#it really is. I just wish black women were encouraged to enjoy their youth and actually LIVE

[kouhaiofcolor]

Goddamn Flo Milli too now? 😟

So annoyed that Flo Milli is pregnant.

City Girls are now down by 100 points. Wtf

[hannahwatcheshorror]

PEARL (2022)

A character study about a young woman finding her way through some complicated feeling no one else seems to have. Throughout the film you can see Pearl struggle with her humanity and it is rather fascinating. You get to see how things got set up for the previous movie in the series, “X,” or you can just enjoy this as a stand alone film. The pacing is very good, it wastes no time getting things going or keeping them there. Not a perfect film but a weird one that I think fits nicely into the Horror genre.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Hello Herman” vibes right out the gate, “you’re a superstar, yes you are, yes you are,” but also killing small animals is surely a sign of what's to come in Pearl’s future, I mean, honey… (At least Maxine was just a coke fiend before she met you.) I like that she feeds Theda the alligator but it debunks my “she's a witch” theory from “X” and also I wish she didn’t feed the gator with a pitch fork, what if she stabbed the poor thing and it couldn’t death roll a certain hot blonde in the future?

Pearl exhibits some strange behavior from the beginning of the film, it’s hard to tell if it’s mental illness, a reaction to the stressors of life, or if she might just be a little evil. She doesn’t have the easiest life with her husband at war, her strict mother, her disabled father, and her dashed dreams of dancing for an audience, but she isn’t entirely without. When the man working at the cinema encourages her to live her youth, you feel that she is entitled to spreading her wings a bit, but then we get a harsh reality check at dinner when Mama informs us how tight money is.

The only thing tighter than the money was how tight the women in that house were wound up because it came to physical blows very quickly. The worst part is they both had reasonable points but things heated up so quickly. Speaking of heating up quickly, Mama. Pearl accidentally (on purpose) pushed Mama into the fire and her dress caught up and burned her badly. Papa watched the whole thing (remember, disabled). Mama was sent to the punishment basement to die while father got his favorite pillow. Pearl goes to the cinema worker to run away but he takes her home first and gets spooked and tries to leave so she freaks out and kills him, classic Pearl! Here we get to see her iconic pitchfork before it was iconic.

When the church dance audition rolls around, Pearl really hams it up… Which the Church folk don’t want, they want someone cute and blonde like Pearl's sis-in-law. Pearl gets all her anger and sadness off her chest to her Sissy-in-law before taking a lot of Sissy’s chest and back and everywhere off with an ax. Finally, her husband returns to the gruesome stage Pearl has set with her parents at the table, complete with a roast pig in the middle, rotten, maggoty, and molding. He is horrified at his wife, his Pearl, and all she can do is smile and cry. The unease you feel as Mia Goth grits her teeth at the camera while tears roll down her cheeks, the tendons in her neck splaying out, as the screen slowly closes around her in a black circle, evokes just the final feeling we needed. I felt such sympathy for both characters in that moment though after I remembered what they both got up to in “X” I felt much less bad for them. This movie posed the idea that misery breeds misery. The old “If I can’t be happy, no one can be.” Which is a sickening mindset to have but could explain a lot about the events in “X.”

[doc-pickles]

the storm & the wind

Brooke is running and Alex happens to meet her along her journey. Their brief encounter might just change everything for her.

hey hi hello I am DOUBLE POSTING for some god damn reason. (i updated treacherous on AO3 for the the first time in 20 years) this was in my drafts and I felt the sudden overwhelming need to finish it today. I love this piece more than I can say and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy so I hope y’all enjoy it.

also the title comes from this quote from Little Women: You are the gull, Jo, strong and wild, fond of the storm and the wind, flying far out to sea, and happy all alone.

+

The snow crunching beneath her feet soaks into her worn Converse, a chilling reminder that she should’ve thought to grab something warmer. She makes a mental note to throw her now soaked socks over the heating vent later as she walks into the diner. It’s an old rundown place, but the gust of warm air that brushes over her face as she enters is a more than welcome feeling. Sitting at the counter she knows she should order something to eat but she can’t bring herself to ask for more than a cup of coffee when an aging waitress comes by and asks, her fingers greedily clutching the mug as she takes a sip.

“You’re not really dressed for the weather.”

The voice startles her, her grip around the cup tightening as she turns to her left. The owner of the voice can’t be much older than her, his chiseled jawline dotted with stubble and his dark hair cropped close to his head. He looks grumpy, an expression more at home on someone twice his age but the glint in his eyes keeps his youthful appearance.

“Your shoes are practically soaked through and you have a sweater on in 13-degree weather,” the stranger continues to share his thoughts, his comment prompting her to pull her cardigan tighter around herself. “I’m guessing you’re not from around here Blondie.”

The observation reminds her that the thick braid hanging over her shoulder is a bright bleach blonde instead of her natural brunette coloring. She’d hastily dyed it in a rest stop somewhere in Ohio, desperate to wash away any traces of him that she could.

“I’m from New Jersey. Well… Kind of. I’m originally from Pennsylvania.”

The words slip from her mouth before she can second-guess them. Normally she would worry about giving any identifying information out, the fear of him being able to find her consuming her mind. But she knows now that she’s far from New Jersey and the life she left behind.

“You’re from the East Coast and you didn’t pack a winter coat?”

“I forgot… I was in a rush.”

That part isn’t a total lie, she had been in a rush when she left. She had shoved as much as she could into her suitcase while he had been working, not wanting to face his anger at her sudden departure. Now though she wishes she had put more thought into what she grabbed, she’d been freezing since she left.

“Here, you look like a wet dog shivering like that,” the man slips his thick red flannel off, holding the garment out to her with an expectant look. “Cmon, I don't have fleas or anything.”

She takes the proffered jacket, only because she’s shaking just as much as he says she is. The heavy material settles on her shoulders instantly warming her. The man looks at her for a moment before turning back to his coffee, speaking as he stares at the dark liquid, “If you're from Jersey what the hell are you doing out here? Middle of nowhere Iowa isn’t exactly a tourist destination.”

“I’m starting over, running away from… something. At least I think I am. I’m not quite sure,” she toys with the sleeves of his jacket, finally looking back up at him after a moment with an accusing tone. “Why do you care anyways? Are you just trying to make sure I don’t have any concerned family members that will come looking for me after you kidnap and murder me?”

There’s a momentary pause before a peel of laughter erupts from the man, a glint taking over his dark eyes as he speaks, “Jesus, you’re really paranoid or something, huh?”

“Or something,” the words are barely a whisper, but they’re loud enough for him to hear and stop his laughter. She looks up and meets his eyes, noticing how he looks her over as if trying to figure out exactly what she’s thinking.

“I’m not trying to kill you, just trying to make conversation,” as if to prove his point he holds his hand out towards her. “I’m Alex.”

She hesitates only for a moment before settling her hand into his much larger one.

“I’m Brooke.”

+

The conversation seems easier after that, Alex talking about bringing his younger brother home after he had visited him in Seattle and Brooke talking about how she just finished her pre med degree at Princeton. They actually had a lot in common, an almost comforting feeling for her since Paul had isolated her from all her friends.

Paul.

She didn’t dare bring up her abusive husband or the horrors he had dragged her through. No, today she’s not poor defenseless Brooke Stadler whose husband can’t control his temper. Today she’s just Brooke, recent college grad who’s eating breakfast with Alex, the cute doctor with a charming smile.

“So why’d you say you’re starting over,” Alex finally broaches the subject as they both finish their meals. “I mean you just finished pre-med, that means you’re starting med school in the fall right? What are you running from? ”

Brooke shrugs, eyes falling to her now empty plate and she avoids Alex's piercing stare, “I’m supposed to start at Princeton med but now I’m not so sure. A lot has happened lately… It's complicated.”

Alex‘s hand reaches out for her arm, the move causing her to jump slightly. An embarrassed blush paints itself on her cheeks as Alex searches her eyes, almost as if he knows what she’s thinking about. He seems to brush the thought off quickly though as he continues to prod at her.

“Well… Did you get in anywhere else? It’s not too late to change your mind,” Alex shrugged as if sensing Brooke’s discomfort with the situation. “I was supposed to do my residency at the hospital down the street before I switched to Seattle at the last minute. Best thing I probably could’ve done for myself.”

“Well… I got into Harvard too. But I’m not sure,” there’s hesitation lacing her voice when she knows there shouldn’t be. Her mind is swirling, thinking about the fact that she could always go back to him. “I don’t know, I was thinking about going back home.”

Alex scoffs, the small noise causing Brooke to stare at him intensely, “You're not going back home, that’s a load of crap.”

“What makes you so sure about that? You don’t know anything about me.”

There’s a pause as Alex takes a sip of his coffee, a deliberate distraction as he attempts to string together the right words, “Well that black eye isn’t hidden as well as you think it is. And you jumped about a mile in the air when I first started talking to you. So I’m assuming you’re not running from something but someone. Did I get it right?”

Brooke’s fingers froze around her mug, eyes watering as she stared blankly at the dark liquid swirling inside. She pushes down the uncomfortable lump forming in her throat, trying to convince her nerves that Alex was just observant and not a threat.

“My husband… he has a temper,” eyes still focused on the coffee instead of Alex, Brooke found it marginally easier to talk about the real reason she was sitting in a diner in Iowa. “I just knew, the last time he… I just knew if he did it again he would kill me. So when he went to work I grabbed as much as I could and I got in my car and I drove. I don’t think I stopped for almost five hours, not really knowing where I was going. I just knew I had to keep going, that I couldn’t live like that any longer.”

The sounds of the diner around them are all Brooke can hear as her truth settles in the air, Alex taking in everything she’d ungraciously word vomited out. When he finally does speak again, there’s no tell tale tone of pity in his voice that she’d been anticipating.

“My dad was the same way, but my mom never had it in her to run. She was pretty messed up herself,” Brooke looks up at the stranger next to her as a small chuckle breaks through his serious tone. “She wouldn’t run so I had to raise my siblings, I had to make sure we all stayed alive. So I get it, why you’re running. And for what it’s worth, I think you should keep running.”

Swiping at the tears that had collected under her eyelashes Brooke thought about Alex’s words, “He's gonna find me, I know he will.”

“Screw him,” Alex scoffs, taking a swig of his coffee before continuing. “Go to Harvard, change your name, live your life. I promise you, you’ll regret it if you turn around and go back. You have a chance, a real chance, to change your life. Don’t let that slip away.”

There’s a beat of silence as Alex’s encouragement settles deep within Brooke’s chest. The man was a stranger in every sense of the word but somehow his whole hearted belief in her encouraged her to keep moving forward.

“Think of it this way, you get to start a brand new life, no strings attached,” Alex continues. “You can pick something cool! Something that means something. Like… One of those sisters from the book where their dad is away at war?”

“Little Women?”

“Yeah that one,” Brooke laughs at Alex’s statement, causing him to roll his eyes. “Oh shut up, my sister was obsessed with it and made me read it like a hundred times. But all those sisters were badasses, you could use one of those names. Like Amy or Beth. Well no she dies… How about Jo! You definitely look like a Jo to me.”

Brooke’s nose scrunches up at the names, causing both of them to laugh as Alex comes up with ridiculous suggestions. A flood of relief washes over Brooke as the two continue to talk. It had been a long time since she’d let her guard down around someone and just been herself.

A while later she excuses herself to the bathroom, a flash of disappointment striking her when she comes back to an empty seat. Her bill that had been sitting on the counter was paid, the receipt turned over and messy scrawl covering the back.

‘Keep running.’

-

So she does, Brooke keeps running and running and running and she doesn’t stop. In fact, when the running doesn’t feel like enough anymore she takes up actual running to calm her mind.

She runs every morning, at least two miles to clear her head and to keep herself sane. The days she misses her run are filled with overwhelming thoughts and anxiety that courses through her veins so quickly that it feels like a river crashing over her nervous system. She changes her name, cuts her hair, goes to Harvard and graduates top of her class. Every movement, every breath feels like she’s just moving towards the end of a never ending trail. But she keeps going, she keeps running because it’s all she can do.

When she gets accepted into Seattle Grace, one of the best hospitals in the country that puts thousands of miles between her and her past, it finally feels like a breath of fresh air, like relief is on the horizon. So she leaves Boston, leaves the east coast and everything familiar and finally feels like she might be able to stop running.

Seattle is different, it’s new and unexpected and perfect. It’s the first place where her name feels like it’s truly hers even though she’d lived with it now for almost seven years. Her first morning in her new apartment she goes for a run and finds herself looking over the Seattle harbor with a wide smile on her face. She’s a doctor now, something she’s worked towards her whole life it seems, but now it seems so real.

And then she gets put onto a Peds rotation and her heart seems to stop beating in her chest. Because her attending, Doctor Karev, is someone who’s appeared in her mind almost everyday since the first time she met him. His face, albeit a bit younger, is the one that appears when she thinks she can’t go on any longer.

“You mind?”

Alex’s voice brings her back from her daze, the same one that echoes her footfalls as she chases an adrenaline high every morning. She shakes her head in a futile attempt to clear it, “Sorry.”

“Why are you following me,” there’s an annoyed tone to his voice as she mimics his brisk pace down the hallway. She’d heard horror stories about him, about how rude and mean he was but she never would've guessed it was him.

“I'm your intern for the day.”

“Oh. Well, hello, intern,” Alex side eyes her, not really taking her in. “You have a name?”

“Jo. Jo Wilson,” it’s probably the fiftieth time she's said her name out loud since coming to Seattle but this time it feels different.

There’s a pause and Alex turns to take her in once more, as if he had missed something the first time he’d looked. She almost thinks he’ll say something, but he just shrugs and returns to tying his trauma gown, “Oh, nice. I like chicks with boys' names.”

The moment that she thought was there was gone and she stared at her shoelaces as Alex and Doctor Torres prattled on about something. She figures she should be grateful that he didn’t recognize her, that the seven years and the constant self improvement she’d put into herself had paid off. Still, her heart sunk as she realized that the man that had pushed her to keep running, to change her life, didn’t remember her.

-

Their story isn’t easy, in fact it’s one of the hardest things she’s ever been through. But there’s not a single ounce of hesitation or regret in her body when she wakes up every morning next to him. She’s always up before him, solely so she can get her run in before he wakes. By the time she comes back and showers, his eyes are sleepily staring up at her and his arms are reaching out for her like she’d been gone longer than a quick jog.

Alex is the person she’d needed, the one who pushed her to be better and made her feel like she didn’t need to change anything about herself. But the need to run, to keep running still hammered in her chest right under her heartbeat. She figured it would always sit there, the constant anxiety that her past might catch up with her if she stopped running.

When Paul shows up, all she wants is Alex. Before Seattle she would've run, would’ve been gone before anyone could blink to miss her. But now she wants nothing more than to curl up in Alex’s arms and never leave. She knows there’s more that needs to be done though, knows there’s more to the fight and that she needs to keep running this last little bit.

It’s not until she sees her ex husband laying in a hospital bed brain dead that Jo finally feels like she can breathe again, like she can stop fighting and just be. The breath of relief that washes over her as Alex runs his hand down her back feels like a thousand pound weight being lifted off her shoulders.

“I was pregnant.”

There’s a pause and she can feel Alex tense next to her, his hand on her back slowing as his eyes bore into her. She wishes she could stop but the words have been dying to slip out for the past six years that she’s been with him.

“The day we met, I was pregnant,” she turns to look at him, tears shining in her eyes. He doesn’t look shocked, not as shocked as he would’ve been if he didn’t know too. “I almost turned around and went back to him and raised a baby with him but I didn’t. The only reason I didn’t was because of this cocky asshole I met in a shitty diner who convinced me to start over. You’re the reason I kept running, the reason I didn’t go back. Whenever I doubted myself I heard your voice, the voice of a complete stranger mind you, in the back of my head telling me to keep running. You... you’re the reason I’m alive.”

Alex keeps his gaze on her for a minute, not daring to look away as they both realize that the other has known. Through the years of their relationship, since their second meeting in the very halls of this hospital they’ve both known exactly who the other is.

“You did all of that by yourself, you just needed a little push,” Alex brings her close again, his lips brushing against her forehead as she folds herself into his side. She’s crying full on now, her chest shaking as she finally lets herself stop running and lets the pent up emotions of the past few days wash over her. “I knew you could do it, I’m glad you did.”

Her tears don’t stop for a few days as she comes to terms with the fact that there’s no longer a need for her to run. In fact a few days later as she’s on her morning jog she stops and takes the deepest breath she feels she’s ever taken. As she leans on her knees she takes in the feeling of air freely flowing through her lungs, the exhilaration coursing through her body akin to what she thinks completing a marathon must feel like. Her eyes scan the Seattle harbor, taking in the sunrise as she breathes heavily and lets the day settle in around her. She'd run her race, she’d run it longer and faster and better than she’d thought she was capable of and finally, finally, she had finished.

[therapy101]

(1/2) With a rise in young children expressing gender nonconformity being sent to gender clinics, being taught about gender dysphoria and being ‘born in the wrong body’ in schools, being guided towards pubertal blockers and medical transition, I was wondering if I could ask for your more knowledgeable input please. When treating such children and adolescents, why is the underlying assumption that the dysphoric feelings are valid and the body is what needs fixing? Why is APA/psychologists

(”2/2) allowing medical decisions to be made based on outdated mind-body dualism? We don’t affirm anorexia and offer liposuction, or the delusions of schizophrenia for instance, so why is this the only mind-body incongruence that’s treated this way? Does GD in a developing child really warrant medicalizing them for the rest of their lives? Since we’ve scientifically concluded gender is a spectrum, shouldn’t we instead be promoting gender diversity no matter what sexed body we’re born in?”

There are a lot of things to unpack and understand here. 

1. The underlying assumption is not that “the body needs fixing.” Medical transition is not the first step for children, adolescents, or adults with gender dysphoria. From 2004-2016, only 92 total children and adolescents out of six million total patients younger than 19 seen in the sample received a hormone blocker for a transgender-related diagnosis. Even among adults, current estimates for the United States are that between 25-35% of trans and non-binary adults complete any kind of gender affirming surgery (this means, even enough those who have surgery, it may only be one type of surgery and may not impact all relevant body parts). Getting access to trans-affirming medical care is very difficult, and structural inequalities like racism impact access to care, leading some trans people, especially Black trans women, to have to buy hormones from non-medical sources. That’s one of the reasons why the APA has come out to support trans folks and gender affirming care: because otherwise, these folks don’t get any care, or they get mistreated. The point here is to ensure that everyone gets equitable access to high quality medical and mental health care. That includes hormones, hormone blockers, and/or surgery for some people, but not everyone. 

2. All feelings are valid- dysphoric or otherwise. Sometimes feelings don’t fit the facts, or acting upon them doesn’t make sense, but that doesn’t take away from their validity. The question is not whether the feelings are valid for kids with gender dysphoria, the question is how to understand that dysphoria better and how to identify what to do about it, both in terms of gender identity and in terms of coping, support and improving overall mental health. This is a great place for a therapist with expertise to step in and help the child and their family figure it out. 

Sometimes the child or adolescent has known literally or essentially their whole life, and that may mean no dysphoria (which is great!). From Katz-Wise et al., 2017: 

For some youth, primarily but not exclusively those ages 7–12 years, indication of transgender identification occurred early and was described as “immediate.” One father of an 18-year-old trans boy from the Northeast noted, “It was so immediate that it was just, you know, it wasn’t like he was seven and he said, ‘Oh my god he thinks of himself as a boy.’ It was just kinda always like that with him.”

For other youth, it is a more gradual process, and may take some time to sort out. Some youth also don’t have dysphoria while they are doing that so there may not be a reason to seek out therapy unless there is some other mental health issue they are facing. But if they do have dysphoria, or are otherwise experiencing mental health symptoms related to their gender identity, then seeing a therapist can help. 

3. Supporting a child to identify as trans or nonbinary or some other non-cis gender is not “medicalizing them for the rest of their lives.” Hormone blockers can be removed, and hormones can be stopped- but I disagree that these are “medicalizing” in any case. A person cannot be reduced down to the medications they take or the treatments they receive. Is a woman with cancer “medicalized” because she undergoes a hysterectomy? Are the children on puberty blockers for medical reasons “medicalized” (>2000 of them in the study I cited above, but no one seems concerned about them)? What about those people with delusions who are put on antipsychotics, which are known to have severe side effects including higher risk of diabetes and heart disease, seizures, tardive dyskinesia, overwhelming sleepiness impacting ability to work or drive, weight gain (I’ve seen clients gain >70 lbs in 3 months), and more? 

I would encourage you to read either of these great studies by Katz-Wise et al: 1 or 2 to understand this better. When you ask trans youth about themselves, the medical aspect is such a small part- they are talking about their whole selves, their hopes for the future, their families and friends, and their wishes to be able to be loved and accepted for who they really are. Some of it is about their bodies, sure, and that can mean that some decide to use hormones and/or hormone blockers or undergo surgery (although we’ve seen that those rates aren’t super higher ). But they’re also just talking about being called the right name and pronoun, getting to wear the clothes that make them feel authentic, getting to date and marry and have sex, and: getting to live. Not being ostracized and assaulted and killed. Like this 8 year old who identifies as a girlish boy worrying he’ll never be able to get married AND be his true self (from the second Katz-Wise et al):

An 8-year-old youth participant who identified as a “girlish boy” similarly worried about other people's reactions related to gender norms in the long-term future, as told by his mother,

He said [to me], ‘But I'm not going to get married, because if I married a boy I'd want to be the bride...I would want to wear a dress and people would laugh at me because I'm marrying a boy and I'd be wearing a dress.

He is 8 years old and these are his worries. As a mental health professional, my immediate thought is that he deserves any and all support that makes sense to him and his family so that he doesn’t have to worry like this. So that he can be 8. 

4. Finally, and probably most importantly: gender dysphoria is different because treating it with hormone blockers, hormones, and surgery is literally life saving. 

As high as 42% of trans people have attempted suicide at least once. For comparison, the lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts in the general population is 3%.  

Study after study has shown that there are three primary factors that reduce suicide risk: 1. Timely medical and legal transition for those who want it; 2. Family acceptance and general support from friends and loved ones; 3. Reduced transphobia and internalized transphobia. (1 2 3 4 5). 

Psychologists want to help people live, and live well. Living well means having a life you enjoy and find meaningful. If medical transition means someone’s suicide risk decreases and their mental health improves, then they can pursue the life they want. Being affirmed in their gender means they can have that part of the life they want. It might also help them get to other things they want (like having the marriage and wedding they envision, like that example). These are things we as psychologists prioritize. Period. 

It’s not the same as anorexia because providing a liposuction for two reasons. One: It would not resolve the dysphoria. People with anorexia who lose weight do not feel better about themselves and their bodies. That’s the dysphoria: people with anorexia (and other eating disorders, sometimes) often cannot see their bodies as they really are. Changing the body won’t help. Unlike in gender dysphoria, where changing the body- either in presentation or actually medically -actually does help. Two: Liposuction for an underweight person with anorexia could kill them. As we’ve discussed, gender affirming surgeries for trans people can save their lives. These are not comparable. 

The comparison to delusions doesn’t work very well because there isn’t really a “medical” intervention you would do to affirm someone’s delusion. But, since you may not know this: we sometimes do affirm people’s delusions, and it’s not necessarily psychologically helpful to try to change someone’s mind about a delusion. Delusions are not bad all on their own, and: sometimes things we think are delusional, actually aren’t, so it’s super important not to assume we know someone’s life and experiences better than they do. (Just recently a nurse assumed a patient was delusional, but actually they were quite rich and owned several expensive cars. People can be rich and have a significant mental illness.) So anyway- I don’t know how that applies. 

Overall: we as a field are still understanding the full spectrum of gender identities and how to do good treatment and good science in relationship with that. But what’s clear is that medical transition is sometimes a part of a good treatment plan for both youth and adults, and that it can save people’s lives. It can make their lives better. I am 100% about saving people’s lives, so I am 100% about a medical transition when appropriate and gender affirming care in general. 

References: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

(email me at academic.consultant101 gmail.com if you need full texts)

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[lucacangettathisass]

how the light gets in (ch. 6)

SUMMARY: After your home is ransacked by a group of strange men, you and your cousin are taken in by a group of outlaws. And that’s when the trouble really starts.

PAIRINGS: John Marston x Fem!Reader, Arthur Morgan x Fem!Reader

CHAPTER ONE, CHAPTER TWO, CHAPTER THREE, CHAPTER FOUR, CHAPTER FIVE

TAGGING: @mountainhymn if you would like to be tagged in future tags lmk!

NOTES: oof got a long one here fellers! but also a pretty speedy update by my standards so im very happy! small warning for some suggestive language and micah being a creepy dick. as always feedback and REBLOGS are greatly appreciated! have a good one!

Over the following few days, you remained with the other women, only seeing the men who chose to bring in food. This was usually Mr Matthews, Mr Pearson, and Herr Strauss, although Mr Escuella would occasionally pop in. Herr Strauss in particular seemed to have grown fond of you, as he would linger and speak with you in German. You found him to be an erudite and rather friendly man, and you enjoyed his conversation, and the fact that you seemed to have made a friend.

Shortly after Mr Marston’s return, Mr Morgan and Mr Smith went hunting and returned with two deer, which lifted everyone’s spirits considerably. Even Sadie seemed impressed at the mens’ efforts, which you hoped meant she would actually grow to respect them, and possibly even like them.

About four days after Mr Marston’s rescue, you decided to go check on him, and make sure the stitches were holding up well and nothing had gotten infected.

Sadie, of course, insisted on going with you and wouldn’t take no for an answer, despite the fact that you wouldn’t be that far away.

“I don’t want you out of my sight.” She said as you both trudged through the snow, which had frustratingly gotten thicker following a heavy fall the night before. “I don’t trust any of these degenerates.”

“They’re not degenerates Sadie.” You said. “They’re trying to help us.”

She scoffed.

When you entered the building housing the men, you quickly spotted Herr Strauss in the corner. He had looked up when the door opened and you both exchanged a smile.

“Guten morgen Herr Strauss.” You said politely.

“Guten morgen fraulein.” He looked over your shoulder, where you knew Sadie stood. “Frau Adler. Do you speak German?”

“No.”

Herr Strauss seemed surprised at Sadie’s abrupt and sharp tone, and unsure as to how he should continue the conversation, or if he should continue it at all.

“I’m just here to check on Mr Marston.” You said in an attempt to ease the tension. “I won’t be too much of a bother.”

You approached Mr Marston and saw that Miss Roberts was already at his side, with Jack in her lap. This was hardly a surprise, as Miss Roberts scarcely left Mr Marston’s side since his return, keeping him company and making sure the stitches remained clean as best as she could. It warmed your heart to see such devotion and love.

At some point someone had placed a large bandage over Mr Marston’s right eye, obscuring almost half his face, and making him seem very grim indeed. You felt rather sorry for him.

“How are you today Mr Marston?” You asked, smiling kindly.

“I’m alive, so that’s something.” Mr Marston grunted, his eye looking up and behind you. “You must be Mrs Adler.”

“I am.”

“I’m real sorry about what happened to your husband.” Mr Marston sounded sincere, and you were touched on Sadie’s behalf. “I-Well, I guess it happened to you too.”

It took you a moment to realize that Mr Marston was talking to you. “I-Yes.” You swallowed in an attempt to keep your emotions in check. “But you’ve all been very kind.”

You knelt beside Mr Marston and re-examined his face. Just like last time you kept your touch light, just skimming his skin with the pads of your fingertips, only using force to tilt his head when you needed to, and even then you used as little as possible, so as to not hurt or startle. “So, Mr Marston, have you experienced any irritation? Or seen anything that would perhaps indicate an infection?”

Mr Marston was silent for a few moments, probably in thought. “No.” He said. His voice was a little shaky, which concerned you.

“Is something the matter Mr Marston? You sound odd.”

Mr Marston quickly shook his head. “No, nothin’. It’s uh, it’s just my voice.” He cleared his throat and turned his face away.

Feeling somewhat perplexed, you withdrew your hands from Mr Marston’s face. “Well, you seem to be healing well.” You placed a hand gently on his forearm. “There will be some scarring, but there doesn’t appear to be any other cause for concern.” You gave him an encouraging smile.

He said nothing.

You heard a deep chuckle. “There’s no need for you to be fussin’ over him like that miss.”

You looked over your shoulder and saw Mr Bell, smirking while he lit a cigarette. You offered a smile. “Good day Mr Bell, how have you been?”

Mr Bell snorted. “Cold as sin.” He took a drag of his cigarette and looked you over. He was looking at you the way you had seen collectors look at supposedly valuable items; appraising them from sight alone before deciding if they were worth a closer look. “Bet you could keep me warm though.”

You gave him an apologetic look. “I’m afraid I haven’t fared any better.” You said. “I doubt I would be able to help you.”

Mr Bell’s smirk grew wider, and he chuckled lowly. “I could show you a thing or two if you like.”

“I’m not sure I understand.” You said, genuinely confused as to what Mr Bell was talking about.

“Ignore him.” You saw Mr Escuella standing beside the small fireplace, smoking his own cigarette. He shot Mr Bell a dirty look. “Would it kill you to not be a total jackass to everyone?”

Your eyes moved from Mr Escuella to Mr Bell and back again. You were beginning to feel rather awkward. “How are you feeling Jack?” You asked the young boy, turning to him in an attempt to change the subject and avoid any further tension. “Not too cold?”

“No.” He smiled at you. Over the past few days he appeared to have warmed up to you, which pleased you immensely. You had always loved children, and despite everything, you still dreamed of having some of your own.

“Good.” You smiled. “You let me know if you need anything ok?”

“Ok.”

“You want to sit?” Miss Roberts brought Jack closer to her, and seemed to be rising out of the stool she was sitting on. “I can’t imagine the floor is very comfortable.”

“Oh no no no!” You said quickly. “Really Miss Roberts, there’s no need.” You smiled reassuringly. “It’s like I said to Miss Grimshaw yesterday, I’ve spent a lot of time on my knees.”

To your surprise, Miss Roberts gave you a shocked look. “I-You what?”

You furrowed your brow, standing up. “You know, in church?”

The look of shock on Miss Robert’s face was replaced by one of realization before turning to sheepishness. “Oh! I mean-yeah, ‘course.”

Another chuckle came from behind you, even deeper than the last, and sounding far more amused. “Oh, you really are somethin’ ain’t ya sugar pie.”

You turned, and saw that Mr Bell had moved closer, now only a few feet away. His cigarette was hanging out of his mouth, which was contorted into a smile that wasn’t exactly pleasant. His eyes shone, but not with any emotion or intention you could easily identify. It made the hair on your arms stand up.

It didn’t take long for Sadie to stand in front of you, obscuring your view of Mr Bell. “Back off.” She snarled. “Touch her and you’re fucking dead.”

“Sadie!” You grabbed her arm and tried to pull her back, panicking. While you had grown to know a few of the gang members, Mr Bell was still an unknown variable. None of the other members had said anything about him, so you were flying blind where he was concerned, and you didn’t wish to take any chances. “I’m very sorry about her Mr Bell.” You said hastily, eyes flicking back and forth between the two.

“Don’t apologise to him.” Sadie snapped. She wrenched her arm out of your grip and grabbed your hand. “Come on, we’re gettin’ out of here.”

Before you could react further, Sadie dragged you outside, keeping your hand in a vice like grip.

“Sadie you can’t say things like that to people!” You exclaimed once you were both out in the cold, door slamming shut behind you. “Especially people who help you!”

She snarled and stopped abruptly. “Well you can’t tell people you’re used to being on your knees!”

You frowned. “Why not? Surely they know what I mean?”

“They’ll think you mean-” Sadie stopped and sighed. “Look, just-just forget it.”

Now you were even more confused. “What? They’ll think I mean what?”

“I said forget it!” Sadie snapped.

You winced. “Sorry.” You said softly. You looked down at your feet, cheeks flushing from the cold and embarrassment.

Sadie sighed again, and you felt her wrap her arms around you. “You don’t need to be sorry.” She said softly. “But I am.” She pulled away, holding onto your shoulders, and you looked up at her. She looked tired, haggard, defeated. You had never seen her like that before, and you felt guilty. “You know I worry about you.” She said. “And all of this ain’t helpin’.” She squeezed your shoulders. “But I shouldn’t have gotten angry at you. I’m not angry at you.” The corners of her lips twitched upwards slightly into a smile. “Do you forgive me?”

“Oh Sadie.” You immediately wrapped your arms around her. “Of course I do. I’ll always forgive you.”

You felt her tremble slightly when she hugged you back. Probably the cold.

-

Later, while speaking with the women and re-braiding Sadie’s hair, you all received a visitor.

It was a man you had recalled seeing with the other men, in your peripheral vision. He was older, appearing to be close to Mr Matthew’s age, and dressed entirely in black with a rather large hat. Once he took the hat off, you noted his eye catching red hair, which you were sure was far more bright and vibrant in his youth. Now it seemed to have faded, and was accompanied by a considerable amount of grey, while his moustache was seemingly untouched by time.

“A-Afternoon ladies.” He said, looking around until his eyes landed on you.

You paused in your braiding of Sadie’s hair. You looked up at the man, and noted that he was clutching onto his hat, fingers drumming on the rim of it. He seemed nervous, so you smiled kindly. “Good afternoon sir.”

He seemed almost startled, like a child that had been caught doing something they shouldn’t be, but he quickly composed himself. He took a step closer to you. “I uh, I thought I should finally introduce myself.” He held out a hand. “Orville Swanson.”

You felt yourself perk up, and your smile grew wider. “You’re the Reverend right? Miss Grimshaw told me about you.” You took his hand and shook it. “It’s very nice to meet you Reverend Swanson.”

The Reverend seemed startled again, but he shook your hand as well and even smiled. “May I sit?”

“Of course!” You gestured to the empty floor beside you. You resumed braiding Sadie’s hair, but you watched the Reverend from your peripheral. “Is there something you needed Reverend?”

“I uh, I wished to speak to you. About what you said earlier.”

You felt Sadie tense, and you gently squeezed her shoulder to keep her calm. “Which part?”

“The part about church.”

That didn’t surprise you. “Which denomination are you Reverend, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Baptist.” He seemed to hesitate again. “At least, I was. Before…” He trailed off. You remembered how Miss Grimshaw mentioned that he was no longer a member of the clergy, that he had more or less abandoned his post, even before he met the gang. “Well, that was a long time ago. But, what about you? What was your church?”

“Eastern Orthodox.” Even now you could transport yourself to the old church; feel the polished wood, smell the heavy incense, hear the praise and worship of your fellow believers. It made you feel sad. You missed that old church, and all the people you had met because of it.

The Reverend furrowed his brow. “I’m afraid I’ve never heard of that one.” He said, sounding genuinely apologetic.

“Well, it’s more popular in Eastern Europe than here.” You said. “I’m sure it’s numbers pale in comparison to the Baptists.”

The corners of the Reverend’s lips twitched upwards. “So, how did you come to Eastern Orthodoxy?”

The locket around your neck grew heavy, and almost burned. “My mother worked for a wealthy Russian widow.” You explained. “She had immigrated to America years ago, and she kept her religion with her. When I was very young, she was kind enough to take me in, and she raised me with it. It might sound silly but, it almost feels like it’s a part of me now.” A sad smile formed on your face.

“Oh no! That’s not silly at all!”

You looked at the Reverend in surprise at how fervent he was with his words.

“Um, well, I mean-” Apparently embarrassed by his outburst, the Reverend cleared his throat. “It’s...good, to have a uh...rich, spiritual life.” He paused, seemingly trying to fully collect himself. “This kind of life...well, it doesn’t really tend to attract the most spiritual of folks. So, you know, it’s nice to see someone else who has kept their faith.”

You smiled kindly and nodded. “I understand.” You said assuringly. “It’s comforting, having something like that, you know?”

The Reverend seemed to consider this, before smiling. “Yes. It is.”

You smiled back, because for a moment, the Reverend seemed at ease. And looking at him, he didn’t seem like the kind of man who felt like that often. You knew you couldn’t do much, but if you could make someone that happy, then that would be more than enough for you.

-

i don't remember if it was ever explicitly stated that swanson is baptist, but considering the church he preaches at in the epilogue is apparently baptist (according to wikipedia) i decided to go with it. the only thing im really sure of about the reverend is that he isnt catholic which does grant me a lot of wiggle room.

German translations:

Guten morgen Herr Strauss: Good morning Mr Strauss

Guten morgen fraulein: Good morning miss

Frau: Mrs

[blueandyellow1]

Witch Hunt Chapter 9: Stories

Ao3 link.

Over the course of a week, Connie had found out a surprising amount of information on the witch.

“Turns out, there are a few stories of people meeting her. There’s even one similar to Azurea’s!” Connie’s voice was bright on the phone. 

Yellow sat at the dining table, her back straight and her legs crossed as she listened intently. She had placed her phone on the table, on speakerphone, so that Blue could also listen in. The phantom stood next to her, a hand placed on her shoulder. 

“I’ll give you a summary of the three stories I found,” Connie continues, “So, the first story is the oldest. I think it’s even older than you, Blue!”

The white-haired girl smiled. 

“Alright, go on then,” Yellow urges, impatient. 

There’s a laugh. “Okay, okay! But it’s very fanciful and I’m not sure if it’s really the same witch. Basically, there was a young woman, maybe 23, who was learning about charms and magic. There’s a whole book about her life and I skimmed it, but there’s just one passage about the witch. I think it’s the same one, because this is the description: ‘A white-haired woman, thin and willowy. She looked as if she had lived a thousand lives, yet her eyes, blackened and huge, were youthful.’ There’s also another paragraph where her hands are described as ‘skeletal fingers with midnight black nails,’ That sounds like your witch, right Blue?”

||Certainly.||

“Blue says yes,” Yellow relays. 

“I thought so, too. The passage just talks about how she’s a masterful witch with formidable skills. The girl telling the story wanted her to teach her. It says that she studied under the witch, who she calls ‘White’ for three months. She talks about all the different potions she learned how to make. Mostly basic things really, and she was really frustrated that she never got to learn how to make the potion that brings people back to life. There’s really not much else about her, other than that.” 

Connie pauses, before adding, “but it does mention a familiar. A grey bird with one eye. Her name is Winny and she’s mute. It says the bird watches over everything, and that her one eye is always wide open. It’s described as very unnerving, like she’s always judging.”

“Alright, what does the next one say?” Yellow asks, looking to Blue to see her reaction. The spirit’s face is surprisingly blank. Still, she shoots her an encouraging smile. 

“The next one is much more helpful. I don’t know who wrote it, but it was signed by ‘W.P.’ and they apparently met her a few times. It actually talks about why she takes bodies. Apparently she needs them because she possesses them and uses them to do work for her. The bodies are basically her minions that she can mind control. 

She can send them to town to buy things for her, or use them to help her garden. She has expansive gardens and they need lots of people to upkeep. She likes to use possessed people because they don’t make mistakes and they can do exactly what she wants. The plants she gardens are hard to grow, so I guess she needs perfect workers so that they don’t accidentally kill the precious plants. 

This all actually pretty cool! Especially to know that this is all real! I mean I would love these stories either way, but to know that one of my friends has seen this witch? It’s beyond cool!”

Connie’s excited tone brings a laugh from Yellow’s lips. Her own eyes hold stars as she listens to her sister speak. Turning again to the phantom next to her, she remarks, “You’re pretty cool too, Blue.”

A blush creeps across Blue’s pale cheeks. But before she can respond, Connie’s voice sounds again.

“Come on, Yellow! You can flirt later, I only have a few minutes before my next class!”

Now Yellow’s cheeks flush a beet red. “Okay, we’re listening,” she says, turning back to the phone.

“So, the last story is about the witch herself. It says that she gardens rare mushrooms, so maybe we can find some to give her in exchange for your body, Blue? It also talks about her background. I was actually pretty curious myself, to know what she’s like. It must be lonely to live all by yourself and never talk to anyone except your familiar. 

In one of the passages about her, it does say that she’s a lonely woman. This was written by another witch, Black. It talks about how they used to be close, but White retreated to the forest after her daughter died. It doesn’t say her name or how she died, but it does refer to her as ‘Starlight’. That’s when she started to learn how to bring people back from the dead. 

And in the last paragraph, Black says that the reason she makes these deals with the people who seek her out is that she doesn’t believe in happy endings. Although she does use the bodies for various tasks, like gardening or running errands for her, she mostly does it because she doesn’t think that everyone should get to be happy. She’s bitter, because of what happened with her daughter. She says that someone always has to pay the price.”

There’s a moment of silence as the three women digest the new information. 

“She’s a monster! That’s horrible, that she would take bodies just because she doesn’t think that people should be happy,” Yellow says, folding her arms across her chest. “We should go there and beat some sense into her.”

“I know! It’s terrible,” Connie agrees.

||She’s not a monster. She’s grieving.||

Blue’s voice is hard. When Yellow turns to look at her, she sees pain in her cerulean eyes. 

“You’re right. I’m sorry, we shouldn’t have been so quick to judge. We don’t know her full story,” the blonde admits, her tone suddenly soft. 

“You two talk about this more, and call me later, okay?” Connie’s voice startles both women, causing them to turn back to the phone. “I have to go, but text me, Yellow? And I’ll come visit this weekend.”

“Thanks for finding this stuff for us, Cons!” Yellow says.

||Please tell her thank you from me as well.||

“Blue says thanks too! Have fun in class.” 

When Yellow turns back to Blue, she finds the phantom worriedly twisting her arms together. “What’s wrong?” She asks, trying to keep her voice gentle. 

||This isn’t going to work. She’s not going to just give me my body back, and I have nothing to offer her in return.||

She hangs her head, her hair forming a curtain in front of her face. A habit she had picked up whenever she couldn’t stand to be looked at. Yellow wishes, not for the first time, that she could give the sad woman a hug. 

“We’ll find something to give her. We could look for mushrooms! I’m sure there’s bound to be a rare species that she can’t find in her forest. Or maybe we can find a kid that looks like her daughter and offer her that!” Yellow’s lips curl up as she laughs at her silly proposition.

Blue chuckles. 

||I doubt finding a child to sacrifice will be very easy.||

“No, it’s best to stick with mushrooms,” Yellow agreed, pretending to be serious for a moment before bursting into laughter. 

The spirit watches Yellow laugh for a moment, enjoying seeing her so relaxed before succumbing to her own fit of giggles. A lightness fills her heart, something that often occurred when the blonde was around.

Without thinking, she flung her arms around Yellow’s narrow frame, wrapping her in a hug. Her arms phased through her body, and she couldn’t feel the embrace.

Still, Yellow gasped at the gesture, bringing her own arms around Blue’s willowy body. Their laughter stopped as they stared into each others eyes. Even though neither woman could feel the other in her arms, they could feel it in their hearts.

And their cheeks, which were both darkening at an alarming rate. 

After a few moments, Blue stepped out of the pseudo embrace, still holding her arms out in a circle. Her form winked out of Yellow’s sight.

||I should, um, check on...||

Her voice trailed off.

“Wait!” Yellow cried, lunging forward with an arm reached out. Her arm pierced through Blue’s form, right where her heart would be.

||I…||

“What’s wrong?” The blonde asked. Blue could see the confusion that edged on hurt in her eyes.

She looked down to her slender hands, wringing them together once more. Several seconds pass before she admits. 

||You...you make me feel funny.||

Yellow eyes fly open.

[hamletandthegang]

In the Courtroom

A college aged boy with scruffy brown hair sat on a bench. He was sitting on the second floor of a throne room, surrounded by noblemen and women, all dressed up in fancy dresses and suits. He, however, was wearing a black hoodie over a black shirt with white skulls on it, and jeans. He felt slightly out of place.

His mother was sitting next to him on a large chair with a tall cushioned back. She was wearing a stunning gown, and this wasn’t even a big occasion. 

Then there was his uncle. He stood in front of his chair next to his- ugh- his wife, and was addressing the crowd about something. The boy had no idea what was going on, and didn’t care for that matter. He had been unfocused and staring at a small scratch on the paint on the wooden beam in front of him for the past ten minutes now. The voices around had sunk into a monotonous drawl. 

Two months. Not even two months.

Now, an older boy walked out onto the platform on the ground floor of the great hall. He was out of college, and from what the boy could gather, he was making an appeal to the king to go to war. The war between Denmark and Norway had been raging, up until the king of Denmark had been killed, leaving Denmark vulnerable. They had retreated for just long enough to find a new king, and had resumed the fight. But the new king had no intention of fighting. He’d much rather enjoy the perks of the monarchy, and the perks of his brother’s wife. 

“And now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son-” The king turned to him. Laertes, the appealer, walked briskly off the platform, encouraged by the king’s words. 

“You wish,” Hamlet muttered into the hand that he was resting his head on. He didn’t look up at his uncle as he addressed him.

“Why are you still so melancholy?” That got his attention.

Hamlet looked up angrily. How dare he try to say how long he mourned! “No, sir. Your son,” Hamlet spat out the word, “Is very happy indeed!”

Gertrude, the queen and wife of Hamlet’s uncle, gave Hamlet a swift kick in the leg with her perfect velvet slippers. “Oh, Hamlet. Mind yourself,” she added through a dazzling smile. “We all loved your father, but you must understand that everyone passes one day. You can’t spend the rest of your life in remembrance of him, you must move on!” She maintained her glowing white smile the whole time. The court of nobles started to mutter.

“Yes, mother, I suppose people do die,” Hamlet said without batting an eye.

“Then why do you seem to grieve so long?”

“I don’t just seem, mother, I am! You cannot fathom how deep my grief is!” Hamlet had mastered the mask of eloquence in front of the people who mattered. No one would talk this way normally, because that’s just weird.

“Oh Hamlet,” His uncle cut in. “You are an amazing son to be mourning for so long, but your father lost his father, and his father before him! It is common to…” 

And off he went. Hamlet locked onto the chip in the paint again, and the voice lecturing him about how to feel slowly fell into oblivion.

“Please, Hamlet, try to understand.” Gertrude’s sugary voice shot through the monotone. Hamlet looked up. “Please don’t go back to Wittenberg.”

The University of Wittenberg was where Hamlet had been forced to go to college. It had ended up being amazing, as he had met four really close friends. He was on an extended summer break (it was October), along with his closest friend Horatio. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern had already gone back, but Annalise was probably going to leave soon. She was the niece of Polonius, who had basically adopted her into his family (whether she liked it or not). Polonius was the pompous right hand man of the new king, and he adored his role in the court. His daughter, Ophelia, had been dating Hamlet on and off for a few months now, and she sat beside him now.

Ophelia’s shiny blonde curls swirled around her shoulders in a cute bob, and her round childlike face gave her an eternal sense of youth. She was wearing a blue velvet gown at the moment, with brown leather boots underneath.

“Fine.” Hamlet replied, sighing. “I’ll wait a little longer.”

“Thank you, Hamlet.” Gertrude replied sweetly. Claudius monologued a thank you, and dismissed the court. The nobles shuffled out the doors, and after a while the only ones left were Ophelia, Hamlet, and Horatio. Horatio had fought through the people, and now sat down on the bench next to Ophelia. He had blond hair that seemed almost white in the light, and it curled in a cloud around his head. 

“It’s so stupid that we basically have to wear Medieval clothes whenever the king calls a court.” Ophelia tugged at the corset around her already slender waist. “I hate this thing.” 

“I agree.” Horatio adjusted the blouse he was wearing.

“I just wear whatever the hell I want.” Hamlet leaned back on the bench, smiling a little. Soon he was sitting in the limited foot space of the bench behind him, and leaning his head up against the seat. “This whole thing is stupid. And now they won’t even let me go back to college.” Hamlet looked over at Horatio. “Weren’t you supposed to go back last week?”

“Yep.” Horatio said. “Felt like skipping.” 

Ophelia burst into a peal of giggles. “You? Sure, Horatio.”

“Dude, you just stayed to see the wedding, didn’t you?” Hamlet said. When Horatio looked away, he added, “I’m not mad, you probably had no choice. I’ve met your mom.”

“Yeah, she said if I missed a royal wedding, she would make me skip even more.” Horatio’s ears turned pink as Ophelia cackled.

“You’re the only guy who would count that as a punishment.” Ophelia laughed. 

“Yeah, well..” Horatio laughed along with her.

“It’s so stupid that they aren’t still mourning, and they even think that they can tell me how long to be sad! What’s up with that?” Hamlet started into a tirade, and the other two got comfortable. “You know, sometimes, I feel like I can see my father! Like, I can see him right now!”

Horatio jolted, and almost fell off the bench. “Where?!” 

“What?” Hamlet stared at Horatio. “I mean in my head.”

“Oh.” Horatio’s ears reddened again. “Yeah, duh. Sorry. Go on.”

“Nah man, you gotta tell me what the heck that was.” Hamlet raised an eyebrow at him. 

Ophelia turned to Horatio. “Yeah, spill.”

“Okay, okay.” Horatio took a deep breath. “Hamlet, I- I saw your father.”

“Yeah, we all did.”

“No! I saw him yesterday!” Horatio blurted out.

Hamlet stopped. “What?” His voice was barely audible.

“Yeah, near the ruins of that church. With Marc and Ben.” 

Hamlet stared at Horatio, his green eyes boring straight through Horatio. “Take me with you tonight.”

“Hamlet, do you really think that’s a good idea?” Ophelia turned to Hamlet, and placed a hand on his arm.

“You don’t have to come, but I’m going.” Hamlet stood up, and walked towards the door. “Text me where to meet up tonight, and when. I’ll see you later.” And then he walked out, his shoes echoing down the hall, and then down the steps. Then it was quiet.

“That wasn’t a good idea.” Horatio said.

“Nope.” Ophelia replied.

“I’ll go find him.” Horatio walked to the door. “See you later.” He smiled softly at Ophelia, and walked out.

Ophelia suddenly felt sick. 

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

[elizas-writing]

The Evolution of the Disney Princess

***Author’s Note: So if you can believe it, I took a Walt Disney class in the spring. I really needed a filler class, and this seemed like the best option. Anyway, one of the major assignments was a research paper (6-8 pages) with six topics to choose from. The one I chose? Compare and contrast two Disney female characters. This topic pretty much has endless possibilities to work with, but I had to narrow it down, and I ended up comparing Snow White and Moana. What more fitting than comparing the first princess with the latest? And I ended up getting an A- which is pretty freaking sweet. This is edited from what I turned in after getting feedback from my TA, and of course, works cited at the end. Enjoy!

One of the most notable properties in Disney is its princess line up. They are the young women who typically female audiences look towards as inspirations on how to lead their lives with kindness, fearlessness, patience, and an infinity of other qualities. Yet it is not always a static image as there are countless princesses for people to choose from as an ideal role model, each with their unique ways to solve whatever problems come their way. From 1937 to 2016, the ideas of what a girl should strive for also significantly changed which can be seen with comparisons between the first Disney princess, Snow White, and the latest princess, Moana. From a homemaker to a leader-in-the-making, these two princesses also reflect on the changes of the Disney studio’s storytelling to not only be more dynamic, but also inclusive of many world-wide experiences.

           Snow White illustrates a young girl of her time, both in the 1937 film and the original Brothers Grimm tale written in 1812. With particularly the film, Snow White presents the typical fashion of the 1930s with a short bobbed hairstyle and red lips and rouge against her white skin, setting the iconic image most audiences think of with the character. But true to both the film and fairytale, her major role is a homemaker, taking care of the house for the seven dwarves while they are at work. According to Cassandra Stover, Snow White embodies “traditional femininity” by following stereotypical gender roles of a woman who stays at home while the men go to work, which were ideas spreading fast in the media during the Great Depression’s tight job market and Catholic moral reforms. At the same time, censorship increased to eliminate the “silent screen vamps and early talkie spitfires” to promote passive and domestic women instead, taking a step backwards from the flappers and suffragettes of the previous decades. Her “pure maiden innocence” and embracement of domesticity “appealed to Depression-era escapism” in trying to maintain hope for a better America (Stover 2). While women had limits of going into the workforce, being a homemaker still requires work effort and a sense of community to maintain order in the household and keep up appearances, like when Snow White has the dwarves wash their hands before dinner is ready. The restrictions of female characters in the 1930s took away the sense of independence which was prevalent in the Suffrage Movement and Roaring 20’s, but with the hard times of the Great Depression in mind, it is understandable Snow White was so inviting because she perfectly set the dwarves’ home in order like the perfect housewife was expected to do. However, nothing else is known in either the fairytale or film about Snow White aside from being a kind and gentle homemaker, and her limits as a character have been subject to critique since the film’s initial release.

Modern viewers, particularly feminist critics, often claim Snow White is “helpless and in need of protection” with only “a desire for marriage” on her mind (Sawyer 9). While she does fawn over the idea of romance, it is not the main drive of her actions; it is the need for survival, not only to run away from an abusive stepmother, but also remain positive even in the most bleak of times. Again, this was part of her appeal during the harsh times of the Great Depression, generating major positive political responses of “Disney’s populist heritage” sneaking in, and including a Marxist analysis from the People’s World which described Snow White “as a symbol of ‘human decency being persecuted by a capitalistic stepmother’” (Watts 84-85). As a victim of abuse, of course Snow White needs some protection and safe space from her abuser, and it does not make her weak because of that. Her household duties are also of her own choice, not of forced servitude, in exchange for a safe place away from her wicked stepmother who is out to kill her. She is still strong with her massive capacity of kindness for others, but it is also her major flaw. The problems with Snow White lie not in the traditional gender roles she observes or seeking romance, but a lack of character development and dynamism.

As Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was one of the first full length animated feature films, there was already struggle enough at Disney to maintain a character for longer than seven minutes, the typical run time for one of their Silly Symphonies. Even Walt himself admitted that that they needed “to learn how to put personality into characters” without relying on their usual stock characters of the Silly Symphonies (De Roos 54). Some inconsistent storytelling is to be expected for such a daring feat. Unfortunately, Snow White’s character is lacking-- at least by modern standards on how viewers see a well-rounded character-- as she does not grow or learn anything new. Her only character trait outside of the traditional gender roles is solely kindness. She brings change to other characters like Grumpy, who slowly becomes caring towards her as the story progresses, but nothing about her changes that much.

While there is more to her than what most feminists typically critique on, Snow White is still an idea of what women should be rather than a realistic character with a broad range of emotions or interests who audiences can identify with. Her kindness proves to be her downfall as she takes the poisoned apple from the queen who is disguised as an old hag, only slightly hesitant at first but easily convinced that if she takes a bite, a wish will come true, which results in her sleep-like death. This displays her youthful naivety, especially since in the Grimm tale Snow White falls for the queen’s tricks three times, even after being told by the dwarves to be wary of strangers. After the trauma of almost being murdered, one would think she would be a lot more cautious before placing immediate trust in a stranger so insistent on her taking a bite from an apple. Yet her extreme gullibility is never addressed again in the film, and Snow White just gets her prince and a happily ever after anyway, as though to say that without some male figure to closely watch over her, she cannot live contently by herself. Aside from running away from her stepmother, Snow White does nothing else to achieve her happy ending, which is not too realistic for abuse victims in similar situations.

Moana does not just present the radical differences in treatment of female characters; it also shows the massive changes in Disney itself and how society views the princess films in 80 years when compared to Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. As feminist theory grew over the years, audiences became more critical of female representation in Disney films, calling for independent women who can take care of themselves and are not just bound “to be beautiful, acquiescent, skinny,” and all-around perfect housewives. Media does have “a powerful role in forming the attitudes, and behaviors of it viewers,” whether positive or negative, and some view the older Disney films as harmful to children, especially girls, as they can promote these outdated ideas of women only serving as supports of “male dominance” (Sawyer 3-5). Films like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin try to address gender issues and make their female leads autonomous and equal to male characters, but it does not mean it is always handled well. Such films focus on the “pressures and entrapment of pre-feminist culture” and escaping those oppressive surroundings, but once “the heroine’s needs have been met… [she] no longer need dream of anything outside of her prince and the promising future,” letting Disney’s marketing take advantage of “selling empowerment as commodity,” which has questionable intent in “a society where advertising still encourages women to associate self-confidence with specific outward appearance” (Stover 4-6). So there is more pressure in newer films to create genuinely empowering female leads and continue their dreams outside of the male characters.

But it is not just feminist theory that affected how people view Disney today; critical race theory played in these changes as well. Much like how feminists argue these older films being male-dominated, critical race theorists see Disney dominated by white Americano/Eurocentrism, which is just as dangerous for the young audiences, especially as Disney provides the most well-known “visual representation of fairy tale characters” than any other film studio in the world. Focusing on worldwide “dominant social groups,” particularly white Americans and/or Europeans, massively affects not only personal beliefs but how we view ourselves “in relation to notions of good, bad, pretty, and ugly.” Even at a young age, children pick the common associations in mass media of white being good and beautiful and black and darkness being ugly and bad (Hurley 222-223). Children of color do understand the implications of race early on when they do not see themselves represented in media. They wonder what these stories have to say, if anything, about them in regards to their skin color and if they properly belong in society, which is why critics stress the importance of representation for people of color in children’s media so they can develop self-esteem and a sense of belonging (Hurley 228). Disney is no exception to this criticism, including its popular Princess Line where only four of the eleven characters in the franchise-- not covering Anna, Elsa or Moana as they are technically not part of the line-- are women of color. Simply having one princess per race just is not enough as there are still about a dozen white princesses in comparison, and there is more than one experience of being black, Native American, Chinese, etc. If the idea behind the franchise is that anyone can be a princess, then it makes sense to have more princesses of color for people to relate to.

Moana, both the film and character, succeed in delivering the best version of the feminist and critical race desires so far, stepping away from the usual tropes of a Disney Princess film. She follows the familiar Disney princess look of youthfulness, a round face and large, expressive eyes. However, as the first Pacific Islander of the Disney Princesses, she diverges from her white predecessors’ “skinny-Barbie image” (Travers) with her brown skin, thick and frizzy hair, thicker eyebrows, broader nose, and a slightly muscular build, straying from white and thin Americanocentric/Eurocentric beauty standards that many previous princesses abided by. Unlike Snow White, Moana’s main occupation is training to be a great chief for her home of Motonui. She is constantly learning how to solve problems or support her people, but not all the responsibility is dependent on her as everyone actively contributes to the village regardless of gender. Her role as the chief’s daughter demonstrates how women are capable of much more than the traditional gender roles of a housewife; women can be leaders and incite change among others, which audiences see with Moana as she revives the tradition of wayfinding, encouraging her people to explore beyond the comfort of their island.

Moana is also unique in being one of the few Disney princesses without a love interest; in fact, romance is never brought up in the film. She can just become a leader “without the caveat of needing to marry first,” and the plot “does not arise from an arranged marriage or love interest, but from a desire to explore the open ocean in search of a solution for their island’s deteriorating resources” (Renfro). Her character is more complex than Snow White with an inward struggle to maintain her father’s standards of a great chief—a role she will “be satisfied if [she] play[s] along”— but is also drawn to the supposedly dangerous ocean and what lies beyond the reef. She has a more broad range of emotions outside of simple kindness, and is not afraid to be assertive when she needs to be, something that would shock a 1930’s movie-going public. She proves assertiveness is not an inherently bad quality, as it is sometimes necessary to achieve a higher goal, especially when persuading a stubborn demi-god like Maui to fix the mess he made and return the heart of Te Fiti, the creation goddess.

There are some similarities between Snow White and Moana with their selflessness towards their communities before their personal needs. However, Snow White does not have any other character growth aside of her traditional feminine role and solely exists to please others with her model housewife skills. Moana still has a drive to follow her wayfinding roots and do whatever is necessary, including breaking her father’s traditions of reclusivity from the ocean, to save her home. She leaves on a journey not just for her island but also for her own reaffirmation that she will be a good leader and take Motonui to a future renewing wayfinding. She still has to learn how to properly wayfind from Maui, but Moana is the main catalyst to keep the story going as she is the only one willing to take dangerous routes where even Maui, a macho masculine warrior, is too scared to go. While Snow White needs a male figure to assure her happy ending, Moana takes it upon herself to achieve happiness when Maui leaves after their first encounter with the fire demon, Te Ka, and restore the heart of Te Fiti, to which Maui returns to offer support and keep Te Ka at bay as long as possible. Moana follows the familiar Disney Princess formula of kindness and selflessness, but as opposed to a conservative figure like Snow White, Moana takes more risks to step outside her comfort zone to find a happy ending, and break certain traditions to revive others which will progress her community forward.

In the decades since Disney’s first feature-length animated film, the studio adapted to rising criticisms to create more dynamic and complex stories and characters for multiple kinds of people to identify with, especially with their most marketable property, the princesses. These young women can be more than kind and gentle housewives; they can be loud and assertive leaders with the power to provoke societal change. And they do not have to conform to one biased idea of beauty; anyone of any skin color can be a princess. Certain character traits will always remain for the Disney Princesses, but there is an effort in the company to listen to these criticisms and create diverse stories up to date as society progresses.

Works Cited

1.      De Roos, Robert. “The Magic Worlds of Walt Disney.” Disney Discourse. Ed. Eric Smoodin. Routledge. 1994. Print.

2.      Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm. Little Snow-White. 1812. Web. Accessed 14 April 2017: http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm053.html

3.      Hurley, Dorothy L. “Seeing White: Children of Color and the Disney Fairy Tale Princesses.” The Journal of Negro Education. Vol. 74, No. 3. 2005. pp. 221-232. Web. Accessed 2 May 2017: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40027429

4.      Renfro, Kim. “Disney's new masterpiece 'Moana' is an exhilarating movie experience with the strongest female role model yet.” Insider. 17 November 2016. Web. Accessed 4 May 2017: http://www.thisisinsider.com/disney-moana-review-2016-11

5.      Sawyer, Nicole. “Feminist Outlooks at Disney Princess’s.” James Madison University. Accessed 2 May 2017: http://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/34990708/Feminist_Outlooks_at_Disney_Princesss.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3A&Expires=1493867888&Signature=8ZvYo9X6jGLdHGD7gZJUzPvXvAU%3D&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DFeminist_Outlooks_at_Disney_Princesss.pdf

6.      Stover, Cassandra. "Damsels and Heroines: The Conundrum of the Post-Feminist Disney Princess," LUX: A Journal of Transdisciplinary Writing and Research from Claremont Graduate University: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 29. Univeristy of Southern California. 2013. Web. Accessed 3 May 2017: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/lux/vol2/iss1/29/

7.      Travers, Peter. “'Moana' Review: Disney's Animated Polynesian Musical Is a Feminist Delight.” Rolling Stone. 23 November 2016. Web. Accessed 4 May 2017: http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/peter-travers-moana-movie-review-w451909

8.      Watts, Steven. The Magic Kingdom. University of Missouri Press. 1997. Print.

9.      Moana. Dirs. Ron Clements and John Musker. Walt Disney Animations Studios, 2016. Film.

10.  Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Dir. David Hand. Walt Disney Productions, 1937. Film.

[ghozt1ng-blog]

Chapter Thirteen - These Ain’t the Cheap Seats

Trick was thoroughly confused as to how and why there could still be so many college students in a university town right before Thanksgiving. In a city that made itself on the presence of large college, which meant that these kids had other places to be during a holiday, why were they all still there? The others in the rented car had to explain to him that Provo was a black hole for Mormon students, or so they had heard. Their school schedules were different than others in the U.S., and they had such a strong community here that people didn’t want to leave. Plus, they would all be busing getting ready for the next bout of proposals, as Mormons were want to do, especially during a holiday.

    Utah is such a weird place! Trick rubbed his temples.

He looked out the window and watched the tame signs and shops go by. There was a palpable difference to this place, one that he felt he could reach out and touch. He knew he shouldn’t bring it up, though. Conturbatio was itching to go on about possible conspiracies (though Trick hadn’t really heard any yet from the man) in regards to the Mormons. Or was he? After speaking with the mailbox, the Sphinx seemed a little more subdued. Trick wondered what it was exactly that had flipped the switch. Was it the bizarre case? The all-knowing aspect of the blabbermouth? Was it the hint of enemies? Was it the insanity of the whole damn situation!? Trick couldn’t tell what it was, but he knew all of that was weighing down on him. This hadn’t been the adventure he was looking for when he had been bored in school just yesterday.

Had it just been yesterday!? This whole case made him feel like he had been slogging through the unexpected and the unwanted for a month. One magically disturbing month! Not even a full 24 hours! Trick felt like punching something, preferably Brandon.

Soon, they pulled up to the theater and made their way inside. Brandon had come with his folks, and he was already getting cold feet. Apparently the promise of a hot chick’s contact info can only bring a man so far. He and naomi both gritted their teeth, pinned Brandon between them and hiked him inside. Conturbatio bought the tickets.

“I am going to have a lot of explaining to do back at the office. The Budgeting committee is going to gut us even more than we already are…”

Stacey soothed him, “If we are able to prove everything that we have seen here and how it correlates with the last attack, the Q Files will grow in ways we have only dreamed about! Take a hit to win the fight, right?”

The Sphinx smiled at her and Susan said dryly, “Why don’t you pull out those kinds of encouragements more often?”

But then the two women smiled and laughed at each other. Trick concluded that adults were all weird and insane. Once the Sphinx handed them the tickets, we went back to the ca, where a duffel bag with their secret weapon resided. He was going to enter the theater from the back. The inside of the theater felt like an assault from the 80’s punctuated with too many neon lights. College students milled about everywhere, trying to get their popcorn, and dancing their significant others around other couples, and showing off. It was a unique dance and mad house. And the things they were saying were just too outrageous.

“Please Addison! I’m getting married soon, and I need the money. I can’t support a wife on just popcorn!”

A tall and youthful man was almost on his knees pleading to a bearded manager, who looked like sexy carved out of Mount Rushmore.

“You know Jed, some people would come to this country illegally just to work for popcorn, because they don’t have anything else! Are you really going to spurn what I am paying you?”

“I’m basically your slave!”

Addison sighed, “Of course you are! It was in your in employee contract, in bold nonetheless! Plus, you get free movies every week, AND you get to bring a friend! That is how you won her over, right?”

“Mimblewimble,” was what came out of Jed’s mouth.

“Now get your chores done, or there won’t be any stale popcorn for you later!” With that, the manager called Addison marched off.   

    Trick watched the dejected employee, Jed, as Agent Miles and his mother got popcorn. He went over to the entryway to grab up a broom when a gaggle of friends passed through the doors. One girl strode out at the front with her chest out and crowned with bump on her head to make expecting mothers’ pregnancy photos jealous. She wore clothes that screamed to everyone, “I live a conservative lifestyle!”

    “Jed,” she shouted when she saw him. “When are you getting a real job? How can expect to be a good husband and priesthood holder if all you do is languish in  a place like this and work for popcorn! Seriously, it drives the spirit and authority right out of you, and stop slouching!”

    “Yes Camille,” Jed said, clearly flustered.

    “That’s Sister to you,” she shoved a finger under his nose. “Oh come on, Jed, you know I’m joking. But seriously.”

    Trick and Jed both obviously thought this girl didn’t know what a real joke was, not would if it bit her on the butt. She then turned to others of her group and shouted, “What is the movie we are seeing again?”

    “Jurassic Park,” someone from the back piped up.

    “But that movie is PG-13,” Camille gasped. “And this late at night, in a dark theater. So much could happen! We are flirting with sin! Which is sin itself.”

    Trick groaned inwardly. He’d have to deal with Brandon and this bunch of idiots, too? He half wished a dinosaur would come through the screen and eat them.

    “Come on Camille, lighten up a bit. It’s a fun movie,” another girl tried saying.

    “Lighten up? Drop my standards you mean! That’s where it begins!”

    A big guy then sighed and said,”Look, I already got everyone’s tickets. Just please come and try to enjoy yourself.” Camille stuck her nose up into the air and stomped off, as the big guy turned to Jed. “So are you coming by tomorrow to play Smash? Remember, no Villager for you!”

    “No Adrian, you always beat me,” Jed complained.

    Adrian started pummeling Jed and said angrily, “Tell no one!”

    Trick just looked away and whistled. Together with Naomi, they frog marched Brandon into the theater. Sure enough, with a crowd pleasing favorite like Jurassic Park, the place was packed. Brandon said that the theater they were in was on the opposite side of the building where the first attack had taken place. With how many people there were, Trick would never have suspected that an attack had occurred here just days before. Another reminded of how weird the whole situation was.

    He heard Camille come in and still complain about the movie and avoiding the appearance of evil. Naomi also now looked like she had a good mind to go and slap the older girl. For crying out loud, let others enjoy the movie! Brandon began to whimper as they say down.

    “I really don’t want this to happen. I hope it doesn’t happen.”

    “You better hope it happens,” Naomi snapped. “Or you will still have to put up with the stuff that sucked you into a video game.”

    “I had been hoping for an SAO or Tron experience, but I just didn’t get it…”

    “Here, have some popcorn and stuff it,” Trick growled, shoving a large bag of popcorn under the teen’s nose.

Thankfully Brandon obliged and they could enjoy the previews in peace as the lights dimmed. Trick’s mother and Agent Miles positioned themselves right in front of the teens, as to better protect them when things got hairy. Brandon’s own family had decided not to join in, but were waiting outside. Trick’s hands got sweaty as he began anticipating the horrors that could come out of the screen.

The lights dimmed all the way down and the epic first note of Jurassic Park’s opening crashed over them like a wave. The hairs went up on Trick’s arms and neck and he watched as the trees and foliage shifted to make way for the ominous cage holding a velociraptor. Muldoon waited there with his guards to receive the monster. This scene always put Trick on edge, but in the best way.

Despite the fact that Brandon was here to gain access to Naomi’s friend, he still tried to hold her hand. She slapped it audibly away. Though it broke the atmosphere, Trick giggled at it. At least there was something to break the tension, which was continued to mount on screen.

The gatekeeper was on top of the loading cage, and the velociraptor rammed the other side of the cage, rolling it back and knocking the gatekeeper down. The raptor, still unseen, yanked the poor employee into the cage. Muldoon managed to latch a hold of the man and attempted in vain to thwart the murder.

“See, this is just so wrong, I can’t feel the comfort I should be feeling,” Camille whined somewhere behind Trick.

Oh great… She’s close by. This could end up being a very long movie. Trick rolled his eyes and tried to concentrate on the action.

And then the screen bulged, people in the audience gasped and screamed. The cage continued to roll back and it looked like was about to roll into the theater itself. The gatekeeper was swept in and screamed in agony as he was opened up and killed, beyond the sight of the camera. Muldoon jumped back and reached for his gun, firing rounds into the cage. But the horror was only beginning. The doors to the raptor paddock slid back effortlessly More raptors spilled out and began attacking workers.

“But there were only two others,” Naomi said quickly.

Brandon began rocking again and muttered, “We’ve got to go. We’ve got to go. We gotta go! It’s happening again, and it’s all wrong! We’re gonna die!”

Others in the audience began catching on that this was wrong and someone bolted for the doors. They shouted back that the door was locked and it couldn’t be opened. The same proved true for the exits. Panic was rising in the room, and the bulge was getting larger.

Still, Naomi asked quietly, “Why are there more raptors, there should only be three?”

Camille was shrieking her off behind them and the two FBI agents were rising and barring their guns. Something then came to Trick’s memory.

“She developed a pride and killed all but two of the others,” Trick quoted. “Naomi, there were originally more raptors in the cage than three.”

Naomi sucked in air and then said, “And if the heroes could barely deal with three raptors, what are we going to do against more than half a dozen, and with no way out?”

They shared a worried look over Brandon and Trick said weakly, “Sphinx had better get here now!”

The way into the theater was sealed, and Conturbatio could hear the cries of panic from within. He didn’t figure that anyone had been hurt yet. Shouting out to the employee and told them to make sure that the hallway was cleared.

“FBI business. THere is some trouble going on. Call the police! See to everyone’s safe evacuation!”

The employees gave him confused looks. It was only natural, however. He had the large vacuum pack with a gun strapped to his back. He looked really weird, and his badge just looked like he was late to a Halloween party. But the screams from the theater seemed to convince some and they began moving about. As Conturbatio put his back into breaking down the doors, a manager appeared.

“Sir, can I help you?”

“Mr., uh, Addison, there is about to be another attack in your theater. Something is wrong here and I need to get in!”

    “Jed!” Addison called to the hapless giant. “Help this man get inside and escort the people out. I’m going to make sure we evacuate the other theaters. Hop to it, and you’ll actually earn some money for a change!”

    Jed rushed to the Sphinx’s side as the manager ran into another theater himself. The screams were becoming frantic. Conturbatio raised an eyebrow at the thin youth’s frame.

    “I’m much more solid than I look,” Jed said.

    “I hope that is the case,” Conturbatio breathed. “Alright. Let’s get this door open!”

    Together, they threw themselves against the double doors, willing and forcing them to move.

[bethestaryouareradio]

Flames of Gratitude

Miracle Moment®

“The difference between a good life and a bad life is how well you walk through the fire.” Carl Jung, psychologist

MESSAGE FROM CYNTHIA BRIAN, Founder/Executive Director

October was a frightening and challenging month for residents of California. Rampant power black outs and raging fires throughout the state required thousands of people to evacuate their homes. After producing our radio broadcasts, I went to bed on a Wednesday night and  at 2:15 am, my husband and I were awoken by firefighters pounding on our door shouting “evacuate now!” We were given 60 seconds to leave as the fire was flaming near our fence less than 100 feet away. Feeling immense gratitude for surviving the inferno, I quickly penned what I had learned during that frantic flee: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1317/One-Minute-to-Evacuate-a-personal-perspective-from-the-Oct-10-fire.html . 

November is the month to express our thanks. First responders deserve major credit and gratitude for saving property and lives. Both fire and police personnel have been working tirelessly throughout California during these unprecedented times. 

Climate change is rapidly fueling natural disasters. Be the Star You Are!® continues to spearhead Operation Disaster Relief and we encourage you to contribute. No longer can we start a campaign only when tragedy strikes. Disasters have become a part of daily life and Be the Star You Are!® must be ready to assist at a moments notice.  All donations are greatly appreciated to help us help those in need. Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES:  https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504. 

Or send a check to BTSYA, PO Box 376, Moraga, California 94556. Give to this favorite 501(c)(3) and receive a deduction on your 2019 taxes if you itemize. 

The power black outs continued throughout the month and it may be wise to take the steps to be self-sufficient or off the grid as we are living in a new environment. I’ve published two important articles for the newspaper where I work to help others know how to prepare for an emergency. Make sure to read these as they may save your life and that of your family and friends. Send these links to those you love to help them prepare for whatever disaster lurks in our future.

Safety first: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1318/Safety-First-Emergency-Preparation-and-the-Go-Bag.html

Scary, scary night: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1318/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Scary-scary-night.html

As we prepare for the holiday season of gifts and giving, we want to introduce you to books that will inspire and thrill you. Make sure to check out our Spotlight book, I am Me, a powerful book by teens with original art and poetry expressing the importance of being your authentic self. Also, order copies of our three signature books in the Be the Star You Are!® series for true stories, adages, and exercises to help you live, laugh, learn, and love more fully with 100% of the profits benefiting this charity. Giving Tuesday is December 3rd this year, so please mark your calendar and ask your company to match your donation.

Thank you to everyone for your patience, understanding, checking in, and love. We are very appreciative. Be safe and sound. Let’s hope no one has to walk through the fire to have a great life,

“Communicate, Collaborate, Innovate!”  Join us! Thanksgiving is TODAY and EVERYDAY!

Blessings and Gratitude,

Cynthia Brian

Founder/Executive Director

Be the Star You Are!®

PO Box 376

Moraga, California 94556

Cynthia@BetheStarYouAre.org

https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org

http://www.BTSYA.org

DONATE: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

RECOGNITION FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE

Be the Star You Are!® Receives Congratulations from California Legislature

Recently, we received a lovely letter and Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislature congratulating Be the Star You Are!® on 20 years of service to the community. What an unexpected honor for which we are grateful to Assembly member, Rebecca Bauer-Kahan . We share this commendation with all of our dedicated volunteers and supporters. With your assistance, Be the Star You Are!® continues its imperative mission to empower women, families, and youth through increased literacy, positive media messages, and tools for living.

SPOTLIGHT

I Am Me: Teen Artists and Writers Speak Out on Being Yourself 

This is a powerful book that helps young people believe that you don’t have to achieve “perfection” to be “perfect.” 

  “Edgy, powerful, insightful, and honest.” 

The pages in this book pairs award winning art and writing to empower teens to shake off negative influences to realize it is okay to be themselves. Each piece of art is skillfully matched with writing to reflect the attitude of a generation of teens who want to fit in but feel inadequate due to societal pressures.

www.i-am-me-teen.com or order on Amazon.

Listen to Editor, Tom Worthen, Ph.d interviewed on Express Yourself! Teen Radio about this poignant message. https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/118745/optimism-with-i-am-me

SUCCESS AT PEAR AND WINE FESTIVAL

Our Teen Event Director, Siri Phaneendra, did a fabulous job of putting on the BTSYA booth at the recent Pear and Wine Festival. Her mother and sister helped her with the new henna activity. Express Yourself!® radio hosts Kenneth Jeon and Jack Pawlakos were on hand to work in the booth. Thanks to Lamorinda Weekly newspaper for sponsorship and lending us the great canopy. What a fantastic family day of fun!

We have been honored with a Top-Rated Award for 2019 from GreatNonprofits! We appreciate all of your contributions! https://greatnonprofits.org/org/be-the-star-you-are-inc

RADIO BROADCASTS TO INSPIRE

Cynthia Brian was thrilled and honored to be a guest on Dr. Davon James LIVE radio broadcast on Veteran's Day focusing on passion. Cynthia and Dr. James share how everyone can create success by living and working with passion. You are enough! Listen now! https://www.unityonlineradio.org/everyday-peace/living-and-working-your-passion

Express Yourself!® Teen Radio (https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio)  host Henna Hundal (also host of syndicated The Henna Hundal Show, https://www.thehennahundalshow.com) facilitated an impressive broadcast about the critical importance of mentorship and coaching. Nicholas Donzelli, a ten year veteran of volunteering coaching of an award winning water polo team shared his insights along with Be the Star You Are!® founder and StarStyle® coach, Cynthia Brian. Having a coach and/or mentor in your life can help you launch your dreams. Be authentic. Tune in https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/118595/mentoring-with-henna-hundal-nick-donzelli-and-cynthia-brian

GIVING TUESDAY IS DECEMBER 3, 2019 

GivingTuesday​ started as a day for anyone, anywhere to give, and it's grown into the biggest giving movement in the world. Celebrated each year on the Tuesday following U.S. Thanksgiving, and fueled by the power of social media, GivingTuesday inspires millions of people across the globe to show up and give back to causes and issues that matter to them. The goal is to create a massive wave of generosity that lasts well beyond that day, and touches every person on the planet. GivingTuesday takes place on December 3, 2019 this year. Create a fundraiser and ask your employer to match donations. Be the Star You Are!® will use your contributions for our ongoing outreach programs, disaster relief (https://www.bethestaryouare.org/copy-of-hurricane-fire-disaster-rel), and positive message radio broadcasts. Donations can be made to Be the Star You Are! via PAYPAL GIVING FUND with no fees. https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504. You will receive an instant tax receipt.

Then, continue being kind and doing good all year round.

VISIT WITH SANTA IS DECEMBER 14TH

Mark your calendars for a jolly journey to the north pole on December 14th.  Be the Star You Are!® volunteers once again collaborate with 5 A Rent a Space in Moraga to bring Santa and his elves to the neighborhood. Kids can write a letter to Mr. Claus, get a FREE photo sitting on his lap, get creative with festive art projects, and enjoy hot chocolate and special treats. Holiday cards and books will be available for sale as a donation to BTSYA. The event is FREE for the entire family. 11am-3pm. Come enjoy holiday cheer with all of us.

HOW DO YOU THANK SOMEONE?

     By Karen Kitchel

You know the feeling deep within. Someone just came to your door with a basket of warm cookies because they know you’re having a tough day.  You narrowly escape your burning home while a firefighter goes back in to save your puppy. Or maybe it was a stranger who picked up all the spilled candy that your little darling scattered on the supermarket floor.

Sometimes we wish we had a word much stronger than “thanks” to convey our heartfelt appreciation.  Perhaps by adding a sincere look or a tap on the arm, we can transfer our feelings of gratitude. 

What else can we do to say thanks?  I once gave a co-worker a post-it note with a word of thanks, and ten years later she told me it still could be seen on her refrigerator. Think back to a time when you really felt thanked for something you said or did.  Why do you still remember that feeling?

While we celebrate one special day of giving thanks this month, we can enjoy the power of thanking someone every day.

BTSYA volunteer Karen Kitchel serves meals to the homeless, is a volunteer teacher, writer, job coach, and mentor. She wrote the chapter, The Gift of Adoption, in our book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Gifts of Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World. www.scatteringkindness.com

SHOPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS?  ENJOY DISCOUNTS & MORE

Other easy ways that assist our mission and don’t cost you a penny!

1. AmazonSmile donates .5% of purchases https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3333882

2. Discounted books at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/shops/be_the_star_you_are_charity

3. Giving Assistant: Shop. Earn. Give! Use Giving Assistant to earn cash back at 3500+ popular online stores, then donate a percentage to BTSYA :https://givingassistant.org/np#be-the-star-you-are-inc

& buy from your favorite stores. 

4. Search and Shop: Choose Be the Star You Are as your charity to support. You can log in with Facebook, too!http://www.goodsearch.com/goodto-go/be-the-star-you-are

5. Shop at over 1300 stores on IGIVE: http://www.iGive.com/BTSYA

6. BTSYA Logo Store: http://btsya.rylees.net

7. Buy or Sell on EBAY:http://givingworks.ebay.com/charity-auctions/charity/be-the-star-you-are-501-c-3/1504/?favorite=link

8. Designer Clothes to Buy or Sell: https://www.unionandfifth.com/charities/be-the-star-you-are-moraga-ca/shop

9. Buy “Read, Lead, Succeed” T-shirts and tanks $19.99 at StarStyle® Store: https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store

10. Are you a gamer, lover of new software, or other digital content? Buy all of your favorites at Humble Bundle. http://ow.ly/cYs130iN6n4

We appreciate a direct donation most of all via PAYPAL GIVING FUND at https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

Checks can be sent to PO Box 376, Moraga, California 94556

___________________

Direct Links you can use for Be the Star You Are!®

Positive Results: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/positive-results

About Us: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/about_us

Programs: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/programs

How to Help: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/how-to-help

Blog: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/blog-1

Events: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/events

Contact us: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/contact

GREAT NON PROFITS REVIEWS: http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/be-the-star-you-are-inc/

GUIDESTAR: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/94-3333882

We invite you to volunteer, get involved, or make a donation. Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND and PAYPAL with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES:  https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

____________

Classified Ads:

If you’d like to advertise your service or product while supporting Be the Star You Are!®, we are now accepting approved ads that will benefit readers. Contact info@BetheStarYouAre.org for details. 

A NOTE WE LOVED!

”I admire you because despite your fears you face destiny as a beast and manage to reverse the worst situation. You don’t believe in dramatic forecasts and wake up every morning wanting to give the world the best. Thank you!” Nico Ficarelli, Decendiente de Manuel Creador De Argentina

Be the Star You Are!®

PO Box 376

Moraga, California 94556

Cynthia@BetheStarYouAre.org

https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org

http://www.BTSYA.org

All donations are 100% Tax Deductible according to law. Thank you!

https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

Read our newsletter:  http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/672296/fe82bef3f1/288055965/ac7221bc2f/

[goddessgardener]

Fire of Gratitude

Miracle Moment®

“The difference between a good life and a bad life is how well you walk through the fire.” Carl Jung, psychologist

MESSAGE FROM CYNTHIA BRIAN, Founder/Executive Director

October was a frightening and challenging month for residents of California. Rampant power black outs and raging fires throughout the state required thousands of people to evacuate their homes. After producing our radio broadcasts, I went to bed on a Wednesday night and  at 2:15 am, my husband and I were awoken by firefighters pounding on our door shouting “evacuate now!” We were given 60 seconds to leave as the fire was flaming near our fence less than 100 feet away. Feeling immense gratitude for surviving the inferno, I quickly penned what I had learned during that frantic flee: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1317/One-Minute-to-Evacuate-a-personal-perspective-from-the-Oct-10-fire.html . 

November is the month to express our thanks. First responders deserve major credit and gratitude for saving property and lives. Both fire and police personnel have been working tirelessly throughout California during these unprecedented times. 

Climate change is rapidly fueling natural disasters. Be the Star You Are!® continues to spearhead Operation Disaster Relief and we encourage you to contribute. No longer can we start a campaign only when tragedy strikes. Disasters have become a part of daily life and Be the Star You Are!® must be ready to assist at a moments notice.  All donations are greatly appreciated to help us help those in need. Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES:  https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504. 

Or send a check to BTSYA, PO Box 376, Moraga, California 94556. Give to this favorite 501(c)(3) and receive a deduction on your 2019 taxes if you itemize. 

The power black outs continued throughout the month and it may be wise to take the steps to be self-sufficient or off the grid as we are living in a new environment. I’ve published two important articles for the newspaper where I work to help others know how to prepare for an emergency. Make sure to read these as they may save your life and that of your family and friends. Send these links to those you love to help them prepare for whatever disaster lurks in our future.

Safety first: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1318/Safety-First-Emergency-Preparation-and-the-Go-Bag.html

Scary, scary night: https://www.lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1318/Digging-Deep-with-Goddess-Gardener-Cynthia-Brian-Scary-scary-night.html

As we prepare for the holiday season of gifts and giving, we want to introduce you to books that will inspire and thrill you. Make sure to check out our Spotlight book, I am Me, a powerful book by teens with original art and poetry expressing the importance of being your authentic self. Also, order copies of our three signature books in the Be the Star You Are!® series for true stories, adages, and exercises to help you live, laugh, learn, and love more fully with 100% of the profits benefiting this charity. Giving Tuesday is December 3rd this year, so please mark your calendar and ask your company to match your donation.

Thank you to everyone for your patience, understanding, checking in, and love. We are very appreciative. Be safe and sound. Let’s hope no one has to walk through the fire to have a great life,

“Communicate, Collaborate, Innovate!”  Join us! Thanksgiving is TODAY and EVERYDAY!

Blessings and Gratitude,

Cynthia Brian

Founder/Executive Director

Be the Star You Are!®

PO Box 376

Moraga, California 94556

Cynthia@BetheStarYouAre.org

https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org

http://www.BTSYA.org

DONATE: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

RECOGNITION FOR 20 YEARS OF SERVICE

Be the Star You Are!® Receives Congratulations from California Legislature

Recently, we received a lovely letter and Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislature congratulating Be the Star You Are!® on 20 years of service to the community. What an unexpected honor for which we are grateful to Assembly member, Rebecca Bauer-Kahan . We share this commendation with all of our dedicated volunteers and supporters. With your assistance, Be the Star You Are!® continues its imperative mission to empower women, families, and youth through increased literacy, positive media messages, and tools for living.

SPOTLIGHT

I Am Me: Teen Artists and Writers Speak Out on Being Yourself 

This is a powerful book that helps young people believe that you don’t have to achieve “perfection” to be “perfect.” 

  “Edgy, powerful, insightful, and honest.” 

The pages in this book pairs award winning art and writing to empower teens to shake off negative influences to realize it is okay to be themselves. Each piece of art is skillfully matched with writing to reflect the attitude of a generation of teens who want to fit in but feel inadequate due to societal pressures.

www.i-am-me-teen.com or order on Amazon.

Listen to Editor, Tom Worthen, Ph.d interviewed on Express Yourself! Teen Radio about this poignant message. https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/118745/optimism-with-i-am-me

SUCCESS AT PEAR AND WINE FESTIVAL

Our Teen Event Director, Siri Phaneendra, did a fabulous job of putting on the BTSYA booth at the recent Pear and Wine Festival. Her mother and sister helped her with the new henna activity. Express Yourself!® radio hosts Kenneth Jeon and Jack Pawlakos were on hand to work in the booth. Thanks to Lamorinda Weekly newspaper for sponsorship and lending us the great canopy. What a fantastic family day of fun!

We have been honored with a Top-Rated Award for 2019 from GreatNonprofits! We appreciate all of your contributions! https://greatnonprofits.org/org/be-the-star-you-are-inc

RADIO BROADCASTS TO INSPIRE

Cynthia Brian was thrilled and honored to be a guest on Dr. Davon James LIVE radio broadcast on Veteran's Day focusing on passion. Cynthia and Dr. James share how everyone can create success by living and working with passion. You are enough! Listen now! https://www.unityonlineradio.org/everyday-peace/living-and-working-your-passion

Express Yourself!® Teen Radio (https://www.starstyleradio.com/expressyourselfteenradio)  host Henna Hundal (also host of syndicated The Henna Hundal Show, https://www.thehennahundalshow.com) facilitated an impressive broadcast about the critical importance of mentorship and coaching. Nicholas Donzelli, a ten year veteran of volunteering coaching of an award winning water polo team shared his insights along with Be the Star You Are!® founder and StarStyle® coach, Cynthia Brian. Having a coach and/or mentor in your life can help you launch your dreams. Be authentic. Tune in https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/118595/mentoring-with-henna-hundal-nick-donzelli-and-cynthia-brian

GIVING TUESDAY IS DECEMBER 3, 2019 

GivingTuesday​ started as a day for anyone, anywhere to give, and it's grown into the biggest giving movement in the world. Celebrated each year on the Tuesday following U.S. Thanksgiving, and fueled by the power of social media, GivingTuesday inspires millions of people across the globe to show up and give back to causes and issues that matter to them. The goal is to create a massive wave of generosity that lasts well beyond that day, and touches every person on the planet. GivingTuesday takes place on December 3, 2019 this year. Create a fundraiser and ask your employer to match donations. Be the Star You Are!® will use your contributions for our ongoing outreach programs, disaster relief (https://www.bethestaryouare.org/copy-of-hurricane-fire-disaster-rel), and positive message radio broadcasts. Donations can be made to Be the Star You Are! via PAYPAL GIVING FUND with no fees. https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504. You will receive an instant tax receipt.

Then, continue being kind and doing good all year round.

VISIT WITH SANTA IS DECEMBER 14TH

Mark your calendars for a jolly journey to the north pole on December 14th.  Be the Star You Are!® volunteers once again collaborate with 5 A Rent a Space in Moraga to bring Santa and his elves to the neighborhood. Kids can write a letter to Mr. Claus, get a FREE photo sitting on his lap, get creative with festive art projects, and enjoy hot chocolate and special treats. Holiday cards and books will be available for sale as a donation to BTSYA. The event is FREE for the entire family. 11am-3pm. Come enjoy holiday cheer with all of us.

HOW DO YOU THANK SOMEONE?

     By Karen Kitchel

You know the feeling deep within. Someone just came to your door with a basket of warm cookies because they know you’re having a tough day.  You narrowly escape your burning home while a firefighter goes back in to save your puppy. Or maybe it was a stranger who picked up all the spilled candy that your little darling scattered on the supermarket floor.

Sometimes we wish we had a word much stronger than “thanks” to convey our heartfelt appreciation.  Perhaps by adding a sincere look or a tap on the arm, we can transfer our feelings of gratitude. 

What else can we do to say thanks?  I once gave a co-worker a post-it note with a word of thanks, and ten years later she told me it still could be seen on her refrigerator. Think back to a time when you really felt thanked for something you said or did.  Why do you still remember that feeling?

While we celebrate one special day of giving thanks this month, we can enjoy the power of thanking someone every day.

BTSYA volunteer Karen Kitchel serves meals to the homeless, is a volunteer teacher, writer, job coach, and mentor. She wrote the chapter, The Gift of Adoption, in our book, Be the Star You Are! Millennials to Boomers Celebrating Gifts of Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World. www.scatteringkindness.com

SHOPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS?  ENJOY DISCOUNTS & MORE

Other easy ways that assist our mission and don’t cost you a penny!

1. AmazonSmile donates .5% of purchases https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-3333882

2. Discounted books at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/shops/be_the_star_you_are_charity

3. Giving Assistant: Shop. Earn. Give! Use Giving Assistant to earn cash back at 3500+ popular online stores, then donate a percentage to BTSYA :https://givingassistant.org/np#be-the-star-you-are-inc

& buy from your favorite stores. 

4. Search and Shop: Choose Be the Star You Are as your charity to support. You can log in with Facebook, too!http://www.goodsearch.com/goodto-go/be-the-star-you-are

5. Shop at over 1300 stores on IGIVE: http://www.iGive.com/BTSYA

6. BTSYA Logo Store: http://btsya.rylees.net

7. Buy or Sell on EBAY:http://givingworks.ebay.com/charity-auctions/charity/be-the-star-you-are-501-c-3/1504/?favorite=link

8. Designer Clothes to Buy or Sell: https://www.unionandfifth.com/charities/be-the-star-you-are-moraga-ca/shop

9. Buy “Read, Lead, Succeed” T-shirts and tanks $19.99 at StarStyle® Store: https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store

10. Are you a gamer, lover of new software, or other digital content? Buy all of your favorites at Humble Bundle. http://ow.ly/cYs130iN6n4

We appreciate a direct donation most of all via PAYPAL GIVING FUND at https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

Checks can be sent to PO Box 376, Moraga, California 94556

___________________

Direct Links you can use for Be the Star You Are!®

Positive Results: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/positive-results

About Us: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/about_us

Programs: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/programs

How to Help: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/how-to-help

Blog: https://www.bethestaryouare.org/blog-1

Events: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/events

Contact us: http://www.bethestaryouare.org/contact

GREAT NON PROFITS REVIEWS: http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/be-the-star-you-are-inc/

GUIDESTAR: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/94-3333882

We invite you to volunteer, get involved, or make a donation. Make a DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND and PAYPAL with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES:  https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

____________

Classified Ads:

If you’d like to advertise your service or product while supporting Be the Star You Are!®, we are now accepting approved ads that will benefit readers. Contact info@BetheStarYouAre.org for details. 

A NOTE WE LOVED!

”I admire you because despite your fears you face destiny as a beast and manage to reverse the worst situation. You don’t believe in dramatic forecasts and wake up every morning wanting to give the world the best. Thank you!” Nico Ficarelli, Decendiente de Manuel Creador De Argentina

Be the Star You Are!®

PO Box 376

Moraga, California 94556

Cynthia@BetheStarYouAre.org

https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org

http://www.BTSYA.org

All donations are 100% Tax Deductible according to law. Thank you!

https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504

Read our newsletter:  http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/672296/fe82bef3f1/288055965/ac7221bc2f/

[recentnews18-blog]

New Post has been published on https://shovelnews.com/11-new-films-coming-to-netflix-in-august-that-are-brilliantly-weird-iconic/

11 New Films Coming To Netflix In August That Are Brilliantly Weird & Iconic

With this insane heatwave still blazing, there is a lot to be said for staying in the cooler and more shady safety of your own home. It’s gotten so hot that literally nobody would judge you for staying inside in your pants watching telly (and nor should they ever judge you for that). But maybe you have already rinsed your Netflix account? Well, if you have, good news is that there are lots of new films coming to Netflix this August Thank goodness, I hear y’all squeal.

I’m pleased to report that Netflix has its usual blend of classics, oldies, newbies, guilty pleasures, and ones you could watch a thousand times over on the menu. This means that I for one will be one happy (if incredibly sweaty) bunny this August. Who’s with me?

Oh. Did someone say stick your phone on do not disturb and get some very much needed you time? Yep, it was me. Do it immediately because the latest selection of cinematic delights is going to make sure that this August is going to be pretty awesome for nights in. So all you need now is some extra cold drinks, a fan, a TV/laptop/tablet, and some peace and quiet to get down with the movies.

Here are my top picks of the new films coming to Netflix in August. Enjoy.

1‘Pride And Prejudice’

Movieclips Classic Trailers on YouTube

This film version of arguably Jane Austen’s best known novel was a mega hit when it came out in 2005. Keira Knightley plays an uber independent, intelligent, and sassy Elizabeth Bennet. Lots of lovely costumes and beautiful scenery takes you away to a time when it wasn’t how many insta likes you had that mattered. Instead, it was a time when women were expected to mind their Ps and Qs, but our Lizzie just did what the eff she wanted. What she wanted is of course was a certain Mr Darcy who is super conveniently rich, so all’s well that ends well.

This story just never gets old and this version is so great and makes you feel all sappy and gross but you know you love it.

2‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’

Universal Pictures on YouTube

The third instalment in the Bridget Jones series sees cute as pie, lovable twit, and huge pants wearing Jones going onto the next phase of her life; motherhood. Gulp.

With a love life as torrid as can be and a seemingly endless supply of ridiculously handsome suitors at her disposal, our Bridge isn’t doing too badly now is she? However, when two romantic dalliances occur within close proximity of each other and a pregnancy test proves positive, the race is on to find out who her baby daddy is. The race is also on to see if her and her very own Darcy (hello Pride And Prejudice) end up happily ever after.

3‘Meet The Blacks’

Movieclips Trailers on YouTube

Meet The Blacks is a parody comedy about a dystopian America, where an annual 12 hours of complete lawlessness takes place.

It is the story of the blacks, an African American family who have fled a life of crime in Chicago to a largely white neighbourhood in Beverly Hills. Unfortunately they move just in time for the annual purge and their house is invaded by several masked assailants.

Lots of hilarity ensues in this dark comedy, that hits the guilty pleasure quota 100 percent.

4‘Ouija’

Movieclips Trailers on YouTube

Feel like scaring the bejesus out of yourself this summer? Well you’re in luck.

Ouija tells the story of a young gal who finds a ouija board in her house and does the right thing and chooses to play with it with her mates on Halloween. Nice one, mate. Eye roll.

It’s super jumpy and will have you covering your eyes but also, like any good horror film, leave you wondering why these people are so flipping dumb.

5‘Last Vegas’

Movieclips Trailers on YouTube

Four legends of the silver screen come together for this film about four older men having a bit of a youth renaissance. Starring Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro, and Kevin Kline, the lads plan an outrageous stag do for Douglas’ character Billy ahead of his marriage to a woman half his age.

The film features them as young guys too, with genius edits to them as children throughout the film which is super charming.

Think The Hangover meets Grumpy Old Men and you got it.

6‘Selfie From Hell’

New Trailer Buzz on YouTube

Another creepy AF film, this movie sounds super silly and guess what, maybe the concept is, but this movie knows that and does a great job of being silly but pillow-grabbingly terrifying too.

The idea is a bit sort of like The Ring in that it is relating to a craze which people are warned not to do, but do anyway because people in horror films are so dumb I can’t even.

This film is based on a two minute Youtube video that went viral and will literally leave you with chills.

I’ve said too much already.

7‘Bad Moms’

STX Entertainment on YouTube

Bad Moms is basically the antidote to all those laugh out loud funny films about guys having a wild time. This movie sees mums getting to go and be wild as well.

This film shows the ridiculous pressures a lot of mums are under to be perfect and make sure everything their children do and digest is exactly right. When three mums crack, the craic ensues.

Lots of shots being imbibed and really fun parties that you kind of wish you were at, as well as a perfect self-righteous mum played by Christina Applegate means this is one for us gals.

8‘The Secret Life Of Pets’

Illumination on YouTube

Who doesn’t love computer animated films? And who doesn’t love pets? Bingo; this film ticks both boxes. One to watch with your pets because let’s be honest, they are the best movie dates.

The Secret Life Of Pets is one of those heart-warming, funny films that will actually leave you wondering what your pets are up to while you’re out and about.

Starring an insane number of mega stars including Lake Bell, Ellie Kemper, Steve Coogan, and SNL alums Dana Carvey and Jenny Slate, this one will have you rolling on the floor laughing but also looking suspiciously at your pets for days.

9‘Public Schooled’

TRAILER CITY on YouTube

Made in Canada, this movie is the story of a home schooled teenage boy who sees what actual high school is like after visiting one for an exam. He spies a girl who he really fancies and in that moment, chooses to flunk his exam so he can get into her school and get the girl.

Judy Greer gets well deserved pride of place in this film about an over protective mother struggling to let go of her son but also encouraging him to rebel, with her guidance and support.

It is super funny, heart-warming, and will have you laughing and saying “aww” in equal measure.

10‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’

Movieclips Classic Trailers on YouTube

Movie classic and one you could watch over and over, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is about the adventures of a flying car brought back to life by the wonderfully eccentric widowed inventor Caractacus Potts after his children Jemima and Jeremy beg him to.

Starring Dick Van Dyke, this family fave is up there with Mary Poppins in terms of classic status. Special note for the still incredibly creepy bad guy, The Child Snatcher, who still makes my skin crawl.

11‘The Party’

Madman Films on YouTube

It’s not often you see a modern film made entirely in black and white but this cinematic treat is everything you want from a British comedy.

It tells the story of a politician, promoted within his party who reveals an enormous secret to close friends who have gathered to celebrate his nod.

Hilarity ensues in this black comedy with each character revealing shocking truths and the party turning into an hilarious disaster.

A must see for fans of dark British humour, starring an array of acting legends including the very dishy Cillian Murphy and British legend Timothy Spall.

With options like this, I can’t wait for July to end so I can get down to ingesting some brilliant films. Thanks Netflix. We love you.

Source: https://www.bustle.com/p/11-new-films-coming-to-netflix-in-august-that-are-brilliantly-weird-iconic-9891556