society, Linda Monroe. 

The two men holding Becky complied with Linda’s orders, dragging her through a door to the backroom, and out of sight. 

“What should we do with him?” One of the men asked, indicating Ethan. Ethan recognized his voice as the one that had raised the alarm that Ethan was awake. He glanced over. The man who had raised the alarm wore a blue zip-up hoodie and a checkered baseball cap. He looked chillingly familiar. Not because Ethan knew him from the outside world, but because it was one of the men who had attacked him and Hannah outside the Cineplex. The one who’d run his knife through Ethan like it was nothing.

“What have you done with Lex?” Ethan demanded, looking wildly around him. Now that he had their attention, he might as well use it. “Tell me where she is!” 

The man with the baseball cap stepped forward and Ethan met his eyes evenly. He could not show fear. Not now. 

There was a brief staring contest between them, then, out of nowhere, the man who’d stabbed him swung out his hand and struck Ethan across the face. He stumbled backward, more out of surprise than pain, though the man could hit, Ethan would give him that. 

“Leave him alone!” Hannah screamed. 

“You’ll speak when you’re spoken to!” Baseball Cap bellowed at Ethan. 

Above them, Linda waved her hand impatiently. 

“Enough, enough. Leave him here,” she said, looking between Hannah, who had run to Ethan’s side when he had been hit, and Ethan, who, despite the circumstances, had to fight the urge to laugh. She looked kind of ridiculous, standing on the steps of a rundown Toy Store like it was the fucking Oscars or something. But there wasn’t anything funny about the hunger in her eyes. “He could be useful.” 

Reluctantly, Baseball Hat backed off. 

“Now,” Linda gave him one of those half-grimace smile things that rich people gave when they had to be polite to people they didn’t like. “As for where your little trailer-trash whore is, I’ll let you wonder about that. And what I might do to you and the little brat here if you don’t behave.” 

“Now, as for you, you little shit.” Linda Monroe wheeled on Hannah, who shrank back. “You’ve kept the shepherd from his flock for too long.”

Ethan moved protectively in front of Hannah. He silently thanked Webby for giving him the strength to stand. 

At a wave of Linda’s hand, two of the cultists marched forward and grabbed Ethan by the arms, pulling him roughly to the edge of the circle as he struggled, but healing though he may have been, Ethan wasn’t at full strength yet. 

“Quit it,” one of the men holding him said, jerking his arm roughly. A flair of pain went through it. That shouldn’t have hurt. 

Webby was losing energy. Ethan could feel it. So he stopped fighting, bided his time. If he was going to make some spectacular move to incapacitate Linda and get them out of this, the timing had to be perfect. 

Hannah started crying, and it made Ethan’s attention snap right back to her. 

“Nuh-uh,” Hannah sobbed, as Linda loomed over her. “Magic hat, nothing can hurt me.” 

Linda scoffed and ripped the hat off of her head. “Magic hat,” she muttered with a laugh, handing it to one of her cronies, a woman with a long skirt and a sweater with a picture of a cat emblazoned on it. 

That was his hat. They couldn’t do that. They also were not allowed to touch Hannah. 

“You little fool,” Linda taunted. “You think a magic hat is going to protect you?” She walked behind Hannah. “That’s ridiculous, only dolls are magic.”

Ethan wanted to shout that magic dolls made about as much sense as magic hats, but Webby reminded him of his goal. He had to wait. Not draw attention to himself. For both his own sake, and Hannah’s. 

Linda Monroe ripped the backpack off of Hannah’s shoulders. She didn’t protest. 

“I’ll be taking mine, thank you very much,” Linda said gleefully as she ripped open the backpack, triumphantly pulling out… nothing. She gasped in total outrage, her face contorting into something like pain. 

Ethan quietly snickered. She was so outraged over a doll it was almost hilarious. 

He stopped laughing when Linda pulled a switchblade out of her expensive-looking purse. 

“Is this some kind of a joke?” Linda Monroe wheeled on Hannah, who stared back defiantly. “Tell me where he is, or I will open your mouth with my fucking kni-AAAGGGH.” 

That last part was courtesy of Ethan’s fist connecting with her nose. He knew it was dumb, a terrible decision, probably the worst decision he’d ever made, and that was saying a lot. But when Linda had pulled the knife on Hannah, he’d snapped. Webby was lending him this strength to protect Hannah, and so protect Hannah he would. No matter what. No one threatened his little sister like that. Ever.

His body thought for him. He surged forward and grabbed Hannah’s hand, pulling her to her feet and began to make a break for it. The cult was so surprised at his recklessness that they didn’t react at first. Out of the corner of his eye, Ethan saw the crazy cat lady holding the baseball cap. He ripped it out of her hands as they passed, her barely resisting. 

Ethan felt ecstatic, he felt unstoppable. It was the best he’d felt all day. All fucking week. He and Hannah were going to make it out of here. Linda wouldn’t get her doll and she’d cry about it into her expensive champagne glass. They’d be on the road to California right after Ethan and Hannah found Lex, who was alive, thank you very much. He almost wanted to laugh as they ran for the exit. 

They didn’t make it. 

Taglist:  @hurricanehellion, @asshole-gay-797, @ethngreen, @just-a-side-kick, @theirishhufflepuff, @somegeekychic, @curse-brekker, @unusual-ly, @softotacoo, @believeinasmilinggodtoday,  @scorpiotrash468

[gaylotusthatexists]

Tomorrow Will Come

CHAPTER ONE

fandom: black friday 

pairings: ethan/lex

words: 1583

trigger warnings: swearing, abuse/neglectful household

All Lex wants is to get out of Hatchetfield, to get to California where she and her sister can start a new life. But navigating her current life in Hatchetfield is proving to be more difficult that it seems. However, returning to school after having taken a year off, she meets a boy who just might change that. 

an: me? writing somethings other than sanders sides? yeah, never thought i'd see the day either. this is a prequal to black friday that i'm writing because ethan is making me sad and he (plus lex and hannah) deserved better. also i'm lowkey obsessed with black friday rn so like what are you expecting. anyway, hope y'all enjoy this?

next chapter | ao3

The morning sun warmed her skin as she walked down the street, wishing that she was anywhere else. California - that's where she wanted to be. Away from Hatchetfield, away from her mom, away from this life.

But she couldn't leave. Not yet. This was her first day back at school, the first day of her trying to get her shit back together. If she could just get through this year, pass her exams and get some sort of qualifications, she could get a job and save up and soon enough she would be out of here. Just her and Hannah, starting a brand new life.

"Okay, Banana, here we are," Lex said, spinning ninety degrees and letting go of her little sisters hand. "Just head on through that gate-"

"Don't leave."

Lex sighed and closed her eyes. "Hannah-"

"Don't leave."

She crouched down so that she was eye level with Hannah and attempted to smile, but she was afraid it came off as more passive aggressive. "You need to go to school, and so do I. So just head on through the gate, I'm sure your friends are waiting on the other side."

Hannah looked down.

"I'll be back later," Lex promised. "As soon as school has ended for you, I'll be standing right here to take you home, okay?"

Hannah kept her eyes fixed on the ground. "Right here?"

"Right here," Lex confirmed. "As soon as you leave the gate."

"Promise?"

"Cross my heart."

Hannah's head tilted up, looking through the school gates. "What if it's bad?"

Lex shook her head. "It won't be bad. You'll have fun. You like school, remember?"

"I liked school," Hannah said.

"So what's different now?" Lex asked.

Hannah didn't respond.

"See? There's nothing to be afraid off." Lex rose back up, now looking down at Hannah who still wouldn't budge. "Hey, how about after school we go to the bakery? I'll get you one of those cakes that you love."

Hannah glanced up. "The yellow icing?"

Lex smiled. "The yellow icing. If you make it though the school day, I'll get you one. As a treat."

Hannah smiled back. "Okay."

"Then it's settled!" Lex stood back. "I'll see you after school, okay?"

"Right here?"

"Right here."

"Goodbye."

Hannah turned and walked through the gates, and Lex let out a sigh of relief. She stayed for a moment longer, watching Hannah until she entered the building, just to be sure that she got there alright. When Lex was certain that her sister was safe, she turned and continued on her journey to her own school, a couple streets over.

She silently cursed herself for promising to buy Hannah that cake, having no idea where she would get the money from. There wasn't really anyone at school who'd lend her a couple dollars, but theft wasn't really off the table...

Shut up, she told herself. Obviously theft is off the table. She couldn't get into too much trouble this year. Not after the trainwreck that last year was. She just needed to make her way through high school, secure a good enough job, and get out of this town.

She'd find the money somewhere. She must have had a few coins lying in the bottom of her backpack - she could check later at school. And if not, she could always cut back on lunch. She'd snatched a couple dollars off the table before she left the house, whilst her mom was still asleep, so that she'd have a little money to spend on lunch - she'd already used up the rest of their food for Hannah's lunch. It wasn't as if Lex needed to eat, though. She'd be fine.

But of course, if she was really desperate, maybe she'd be able to make the workers at the bakery pity her. She'd done that act a little more times than she probably should have, and it didn't always work but it wasn't as if she didn't have a shot. Maybe she'd get lucky and be served by an employee that didn't want to murder her.

Lex reached her own school far too soon for her liking. Part of her wanted to carry on walking around the back of the school for a cigarette before classes started, but she stopped herself, because this was the year that she'd be responsible. If not for her sake, then at least for Hannah's. Besides, she didn't have any on her - deliberately, as she'd known that it would be far too tempting if she did.

She walked through the gates and towards the building, eyes locked on the ground and hands in her pockets, trying her best not to draw any attention. People were probably wondering what she was doing back, what she was doing last year. Or maybe people had already forgotten about her, maybe nobody really cared about her presence at the school - that seemed to be the far more likely option, the more she thought about it.

Somebody shoved past her shoulders in the hallway, causing her to stumble to the side and almost fall over it. After regaining her balance, Lex glared at the culprit. "Hey, watch it, asshole!" she shouted.

The culprit turned around and looked at her, a mixture of concern, regret, and fear swirling in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"Fuck off!" Lex turned around and began walked in the opposite direction, not really caring about what the guy had to say for himself. She didn't want to start a fight, not yet. Not so early in the school year.

Just make it past today, she told herself, turning a corner to head round the long way to class.

When she reached her classroom, she continued with her eyes locked on the ground, and found a seat at the back window. Slumping down in her chair, she looked out across the field, realising that she didn't miss this at all.

It's just this year, she kept reminding herself. Then California.

Somebody sat down next to her and she groaned. "Do I know you?"

Placing his bag under the table, the guy replied, "We just met."

She turned her head towards him, confused before she realised who it was. "Oh, God. Seriously?" It was that guy, the one who had quite literally bumped into her.

"I just wanted to apologise," he said. "Really, I didn't mean to push you."

Lex rolled her eyes. "Sure you didn't."

"I'm telling the truth." He drummed his fingers on the table. "I'm really sorry."

"Well." She closed her eyes. "Now that you've apologised or whatever, you can go and sit with your friends and leave me the fuck alone."

He blinked. "I was actually-"

"Okay, class, settle down," the teacher said, walking into the classroom. He began to take the register and teach his lesson, so the guy didn't budge.

Lex supposed that meant she was stuck with him for the rest of the school year. Perfect. Just perfect.

She spent the first lesson not really paying attention and instead stealing glances at him every now and again. He had dark brown, curled hair, shaven a little at the back, and wore a worn-down black leather jacket. He seemed to be concentrating very hard on the lesson, although every now and then he'd glance at Lex and she would quickly look away.

When the lesson ended, Lex stood up and grabbed her bag, attempting to exit the classroom before he could talk to her again. She wasn't planning on making any new friends this year. She didn't have time for that, not between desperately trying to pass her classes and taking care of her sister. For now, she kept her head down and ignored anyone who tried to slide into her life.

She didn't meet that guy again until last period, in Mr Houston's class. He approached her again and spent the whole lesson by her side, with Lex silently planning the best way to murder him.

"Why are you talking to me?" she finally asked him, when Mr Houston set them off on a task.

He frowned. "Why wouldn't I talk to you?"

"I don't know you," she said. "We don't know each other."

"Oh. Well-" He reached out a hand. "I'm Ethan Green."

She rolled her eyes. "Knowing your name doesn't mean that I know you."

"How are you supposed to get to know me if we don't talk, then?"

Lex groaned. "Is it so hard to understand that I don't really want to talk to anybody?"

Ethan hummed. "You weren't here last year, were you?"

She shook her head. "Obviously not."

"Did you just transfer here?" Ethan asked.

"No." She sighed. "Well, not really. I didn't come in last year, but I was here the year before that."

"Why?"

"You ask a lot of questions that really aren't any of your business." 

"I'm just curious," he defended. "You seem like a nice enough person." 

Lex laughed. 

"What's funny about that?" 

She sighed. "I think literally everybody else in here would disagree with that." 

The bell rang. 

Lex smirked. "Well, I'd say it's been nice, but it really hasn't." She grabbed her bag again and began to walk out, but Ethan still ran to catch up with her. 

"Do I get a name yet?" 

"Nope," she said, popping the 'p' and turning the corner. Ethan seemed to stop following her after that, and she let out a sigh of relief. 

One day of school done. One day closer to California. 

thank you for reading! imma try to get the next chapter out soon (maybe at the weekend? idk.) if you want to be tagged when that happens, let me know :) 

[be-more-chill-evan-hansen]

BLACK FRIDAY SPOILERS

The following post contains spoilers for the new musical, Black Friday, by Team Starkid. Continue reading at your own risk. 

MY FAVORITE PARTS FROM THE BLACK FRIDAY DIGITAL TICKET + OTHER COMMENTARY (IN ORDER OF HOW THEY APPEAR) WHILE WATCHING IT FOR THE 4TH OR 5TH TIME [contains very harsh and explicit language]

**These points will be brought up in another post (involving the Hatchetfield Universe theories)

The ENTIRETY of the Wiggly jingle at the beginning

Jaime saying “his belly’s so squishy!” while jumping up and down

The tights

“Uncle Wiley, where does Wiggly come from?”

James Tolbert (Team Starkid choreographer-turned-actor) STOLE the show

Curt Mega’s dancing in that song killed me

“DO THE WIGGLE!”

ROBERT AND JAMES DANCING WAS EVERYTHING

**Paul still doesn’t like musicals? (I have a theory of where this show takes place in the Hatchetfield Universe but that’s for another post)

The way Paul looks at Emma when she’s on her Cabbage Patch Kid rant!

“I’m Paul. I’m Emma’s...boyfriend.”//“Well, we haven’t put a label on it yet.”//“But we are intimate.” (Bonus: Emma’s glare)

Paul is still awkward I love him.

“I do not get flashbacks. I remember bad things vividly.”

“Thank you for your service.”//“I didn’t do it for you.”

“Ski-ball sucks.” (I wholeheartedly disagree but whatever)

Grace Chastity is Tom’s babysitter for Tim confirmed

Okay. Okay. Okay. OKAY. 

TOM JUST WANTS TO MAKE IT UP TO HIS SON BECAUSE HE FEELS GUILTY ABOUT THE CRASH I’M SOFT

DYLAN SAUNDERS STILL STEALING HEARTS

WHY DO YOU GIVE DYLAN ALL OF THE HEART-WRENCHING SONGS????? I DON’T NEED TO CRY AT 4AM

THE LIGHTING 

 “Excuse me, miss. Do you think it’s okay for me to park here?”//“Yeah, it says ‘no parking at any time’ but I’m sure the loading trucks can just park across the street. Does that work for you?”

“If I won’t support my drinking habit, who will?”

“Hark, the herald angels sing. Glory to a newborn king. A fuckin’ furry little monster’s gonna make me a pile of cash.”

“Tell me, Lex. Do you know why they call it Black Friday?”//“Because it comes after Thursday?”

“Well, friend-o. I have a feeling that these little babies are going to take you so far into the black that you ain’t never comin’ back.” *long uncomfortable pause*

“Oh, you’re gonna make a killin’. That’s an Uncle Wiley’s Toys guarantee!”

FRANK HUGGING THE BOX OF WIGGLYS

“Hark, the herald angels sing. Glory to a newborn king. Peace on Earth, and lots of money. MONEYMONEYMONEYMONEY just for ME.”

JON’S VOICE AS WIGGLY I CAN’T

“mALL security we got a shoplifter. Drop that doll!” (His voice crack killed me oh my God)

HIS OUTFIT (The first time I saw him I went “Oh my God he’s emo”)

“Where’s my sister?”// “Oh no.” *stares dramatically* “Hannah?” *even more dramatic* “Is that what you’ve been telling me every day for the past four weeks? To pick up your kid sister?” *grabbing Lex* “Oh, I must’ve forgot because I’m so stupid.” Ethan needs to take up drama

“Do I gotta put a leash on you like a dog, or my cousin Oliver?” 

“Don’t pull her.”//*voice crack* “I’m nOt.”

“Alright banana split.” i’m not crying 

“You see this hat? This was gifted to me by a great warrior.” *Lex laughs*/*Ethan turns around slowly* “Don’t you fuckin’ laugh.”

“I’d make a great dad, I’m just sayin’.” (Ethan isn’t a horrible person he’s just misguided)

“My mom’s a bitch!”

Honestly the way Ethan looks at Lex

*in the middle of singing* “That’s not how cameras work, babe.”

Hannah’s dancing

ROBERT’S WIGGLES DURING “We’re missing in action.”

“Dear mom, it’s been real."

“I’d say you did your best, but I’m not a liar.”//“Oh, L-I-E-R, babe.”//“We get it Ethan, you’re a good speller.”

“PS: Get yourself a new trailer, because this one? Is BROKE AS SHIT!”

Robert in skinny jeans. Can Robert wear skinny jeans more often please?

Hannah doing the “smoking” thing with her hands.

“Hannah! What the fuck is this [imitating it]?That better be fucking FLOSS.”

UGH LAUREN AS LINDA MONROE IS LEGENDARY

“That’s called a bribe, sir, and it’s illegal...or it should be.”

“I have four boys. Four beautiful, blond, boys.”

“Do you really think your children are better than everyone else’s.”// “In so many words, YES.”

“I hope you don’t get a Wiggly. I hope you fucking die.”

“Well, my children were accidents.”

“Stop crying, Gerald. I wasn’t talking to you.”

The way Tom and Becky looked at each other when they met again ugh.

Whatever that song is called when the Hatchetfield citizens were gossiping about it like I think it’s called “What Do You Say?” or something?

“Tom’s put on some weight.”

“I heard Tom is seeing things.”

Jon is serving looks.

The dance they did when they said “all the years that had fun” killed me

Curt Mega is a treasure

“It’s cold out.”//“Nothing really.”//“How are things?”//“Haven’t seen it.”

“Oh my, God, it’s a train-wreck.”//“My favorite.”//“Give me my tub of popcorn.”//“Just skip to the fucking.”//“She’d never--.”//“Either way this is torture porn.”

“I think I’ll step in and save her.”// “You don’t have half of a chance, bitch.”

“THERE, she looked at his crotch.”//“He looked at her boobs.”

“I like dolls. I’m just kidding. I don’t like dolls. At least, not like that.”// “I missed you.” *everyone freaks out*

The dance that looks like a beating heart around them I love.

“Did you know if you spend money, your kids will love you maybe.”

COREY DORRIS NEEDS APPRECIATION BYE

“Give us your fucking money. Give us your fucking cash.”

SERIOUSLY I CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS RECORDING

“Do we have any morality.”

“What’s a grown man going to do with 85 dolls?”// “Well, one will stay in the box for posterity. One will be used exclusively for bath time.”

“If you’re going to make with the hysterics, TAKE IT TO MACY’S.”// “How dare you. Are you hearing this, Gerald? Yes, call my attorney.”

“I’ll tickle one doll, and one doll will tickle me.”

The bidding war.

“Get your hands off her.”// “Fuck YOU.”

The lighting slowly gets red when they start bidding.

“$800.”//“$3.”//“Can I use these coupons?”

“Well, if you’re not going to sell me that doll, I guess I’ll just gonna have to take it.”

“If he gets one, I’m getting four.” *Linda climbs the counter like Draco*

So the lighting during “Feast or Famine” is just???? The green and red??? Like holiday colors but at the same time it’s representative of greed and rage???? 

Just all of “Feast or Famine”

“What’s shaking banana, you okay?” I’M HAVING FEELINGS UGH

“What’s up with that grammar. Even I know it’s ‘more badder’.” Ethan no

ETHAN NO

“Give me that fucking doll I’m in a hurry.” Okay, Jeff you freaking gremlin man

WHO BRINGS A KNIFE SHOPPING?? Unless he stole that, too.

“Do you see him? Do you see him? Do you see him?”//“YES, I fucking see him!”

James as “Obama” I’m crying

“I’ll hold onto the little...uh...whippersnapper.”

“While you three devise a strategy, I’ll hold on to the little friend.”// “Shut the fuck up!”

“You’re nothing more than a Harvard Law School community organizing prick!” I’M SCREAMING

“Take one step closer to my fwendy-wend and I’ll rip your fucking throat out with my own teeth.”

“No, he’s mine! Back off or I will send a laser-guided ballistic missile to your house in Denver. You’ll be scraping off what’s left of your kids off the FUCKING pavement.”

“MORRIS. Give me that COCK-SUCKING MOTHERFUCKING COCK-A-DOODLE-DOLL” CURT MEGA IS A TREASURE 

“I’ll bite your dick off!”

THE AUDIENCE (AND MY) REACTION TO MCNAMARA 

*Obama voice* “Oh, I’m gonna vomit.”

“I hope you don’t mind if I let myself in.”// “Into the oval office?”

“Monsters and Men” IS A BOP

*yeets the Wiggly off stage*

“DECK THE HALLS” IS A BOP

I would 100% watch “Santa Claus is Going to High School” unironically

“Jingle! Jangle! If anyone sees two elves in my locker, I’ll get expelled for sure.”

The dancing UGH

Lauren is the cutest elf ever

PART THREE OF LAUREN AND ROBERT DOING A CUTE DANCE TOGETHER

“What the fuck am I watching?”

Becky talking about her ex-husband breaks my heart. I would die for her.

“You say you killed your family. I hope I killed mine.” My heart is breaking help me

Becky and Tom are freaking CUTE

“Take Me Back” is the cutest song ever

All of the times the characters mention other dimensions and stuff??? Each has a different context, but Joey’s character did say that Hatchetfield was a special town earlier in the show so????

All of the making out I’m done

Becky’s leg

“I knew you weren’t Santa.”//“A red tricycle.”//“SANTA!” *starts making out*

“This is the best movie ever!”

Robert has to make out with two people every day.

**PEIP deals with Paranormal, Extraterrestrial, and Interdimensional stuff, so if TGWDLM was Extraterrestrial, and BF is Interdemensional, will Nerdy Prudes Must Die be Paranormal? Will we see PEIP again? [I’M GOING TO MAKE A SEPARATE POST ABOUT THE THEORIES WITHIN THE UNIVERSE]

**“There are many dimensions, sir.”

“You want to send me into the fucking Twilight Zone to have a sit-down with the devil?”

“They will build him his birth canal.” Ew

Sherman Young is so freaking creepy

“Wiggly is good. Wiggly is just.”

“Bring forth the infidels.”

*as Linda walks onto the stage* “MOTHER MOTHER MOTHER”

“I dislike that word, Gerald. Cult. No, it’s a new, exciting religion that I started.”

“I’ve met God, He had nothing nice to say about you.”

“Adore Me” is a BOP

“You’ll kneel before me. Kiss my toe.”

“I will destroy everything, and then I will destroy everything. I guarantee I’ll destroy everything in my path. Unless I get what I--shit, Gerald.”

The followers repeating “I get what I shit.”

THE TIE AROUND JON’S HEAD KILLS ME

“I want you to know what I mean when I say my evil shit, ‘kay?”

TEAM STARKID PLEASE MAKE LAUREN A VILLAIN MORE OFTEN

“What’s shaking banana?” DON’T DO THIS TO ME

Evil Ethan hurts me

Hannah doesn’t deserve this

“I’m in the Black and White now. It’s just like California. It never ends.”

“I swear on my own grave.” I’M

Hannah calling Wiggly out on his bullshit

“Well, Webby is a stupid bitch.” JON UGH

“I’m going to eat you riiiight the fuuuuck nowwwww.” This scene just makes me want to give Hannah a hug

“We don’t get tricked. We’re grown-ups.” GROWN-UPS ARE THE ONLY ONES BEING TRICKED I CAN’T WITH THIS MUSICAL

“Tom, how could you? You let her get away!”

Dylan jumping at an audience member

I know people think that Ethan’s magic hat thing was bullshit but like the syringe missed Hannah so like?? 

“You think that in the Netherlands they care about some toy? Hah! Nah, they’re too busy enjoying their free vacations and free health care.”

Made In America is A BOP

THE SNIGGLES

BIG WIGGLY

I feel like Made in America won’t have the same punch on the soundtrack.

Joey’s falsetto

R.I.P. General John McNamara

“MERRY CHRISTMAS MOTHERFUCKER!”

“Uh, oh, Mr. Prezy-wez. It seems you’ve misplaced your bomby-womb. Don’t worry. I’m sure it will turn up somewhere.”

“We’ve lost Moscow, sir.”

“He baited us into World War Three.”//*Wiggly giggles* “That tickles.”

“Is this what I live for? To be choked in a toy store?”

“Black Friday” is such a beautiful song though

“Did I need her more than she needed me?” I’m crying please stop

“I’m authorizing you to use my firearm.”

“Monsters and Men” reprise is PERFECT

“Kids don’t want that piece of shit.”//“What?”//“They’re all into Fortnight, dude!”

“I mean, you’re like 40! You probably think your life is over!”

“Everyone is dying, and that includes me, too.” Jeff is a lyrical genius but he needs to back off of whatever angsty juice he’s drinking.

“If I fail you one more time, the punishment won’t match the crime, cause there’s no pain that could ever explain how I let you down.”

“I failed you once, and I will fail again.” I cried when I watched this the first time

“If I Fail You” is such an emotional song

“Alright, let’s go.”//“Fuck, yeah! Should I move these boxes first?”//“Fuck, yeah.”

Charlotte? Where did you come from???

“The only man that’ll have her now is Jack Daniels.”

“And you, you little shit.” Says Draco, the little shit.

“A magic hat? That’s ridiculous. Only dolls are magic.”

“Is this some kind of a joOoOoOoke?”

“Answer me, or I’ll cut your mouth open with my FUCKING KNIFE.”

“You’re a fucking moron.”// “Then you’ve been out-fucked by a fucking moron.”

Lauren’s wiggles during “He will wigglewigglewigglewigglewiggle his way into life.”

“Wiggle” is such a silly song but the harmonies and choreography????? Iconic.

ROBERT’S TWIRL???

JAMES’ DEATH DROP????

EVERYONE’S SEPARATE WIGGLES????

The crying when Becky shot Linda.

“Gerald? It’s Gary. Yep, we need to talk about the will. Goldstein!”

The red light that symbolized Wiggly being on fire.

The followers deciding to burn with Wiggly.

“I have this cooky, reclusive Biology professor.” *audience loses their shit*

“What am I supposed to do without my iPhone?”//“Wear a watch?”

“What If Tomorrow Comes” is such a haunting song

Kendall’s voice is so GOOD!

HOT CHOCOLATE BOY?

MR. DAVIDSON?

BILL?

The dabbing

Hannah and Lex hugging

Paul hugging Emma and Bill

The Hot Chocolate Boy and the Cinema Kid holding hands honestly adorable and I lowkey ship

A little bit of instrumentals from “Not Your Seed” in the end-credit music?? (From the lyric “Look what happened, nightmare time.”)

That’s it. It’s very long, but those were either my favorite parts or small things I noticed. Mostly just my thoughts.

[awkwardlyamusing-blog]

A Dog's Journey Blu-ray Review - Dogs are friends forever!

New Post has been published on http://doggietrainingclasses.com/a-dogs-journey-blu-ray-review-dogs-are-friends-forever/

A Dog's Journey Blu-ray Review - Dogs are friends forever!

Kidzworld checked out the Blu-ray for A Dog’s Journey. This heartwarming and emotionally-charged film comes home with some really fun and entertaining extra features. Read our cool Blu-ray review!

By: Lynn Barker

The book and movie A Dog’s Purpose continues in A Dog’s Journey. Smart and sweet doggie Bailey (voiced again by Josh Gad) loves living on the Michigan farm of his “boy,” Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and Ethan’s wife Hannah (Marg Helgenberger) who are grandparents of very young granddaughter C.J. She has a mutual lovefest with Bailey. However, C.J.’s very negative mom Gloria (Betty Gilpin) had rather have a music career than raise a baby on a boring farm and moves away with little C.J. When Bailey is passing on and ready for a new life, he promises Ethan to find C.J. and protect her at all costs. Can he keep this promise?

A Dog’s Journey Clip – “Unconditional Love”

Living on the Farm

When Hannah’s son Henry dies in an auto accident, his wife Gloria and baby C.J. come to live with Hannah and Ethan. Gloria is far from a friendly, attentive mom, however and refuses to leave C.J. with Hannah while she goes to pursue a singing career.

Gloria announces she is leaving with C.J.Courtesy of Universal Studios

Instead, after blaming a few bad parenting moments on dog Bailey, she takes C.J. and hits the road. When elderly Bailey is dying, Ethan asks him to come back, find C.J. and protect her. We know Bailey will.

It’s Bailey’s time to pass onCourtesy of Universal Studios

Another Life

Doggie Bailey is reincarnated as a beagle puppy named Molly whose brother Rocky is adopted by a cute Asian boy named Trent. He knows the now tween-aged C.J.

Young C.J. with Molly and young TrevorCourtesy of Universal Studios

She wants to adopt Molly but knows mom Gloria hates dogs. C.J. hides Molly and since Gloria drinks too much and is out a lot, she doesn’t notice the dog for a long time. Molly and C.J. meet and play with Trent and Rocky. Finally mom discovers Molly but reluctantly lets C.J. keep her. As they go through high school Trent would like C.J. to be his girlfriend. Hannah and Ethan try to visit but Gloria turns them away telling C.J. that they tried to steal the money dad left for her. 

Unhappy Gloria doesn’t like dogsCourtesy of Universal Studios

Bad Boyfriend  

18-year-old C.J. (Kathryn Prescott) who now wants to be a singer/songwriter, meets a low-life but cute guy named Shane (Jake Manley) who is into booze, drugs and partying. For a while C.J. tries to go along but when a party is busted by the cops, she is sent to jail. Trent takes care of Molly. C.J.’s community service sentence at a facility training dogs to sniff out cancer ends in Molly being a natural at it. When Shane grabs C.J., attacking her, she tells her drunk mom, who couldn’t care less. Mom also tells her she has no inheritance from her dad. Mom spent it a long time ago! C.J. is shattered. She leaves home in the family car only to be followed and chased by angry Shane in his car. A wreck follows and little Molly is killed.

Will C.J. and Trevor be a couple?Courtesy of Universal Studios

New Life

Bailey/Molly reincarnates this time as a huge mastiff dog called Big Dog by his gas station owner Joe. He has almost given up on finding C.J. but fate puts her at the gas station on her way to start a music career in New York City. She has no idea that he is the reincarnated Molly and goes on her way.

C.J. meets Big DogCourtesy of Universal Studios

Sad Big Dog leads a nice life with Joe but ends up dying before ever finding C.J. again. This time he comes back as a feisty tiny terrier puppy dubbed Max. Max is up for adoption but won’t let anyone but C.J. adopt him. He snaps at everyone and is almost scheduled for euthanasia when he spots C.J., chases after her and leaps into her arms. She adopts him.

Molly adopts MaxCourtesy of Universal Studios

Another Bad Boyfriend

Trying to make it as a singer while dog walking to earn money, Molly lives with her uptight, critical boyfriend Barry (Kevin Claydon) who has his own dog Duke and keeps telling C.J. she’ll never make it as a singer. She still has stage fright and won’t sing in public.

C.J. walks dogs for a livingCourtesy of Universal Studios

Max leads C.J. to run into Trent (Henry Lau) who has moved to NYC from London and has a girlfriend Liesl (Daniella Barbosa) who is very possessive of him. Barry and C.J. break up and she sleeps on friends’ couches finally ending up staying in Trent’s guest room.

Illness for Trent

Little Max smells cancer on Trent. His girlfriend ditches him and it is C.J. who sees him through treatment to health. Mom Gloria has cleaned up her act, meets with a reluctant C.J. who can’t forgive her. Mom encourages her to bite the bullet and sing in public.

C.J. finally performs in publicCourtesy of Universal Studios

With Trent’s support, she sings at a club and is a big success. After reading some letters Gloria gave her from her dad, C.J. wants to visit Ethan and Hannah at their farm.

Ethan, Hannah and Bailey on the farmCourtesy of Universal Studios

A Happy Ending?

While C.J., Trent and Max are visiting the farm, Ethan senses that Max is really Bailey and proves it to C.J. who realizes that the other dogs in her life were Bailey as well. She also realizes that she actually loves Trent. Will their relationship blossom? What is in store for Max next and what’s going to happen to C.J., Trent and her family? What is Bailey’s eventual fate?

Trevor has always loved C.J.Courtesy of Universal Studios

Special Extra Features

This Blu-ray/DVD/Digital set looks and sounds great and contains a bunch of really enjoyable extra features.

10 Deleted or Extended Scenes are all wonderful and are either adorable, dog-centered or build the characters well. All are very worth watching!

Young C.J. is fun-lovingCourtesy of Universal Studios

Gag Reel is a hoot. It is focused on dogs doing cute things on set that aren’t part of the script, dogs licking faces etc., Dennis Quaid who plays Ethan, joking with kids and dogs, a bug attack etc. Very silly fun to watch.

Working with Dogs –all of the film’s major actors tell us why they love working with dogs. Filmmakers and some actors bring their dogs to set. Dog trainers talk about training the film’s dogs with love and trust and they give tips on training your dog.  Dennis Quaid tells us how he felt a special bond with the dog playing Bailey. Soooo sweet.

Ethan and Bailey always playCourtesy of Universal Studios

A Dog’s Sequel – Josh Gad, the voice of Bailey in two films says he cried on reading the script. The other actors talk about their characters. The actress who plays meanie Gloria tells us she actually loves dogs and found it hard to be at all mean to them in the movie. Director Gail Mancuso on the story’s drama for dogs and people. Nice.

Everyone’s Best Friend presents all the actors talking about their personal dogs at home and the bond they feel with them. Some of them came to set. One actress has cats and dogs at home, one actor can’t wait to adopt a dog etc. Awwww.

Grandma and Bailey play with little C.J.Courtesy of Universal Studios

A Healing Journey concentrates on the reincarnation story with filmmakers and the book author talking about the possibility that animals can “come back” in other animals and our feeling that connection. The film helps kids, teens and even adults deal with the passing of a beloved pet. Cool.

Scoring the Journey deals with the film’s very touching soundtrack and a young pianist who loves dogs and provided some of the best of the film’s score. So cool!

Audio Commentary with Director Gail Mancuso is interesting as the director, who loves dogs, tells us about the scenes and filming process, working with the dogs etc.

Wrapping Up

As we said in our review when this film was in theaters, the movie is a mixed bag; very entertaining and heartwarming but with a lot of emotional push and pull that makes us feel like we are a dog on a leash being jerked through the lives and especially the passings of lots of cute dogs… there are four of them! 

C.J. has to hide MollyCourtesy of Universal Studios

If you can rally and root for the “next dog” each time Bailey passes then you will enjoy the film.

Max/Bailey is glad CJ. and Trevor are togetherCourtesy of Universal Studios

The extras provided on this Blu-ray/DVD/Digital set are wonderful and upbeat. They are so warm, funny and cuddly that they make us go up to four stars on this take home version of the film.

A Dog’s Journey Blu-ray Rating: 

Courtesy of Universal Studios

A Dog’s Journey home entertainment sets are out to purchase now! 

Share Your Feelings!

What about your dog, cat or other pet lets you know they will love you forever? Do you sometimes think your current pet is just like one you had in the past? Do you like movies that center on animals?  Let’s hear from you with a comment here or on your Kidzworld profile page!

  Source link Dog Training Tips

[incursionofthedamnedrpg]

Louis Capaldi accepted! You know the drill, Lexi!

Name: Lexi

Age: 27

Timezone: EST

State an account where we can message you: Anastasia’s

How active you’re going to be: (1-10): My usual. You know I’m generally always around

How did you find out about this roleplay?: In it

Why do you want to play this character?: Louis is a old muse of mine I wanted to bring into this rp. He’s a fun one and kind of in his own bubble a lot so it’d be fun to throw him into there. See how he meshes and all that.

Anything else you would like to tell us? (Changes, suggestions…etc): Nope.

IC:

Preferred Ships: Louis/chemistry

Sample para: RFP

Name: Louis Capaldi Birthday: April 1st 1991 Species: Human Lookalike: Frank Dillane Availability: Taken

Personality Louis by nature is a very soft spoken and awkward kind of guy. He’s the slow to catch onto jokes type but always willing to try and tell a few himself. He’s gentle and generally kind, but he’s also fearful and insecure. Louis’ talents lay in mathematics and the human mind. He loves a good puzzle, and he’s also a fairly private human being. He’s scared of the monster’s the lurk around each corner, and he’s willing to convey his emotions.

His heart is on his sleeve and more often than not he thinks with that over his own head which can lead to trouble. Friends don’t come easy with his anxious and non-trusting manner, but he secretly wishes he could put his anxiety aside to have real relationships. Clumsy and offbeat he might be, Louis is a guy where’s more than meets the eye.

Past Louis Alexander Capaldi was born in Mystic Falls to parents who had dreamed of building a family from the beginning. His father is a well known architect and his mother was a wedding planner. Both were simple people with simple tastes and a modest home in Rome. He was treated right as a child, but he never did socialize well. He was always quiet and gentle, but overall there was always a good soul in there somewhere. His childhood wasn’t all that exciting as it was more by the book. He attended school and did his work with his head down. the grades got him through, but he found his interests rested in hobbies like puzzles and crime tv shows. People have always fascinated Louis even from that young age.

All through school his parents pushed him to work in the same line as his father, but Louis refused. It wasn’t his thing. He wasn’t handy like that and though he had good attention to detail, he wasn’t up for it. He tried to ignore them for years as he moved through school and found his own likes and dislikes. He kept small circles of people he knew, but he wouldn’t call them friends.

His first supernatural encounter was actually on Halloween when he was nineteen years old. He took one of his little cousin’s out trick r treating and a vampire in town nearly made a victim of her. The poor kid was terrified and in a rush of adrenaline Louis went to her defense. He wasn’t strong enough against a vampire no, but Louis still threw a few punches and shoves only to be knocked on his ass. A group of onlookers who saw came rushing thinking someone was attempting to kidnap the little girl and Louis was the savoir. The vampire fled, but he had flashed his fangs and strength enough for Louis to know.

He knew from that day forth he would want to do something about it. News of other attacks and human’s being prey continued as he dived deeper into it in his quiet way. He grew more upset and used his little side jobs to collect information to keep people safe. Small warnings of don’t go areas in town and such.

He went onto study to become a youth counselor in college, but he’s still in the process. He had a few times of almost quitting due to his own anxiety’s and fears. Now that he’s secured in college he has been working on the side as a bartender for income. He lives in a loft apartment above a shop, which it isn’t glamorous but it does him well. He’s been striving lately to mend things for the human’s of his hometown. It frustrates him to know the humans become targets because they are seemingly weaker, but he disagrees. He’s like a quiet activist, but give him the right push he will certainly tell you how he feels.

Present Louis is currently still in college though in his final year now. He works as a bartender and uses that to collect info about the supernatural dealings in town. He’s quiet and reserved and no one really suspects he’s up to much. He is, however, using his details to inform a hunter so he can help keep the town safe. He’s a quiet bystander, but he still has his hand in things.

Connections Ethan Layfeild

Logan has seen Ethan come into the bar mutiple times. The two became unlikely friends and Louis provides Ethan with information in order to keep humans safe in town. Little clues and things he hears about possible attacks or possible soon to be victims. It’s Louis’ way of keeping his hometown safe.

Elena Salvatore

Louis has seen her at the collge and think she’s really nice. He bumped into her once and awkwardly fumbled picking up his books and she helped. He wants to talk to her in a real conversation, but he’s too anxious and nervous for all that.

Hannah Ross

Louis and Hannah went to high school together and she’s easily one of the few people he trusts unconditionally. She gets his cause and he’s there for her to lean on if needed just like he can lean on her.

[living-for-christ]

A Week On Word of Life Island

    My restless sleep was interrupted by a nudging on my back. The fifteen-passenger van was already crowded with ten teenagers and two leaders in it, but Seth just had to make it worse. He was over six feet tall and had long legs. He could have easily stretched his legs out in the aisle, but no, he had to push his knees into my back.

  “Seth, please get your knees out of my back,” I said.

Seth laughed and continued pushing his knees into the back of my seat.

  “Seth, you need to stop. We’re all uncomfortable and you’re just making it worse” Emma, the 17-year-old, spoke up.

Emma’s words seemed to make Seth all the more determined to make my ride miserable. He kept pushing. I moved my pillow and blanket and slid over to the open seat next to Emma. We were headed to Schroon Lake in upstate New York where we would spend a week at Word of Life camp. Eight of us were going to “The Island” for high school teens, and the other two were going to “The Wild” for middle and elementary grades. Luckily, Seth was one of the teens going to “The Wild” so I wouldn’t have to see him for another week.

Word of Life was founded in New York in the 1930’s by Jack Wyrtzen and Harry Bollback. Jack Wyrtzen purchased The Island in 1946 for $25,000. Since that time, over 300,000 kids have gone to camp on The Island. Since the founding of Word of Life, it has added the Ranch and the Wild to its Bible Institute (the BI) campus. The Lodge is a rustic inn down the road for leaders to stay for the week. The Pines is across the road from the BI for families to go camping together. There is also a camp located in Florida. Word of Life has 14 Bible Institutes around the globe and has ministries in 69 countries worldwide.

After stopping for the night at a church and getting back on the road the next day, we finally arrived at Word of Life. When we pulled into the Jack Wyrtzen Center (also known as the J-WAC) I saw that the parking lot was nearly full. I waved to staff members I had met over the years as we walked into the J-WAC. It was full of hundreds of kids from 6-18 years old. The hum of voices was deafening, and I had to shout to be heard. Everyone got checked in and our luggage was searched for contraband (e.g. drugs, alcohol, weapons, electronics). We dropped Seth and Ethan off at the Wild, then it was off to the boat launch for the rest of us.

The Island is, in fact, an island located in the middle of Schroon Lake. The only way to get there is by boat. Depending on the boat and how much the passengers had eaten that day, the trip across the lake could take anywhere from two to five minutes.

Once we were on the island, the boys met their counselors, we girls met our counselors, and we all said goodbye to the youth leaders. I went with the three other girls to our cabin which was named “Gracias Gardens” and we met the five other girls in our cabin. Hailey and Hannah were twins (to be honest I could not tell them apart the whole week), Sophia and Carly were sisters, and Kat was their friend. Together they formed a tight clique and refused us entrance. I was fine with that. I hoped to make friends, and I knew that potential friends were everywhere.

The Island is divided into two teams, red and blue, and they compete for points throughout the week. The largest way to earn points is by going for cabin of the week. For cabin of the week, you have to dress up in costumes for breakfast. The daily costume challenge ranges from pirate day to tourist day. You also have to make up a new cheer every day and complete daily challenges such as building a massive sand castle or endure some form of embarrassment (take a moment to imagine a group of six-foot guys twirling and doing water ballet in the shallow section of the swimming area). There are other ways for teams to earn points, such as winning daily competitions and sports tournaments. All of the daily activities had some form of water, and the program guys would always make sure any dry person was sprayed with freezing water from the fire hose.

It was during one such daily competition that I met Marissa. The green court (named for the green soccer turf) had walls and netting surrounding it. Inside the green court was a large fan and several mini pools, but they were hidden by a mass of foamy bubbles. The program guys had filled the green court with a ten-foot-tall mountain of bubbles. Anyone who entered the mass disappeared from sight completely. Our task as the blue team was to enter the bubbles once, take one ball from the pool (if we could find the pool) and throw it into a bucket that was hung on a 12-foot pole. The whistle was blown and hundreds of girls ran into the blob. I couldn’t see a thing. There were bubbles in my hair, on my clothes, in my mouth, and in my eyes. My eyes stung and burned from the soap. I closed my eyes and stretched out my hands to feel for the pool. Instead, I bumped into another girl.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Did you find the pool yet?” the girl said.

“No, I can’t see anything” I answered.

    The girl grabbed my hand and led me to the pool. I grasped a ball and followed the girl out of the mass of bubbles. Once out, I saw that the girl had glasses which had apparently protected her eyes from the bubbles.

  “Thanks,” I said. We both ran to throw our balls into the bucket.

The main place to gather during free time was called “top of the rock”. “The rock” is an enormous 330-foot-hill aptly named “Cardiac Hill” (no joke, this thing is exhausting). Top of the rock has a snack shack, bookstore, carpetball tables, ping pong tables, picnic tables for cards, an “escape the room”, and a coffee house. The coffee house is the cool place to be. It has couches and bean bags along with decks of cards you can borrow. You can buy anything from cappuccinos and smoothies to brownies and muffins at the coffee house.

I saw Marissa a lot the rest of the week. We set up several card games at the coffee house. She always beat me at Egyptian rat screw, but I was fine with it. I had made a friend. I knew that after this week it was unlikely that we would ever see each other again, but it was still nice to have a friend. Since camp, I have not had any contact with Marissa, but I am hopeful that we will meet again next summer and pick up where we left off.

The speaker on the Island that week was David Martin. He talked about fearfulness, and how, with God’s help, we could be fearless. It would be difficult to sum up the entire week’s messages in such a short time, but his messages really taught me how to conquer my fears of being rejected, my fears of the unknown, and my fear of stepping out on faith. He talked about how we needed to defeat our “Goliaths” with “stones” from God’s word.

It was after one of these messages about conquering your fears that an opportunity arose for me to do so. My younger cousin, Lauren, had come with me to the Island. It was her first time being out of state and I was asked to make sure she was ok all week. Because it was raining, everyone was sitting in their cabins, including the five cliquish girls. One of our counselors was at the health center with a camper, and the other was taking a shower in the back room.

  “Hey, let’s run down to the snack shack and play some carpetball. No one’s going to be there,” Hailey suggested.

Hannah agreed and the two of them stepped out onto the porch.

  “Hey, wait up!” Kat called to them.

It was then that Lauren spoke up, “Hey, you can’t leave without a counselor.”

  “Who made you queen?” Sophie mocked.

Lauren continued, “The counselors could be sued if you get hurt when they aren’t there.”

  “So, that’s not our problem,” Hannah said as she poked her head inside.

The five girls had zeroed in on Lauren now and were throwing rude and degrading comments her way. I could see Lauren starting to tear up and I knew that I had to step in, but I was scared. Then, the verse Proverbs 31:8-9 came to mind, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”

I guess the girls had slept through that message. They were here for fun, and they had little to no desire to obey the counselors or be kind to their neighbor.

  “Hey! Stop it! You guys are being bullies! She’s right, you can’t leave without a counselor, and it is your problem because you would be responsible as well. So just come back inside, and wait just three minutes until she’s done in the shower. Then we’ll all go to the snack shack.”

  “Yes, your Majesty” Hailey rolled her eyes and went to sit on the porch.

I had defeated my Goliath. It hadn’t felt good in the moment. It had actually hurt a little, but I know that I am stronger now because of it. I learned that I should not be afraid of the little things, or the big things. With God, I know that all things are possible.

The last day of camp, we had Robby’s run. It is a quarter-mile run around the edge of the island, then down through the cabins, top of the rock, and it finally ends at the beach. Once everyone was at the beach, we were given plastic cups with colored chalk. On the count of three, we all threw the chalk dust on each other. The dust stuck to the beads of sweat and clung to our hair. Everyone was an odd rainbow of orange, pink and blue. It was a good end to the week because we all got to have one last fun memory on the Island.

The Island is a mysterious place. Some kids come with their church groups, and some come alone. Some kids come to hear a memorable gospel message, and others do not even know it is a Christian camp. From what I have seen, no matter who they are or why they came, everyone always learns something. The importance of what they learned may differ. I know that 27 teens learned how much God loved them and decided to be saved. In the case of the five girls, they learned not to eat the mystery meat. I learned that I cannot be afraid of anything. If I have the ability to stand up for what I believe and share it with others, why am I not doing it?

  “Seth, get your knees out of my back” Lauren groaned.

We had switched spots for the ride home. Now I was in the front row, while Lauren was in front of Seth. It was going to be a long ride, but at least now we had the memories of an awesome week at Word of Life Island.

(There are some awesome pictures of the Island on their Facebook page “Word of Life Island”. There are also videos on Youtube you can watch by searching “Word of Life Island week in review”.)