#tag: matilda

[boyd-connors]

— GUIDANCE

It was the first time Boyd had ever been asked to speak with Mattie’s teacher outside the regular, twice-yearly parent/teacher conferences. He attributed it more to his daughter’s nature than any outstanding parenting on his part, but Mattie had always been a good student — attentive, bright, and courteous. The only thing ever vaguely approaching concern from her teachers was that she occasionally lacked confidence, but all things considered, the feedback tended towards ‘whatever you’re doing, keep up the good work.’ As a single father who was often the youngest on ‘Bring Your Parent to School Day,’ he needed all the validation he could get.

But Boyd had a feeling he knew what the topic of conversation would be as soon as Mrs. Wheeler singled him out in the pick-up line. And it wouldn’t be to tell him he was doing such a great job...

“Mr. Connors, mind if we have a quick word?”

He’d expected to be led back to her classroom, to sit down at the tiny desk with Mattie’s colorful nametag taped up in the left corner, and be told what he already knew in an incriminating tone. ‘Matilda’s grades have been slipping. She’s struggling to keep up. Is something going on at home?’ And then he’d have to shamefully explain that no, nothing was happening, except that it was. That Mattie’s mother was back, and he hadn’t the nerve to tell her, but the girl was too perceptive not to know something was wrong. The very thought was humiliating, and it wasn’t as though he didn’t feel judged enough for his situation without being called a bad father on top of everything else.

But instead they took an unfamiliar route, stopping outside a door with a placard proclaiming it led to the office of Howard Katcher, Guidance Counselor.

Boyd stepped in like a child being sent to the principal’s office, expecting a stern-faced man behind an intimidating desk, all dark wood and leather in way that reeked of scholarly excellence. He’d never had to see either the principal or the guidance counselor in his own schooling career, so his expectation was based largely on what he’d seen in movies, the high school dramas of his youth where any authority figure was an automatic threat. Instead, the room was pleasantly cozy, a small desk tucked in the corner while the majority of the room was left occupied by a group of comfy-looking chairs and sofas. The man he could only assume was Howard Katcher, Guidance Counselor was hunched over his desk, but looked up and approached brightly as soon as he heard the door open.

“Mr. Connors! Nice to meet you. Please call me Howie,” the man greeted, and even if Boyd hadn’t been meeting him under these precise circumstances, he would have immediately guessed this was the sort of man who worked with children for a living. Though he must have been in his late 50′s at least, Howie radiated youthful energy, his wispy hair and sweater vest rumpled in a way that set forth a sudden, vivid image of an exasperated wife who sent him out into the world everyday knowing all her hard work to make her husband presentable would go completely to shit the second there was a kid in need of cheering up. Despite himself, Boyd immediately liked the man, and found himself responding, “call me Boyd” as they shook hands.

The three of them — Boyd, Mrs. Wheeler, and Howie — all sat facing each other in the collection of couches, Boyd feeling like an island sat on one all alone. He looked between the two educators, wondering who would start, or if he was expected to ask before they began.

“Mr. Connors,” Mrs. Wheeler started, her face kind, but impassive. “Boyd,” she ventured again, and he felt his stomach swoop. It had seemed like the polite thing to do, to offer up a more informal greeting, but it sounded wrong on her tongue — like she was only saying it to soften a later blow. “I’m sure you are aware that Matilda has been struggling in class. Her test scores have dipped, but more troubling, she’s having difficulty focusing during lessons. She’s stopped participating and, at times, it seems as though she’s not paying attention at all.”

She paused, allowing this information to sink in. Boyd felt the sudden urge like he needed to defend his daughter, and himself by extension. “It’s- been a weird time. I mean, the holidays and... I should probably be better about enforcing her bedtime, and some mornings I’m too tired to make her a proper breakfast...” It sounded as lame to him as he was sure it did to them, and he petered out as he watched them exchange furtive glances.

“Boyd,” Howie said, his face full of sympathy — and okay, he took it back, Boyd didn’t like him at all... “We’re not here to point fingers. In fact, we believe we may know what’s the cause of this behavior.” Boyd’s face no doubt looked stricken as he imagined for a moment Nadia storming the school, demanding to see her daughter. Would she really be so bold? But no, Nadia didn’t seem to care nearly enough, and surely the school would have call him immediately if she had. But he didn’t put it past her to try something more insidious, and the thought put him even more on edge...

“As you may know, we’re required to do routine audiology testing,” the guidance counselor continued. “Matilda was tested last year, but in light of her recent performance, we thought it best to test her again. I’m sorry to say, there’s evidence of significant hearing loss.”

Boyd had been so wrapped up in his thoughts of Nadia, expecting this conversation to go a certain way, that the words significant hearing loss hit him like an unexpected freight train. “I’m sorry — h-hearing loss?” he stuttered.

“We can’t say for certain until you’re able to see a specialist — we have a list of wonderful audiologists we can refer you to — but given everything we do know, we have reason to believe this may be the root of it.”

“Hearing loss,” Boyd repeated, the words echoing dully behind the sudden thud of blood rushing through his ears. “Like, you’re saying that she’s deaf?” Mattie, his Mattie, she couldn’t be deaf — he talked to her all the time. She was perfectly healthy...

“No, not exactly,” Howie replied. “Certainly not now, and I’m not qualified to know to what extent it is or may one day be. I can only tell you that there are signs, and it’s my recommendation that you get her in to see a doctor as soon as you’re able.”

“Are you serious?” Boyd asked, the words coming out on a disbelieving chuckle. He still — it didn’t make sense to him. Mattie was fine. She’d been distracted lately, but that was his fault. 

“I understand this may be hard to process, and we’re only at the beginning of a potentially long road. We can give you some resources to look over, set a time to discuss once you’ve had a chance to read them. Our focus is getting Matilda the support she needs. I’m sure we can all agree that’s our most important goal.”

We... Our... Boyd got the distinct sense he was being pyschologized, and if the inclusive language was supposed to make him feel better, it did anything but. He was the one who would have to deal with the fallout — and with everything else going on, he wasn’t sure he could handle anything more. A child with special needs... It didn’t seem possible when not even an hour ago, Mattie had been perfectly normal.

“... Is Mattie gonna be okay?” he asked finally. He knew that perhaps these two wouldn’t be able to answer that question, but he asked it anyway. He felt too numb for anything else, and he needed that reassurance. As a father, he tried his hardest to protect his daughter from the worst that life could throw at her, but he couldn’t protect her from this.

“We have no reason to believe she won’t be. There will be an adjustment, but there’s lots of resources we have at our disposal.” Resources, Boyd thought, those would cost money. There wasn’t a price tag he wouldn’t pay for his daughter’s well-being, but he was strapped enough as it was. How would he be able to provide for her the way she needed? No doubt the concern showed on his face because Howie continued, “Boyd, it’s clear you love your daughter. That’s what’s most important. As scary as this is, it’s probably tenfold for her. We need to take this one step at a time. There’s no need to panic. Why don’t you take the material, read it over, and we can talk again soon?”

Boyd simply nodded, too afraid of what time come out if he tried to speak. Most likely it would be nothing more than a sob, and the last thing he needed right now was to completely fall apart. Instead, he numbly accepted the pamphlets that were handed to him, a tremulous smile the only acknowledgment as Howie said his goodbyes.

Mattie waited for him on a bench near the front door, her legs idly kicking out beneath her while she waited. Boyd didn’t say a thing, just scooped her up into his arms, holding her for as long as she’d allow.

“Ok, daddy. Time to go home now.”

[jabberwockprince]

compiling all the little r1999 emotes i've done, some were posted on the writing blog (@vasito-de-leche), some were for twitter and some were just for fun and as an excuse to draw more characters that aren't pavia <3

feel free to use these, just credit me!

[hypo-critic-art]

Mary Shelley’s Mathilda

summer semester art project, acrylic on canvas

more pictures and text under the cut

Short novelette Mathilda written by Mary Shelley, the mother of Frankenstein herself, touched me in a certain way since the very moment I read it. Is it the authors writing style? The autobiographical elements snuck into it? The book not being shy portraying taboo elements and feminist ideas, unlike great majority of other books written in the early 19th century? Perhaps all of it.

I really wanted to pay homage to this piece of literature, moments in the plot that struck with me, and to Mary Shelley herself. Correct me if i’m mistaken, but to this day I don’t think there’s any collection of illustrations nor paintings inspired by this written piece, and I’m very proud and honoured to be the first one!

Here! Despite disagreements on my vision between me and my art professors, initial frustration with the poses (incredible thanks to my friend @the-gay-sailor for helping and mental support), months of work when i felt like what I’m doing is pointless, I am ready and satisfied with the result.

I hope you enjoy it as equally as I do :]

[holy-reference-in-a-username]

Tori has tried bringing her gfs on day hikes before

[pand1on]

matilda's second halloween yippee!!

[teamdarkdaily]

day 288: webfishing (matilda drawn by @pand1on)

[orangecaramelmilkshake]

Yassssee

[wonder-worker]

A central element of the myth of [Eleanor of Aquitaine] is that of her exceptionalism. Historians and Eleanor biographers have tended to take literally Richard of Devizes’s conventional panegyric of her as ‘an incomparable woman’ [and] a woman out of her time. […] Amazement at Eleanor’s power and independence is born from a presentism that assumes generally that the Middle Ages were a backward age, and specifically that medieval women were all downtrodden and marginalized. Eleanor’s career can, from such a perspective, only be explained by assuming that she was an exception who rose by sheer force of personality above the restrictions placed upon twelfth-century women.

-Michael R. Evans, Inventing Eleanor: The Medieval and Post-Medieval Image of Eleanor of Aquitaine

"...The idea of Eleanor’s exceptionalism rests on an assumption that women of her age were powerless. On the contrary, in Western Europe before the twelfth century there were ‘no really effective barriers to the capacity of women to exercise power; they appear as military leaders, judges, castellans, controllers of property’. […] In an important article published in 1992, Jane Martindale sought to locate Eleanor in context, stripping away much of the conjecture that had grown up around her, and returning to primary sources, including her charters. Martindale also demonstrated how Eleanor was not out of the ordinary for a twelfth-century queen either in the extent of her power or in the criticisms levelled against her.

If we look at Eleanor’s predecessors as Anglo-Norman queens of England, we find many examples of women wielding political power. Matilda of Flanders (wife of William the Conqueror) acted as regent in Normandy during his frequent absences in England following the Conquest, and [the first wife of Henry I, Matilda of Scotland, played some role in governing England during her husband's absences], while during the civil war of Stephen’s reign Matilda of Boulogne led the fight for a time on behalf of her royal husband, who had been captured by the forces of the empress. And if we wish to seek a rebel woman, we need look no further than Juliana, illegitimate daughter of Henry I, who attempted to assassinate him with a crossbow, or Adèle of Champagne, the third wife of Louis VII, who ‘[a]t the moment when Henry II held Eleanor of Aquitaine in jail for her revolt … led a revolt with her brothers against her son, Philip II'.

Eleanor is, therefore, less the exception than the rule – albeit an extreme example of that rule. This can be illustrated by comparing her with a twelfth century woman who has attracted less literary and historical attention. Adela of Blois died in 1137, the year of Eleanor’s marriage to Louis VII. […] The chronicle and charter evidence reveals Adela to have ‘legitimately exercised the powers of comital lordship’ in the domains of Blois-Champagne, both in consort with her husband and alone during his absence on crusade and after his death. […] There was, however, nothing atypical about the nature of Adela’s power. In the words of her biographer Kimberley LoPrete, ‘while the extent of Adela’s powers and the political impact of her actions were exceptional for a woman of her day (and indeed for most men), the sources of her powers and the activities she engaged in were not fundamentally different from those of other women of lordly rank’. These words could equally apply to Eleanor; the extent of her power, as heiress to the richest lordship in France, wife of two kings and mother of two or three more, was remarkable, but the nature of her power was not exceptional. Other noble or royal women governed, arranged marriages and alliances, and were patrons of the church. Eleanor represents one end of a continuum, not an isolated outlier."

[couch-house]

Commission for @frostios of Matilda and Silver hanging out! plus some other bonus drawings for a special ant's special day!!!

Check my pinned for comm info!

[ywraa]

finally finish it :3

[cosmicalls]

if you like dead poets society, you may like these!

just for fun: a little list of movies, shows, and books i like that i feel have something in common with dps. hopefully you'll find something you'd like, too!

not in any particular order. just the order that i thought of them in really

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A Separate Peace

by John Knowles - published 1959

a coming-of-age novel set at an all-boys new england boarding school. follows two boys, Gene and Finny, and their experiences during the summer and winter sessions of 1942. talks a bit about WWII and what role the boys may have to play in that, but it stays pretty focused on the school and the emotions involved during this time in one's life. all the growth and transformation and oddly homoerotic, perhaps very codependent, friendship of a bildungsroman that we love to look for.

one of my personal favorite books, even considering that it was assigned reading. i truly believe many of you would like it and i know for a fact some of you can vouch for me

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Stephen Chbosky - published 1999 movie adaptation: dir. Stephen Chbosky - released 2012

follows Charlie and his general struggles of high school and with being, well, a wallflower. from goodreads: "Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that the perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite."

very emotional. that's all! i preferred the movie, but i liked the format of the book being completely in letters that Charlie was writing. they're both good! (if you watch the movie, the english teacher's name is Mr. Anderson. so do with that information what you will...!)

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Matilda

by Roald Dahl - published 1988 movie adaptation: dir. Danny DeVito - released 1996 musical adaptation: dir. Matthew Warchus - released 2022

a young girl with an aptitude for reading discovers she has telekinetic abilities at the same time she begins attending school. unfortunately, the principal is an extremely harsh woman, and none of the students seem to enjoy it there. Matilda uses her courage and newfound powers to change her environment for the better, both at school and in her abrasive home.

such a good movie, a childhood favorite. the musical has a great soundtrack too!

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Good Will Hunting

dir. Gus Van Sant - released 1997

a janitor is recognized as a mathematical genius by an MIT professor, and he goes on an emotional journey to embrace his intellect. starring Robin Williams, our dearly beloved inspiration, as the therapist Will goes to see for much of the film.

i only saw it once and my description is lacking but ooh it hurt...... just trust me on this one

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A Series of Unfortunate Events

by Lemony Snicket - published 1999-2006 tv series adaptation: aired 2017-2019

JUST HEAR ME OUT ON THIS ONE okay. it's about a trio of siblings, orphaned, who are shuttled from one parental unit to another while being followed by a man after their immense wealth. they quickly discover they are in the midst of an intellectual conflict in a secret organization. they must rely on only each other, seeing as all the adults around them are wildly incompetent and/or unhelpful. and it is filled to the brim with literary references!!

both versions have really fun and witty narration, and the tv adaptation is extremely faithful. i don't know how else to describe it without going overboard so i'll settle for not descriptive enough! just trust me. yes it is a kids' series and yes it is one of my favorites ever. it's the vibes of it all

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If We Were Villains

by M.L. Rio - published 2017

about a group of Shakespeare theater students at a very pretentious arts school who find themselves in a very high-tension dynamic following a disaster that occurs after their halloween performance of Macbeth. lots and lots of Shakespeare, lots of dramatics, and the book itself is divided into five acts.

i finished this in about two nights and it was extremely creatively inspiring. it was a bit predictable, but that's not a bad thing. it still had me clutching my pearls and dropping my jaw

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"The Artist of the Beautiful"

by Nathaniel Hawthorne - published 1844

a romantic era short story about a man who feels utterly trapped by his occupation. he would rather concern himself with the delicate beauty of nature, and he attempts to realize this in his passion project - much to the disdain of the people around him.

a bit of a sneak sorry. i just think it's just in line with neil's whole thing you know. it's a lot of long and flowery sentences but it works really well i promise

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The Breakfast Club

dir. John Hughes - released 1985

the letterboxd synopsis really says it all: "They only met once, but it changed their lives forever. | Five high school students from different walks of life endure a Saturday detention under a power-hungry principal. The disparate group includes rebel John, princess Claire, outcast Allison, brainy Brian and Andrew, the jock. Each has a chance to tell his or her story, making the others see them a little differently – and when the day ends, they question whether school will ever be the same."

i don't have much to add and to be honest! kind of a stretch for this list! but i have faith

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obviously there are other shows and movies with the dead poets society leads, but i wanted to sort of branch out a bit for the bulk of this list. i will still list the ones i had in mind though

House M.D. (2004-2012) - tv series about genius diagnostician Dr. Gregory House and his team at a hospital in new jersey. Robert Sean Leonard stars as House's best friend and head of oncology Dr. James Wilson. very comedic but also very heartwrenching.

Tape (2001) - three friends meet at a motel room and dredge up and argue over unpleasant events of the past. starring Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard.

Before Sunrise (1995) - from letterboxd: "A young man and woman meet on a train in Europe, and wind up spending one evening together in Vienna. Unfortunately, both know that this will probably be their only night together." Ethan Hawke plays one half of the lead duo.

and yeah there's a LOT more but those are the ones i've seen and sincerely recommend. not to say others aren't good but this is a (very) curated list you see.

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phew that's not as many as i thought i had in my back pocket but it's still pretty good. plus, there's some things i havent read/watched yet that perhaps would have made it but alas! such is life

absolutely add to the list if you'd like!! let's all share our favorite stories

[kitchen-mattress]

I drew dem….

Welcome me into the fandom ya’ll. :) 👍

[nessa007]

7 COMFORT MOVIES (in no particular order) ✦ tagged by @ethan-hawke & @animusrox (thank you! 💕)

I'm tagging: @useragarfield @narliee @bethccassidy @userbettycooper @maisieepeters @petersthree @nick-nellson @tay-swifts @ncutisgatwas @ncutii-gatwa @sharpesjoy @mcbride @trueloveistreacherous @chrissiewatts

[anonymocha]

Reverse 1999 RP Server doodles in one canvas

FEATURING MY BUDDIES

@jabberwockprince

@stari-hun

@pinkygirlymeg

@jvaevictis

@lonelymoonbeams

@6swife

@ihaveforgortoomany

@/Fairy27

THANKS EVERYNYAN

[darling]

six albums I've been listening to lately (tagged by @prairiedeath, thank you, darling!! ❣)

‎You Look Like You Can't Swim (Matilda mann)

Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd (Lana Del Rey)

Motordrome (MØ)

Sillygomania (Loïc Nottet)

Good Riddance (Gracie Abrams)

So Sad So Sexy (Lykke Li)

I'll tag @genericplantgay, @marcuscolouranalysis4, @indirectly, @echobeach2002, @unbelt, @stremplerart, @spiritual-delights, @memoreek , @random-jot (tag game whore* 😆!! hahaha), @an-imaginary-place, @like-a-lovesickfool, @hobosenpai8, @marji0, @brontephilia, @simonmoholt, @flaccidatron, @sacred-portal, @sharp-ft, @vyva-melinkolya, @dollhandinfection, @michaelnordeman, @undimmed, @myacisbroken, @trigg-3-r, @b-acd, @goreseeex, @barbietrailerpark, @fellxthecat & @violently-average. (Sorry if I forgot to tag anyone interested) if you want, you can say that I tagged you.* 🤍

[jabberwockprince]

it got super cluttered hehe oopsies

template can be found here! it was made by @/titaniumions