#dktask

Each chapter will have some mandatory and some optional tasks. You can complete these at any time, and they can be in any format you like. Please remember that if it is a mandatory task it will likely be connected to the events in the chapter, and so completing it in a short amount of time is advised. Tag your responses for this chapter as dktask1:2. Please like this post once read.

Devil’s Knot Task 1:1  -  Connections

1.  Bobby Davies  -  What does Frankie know about Bobby? Not much in all honesty. He knows Bobby is his brother's weird friend. Perry and Bobby, they used to be inseparable. He knows his brother left Devil's Knot only to return later upset, and without that weird kid Bobby with him. He also knows Bobby is related to Tony, and there is just a lot of negative attached to that in and of itself -- as unfair as it may seem. But what does Frankie  know  about the kid? Not much. So, how does Frankie  feel  about him? Not great. 

2.  Mary Hawker  -  The more things change the more things stay the same, and Mary is a good example of that. Back in the day when Mary was a teenager who hung around with his brother, she could cause trouble all on her own that much is true. But he likely didn’t help. He'd buy her booze when she needed it, and from time to time the two would hang out and chat. And now look at them. A trouble maker like Frankie owns his own business, and a rebellious spirit like Mary works at the school. There is something kindred about them, and they still hang out and drink together. But at least it's legal for her to do it this time.

CHAPTER ONE, TASK TWO: sympathy for the devil (or, Kevin's official alibi)

“Never for one minute have I taken you for reality,” Ivan cried with a sort of fury. “You are a lie, you are my illness, you are a phantom. It's only that I don't know how to destroy you and I see I must suffer for a time. You are my hallucination. You are the incarnation of myself, but only of one side of me ... of my thoughts and feelings, but only the nastiest and stupidest of them. From that point of view you might be of interest to me, if only I had time to waste on you—”

Kevin had promised himself he’d finish The Brothers Karamazov before the winter, or at least before the first snow settled in Devil’s Knot. It was both a romantic notion and a pragmatic one: there’s no point reading about freezing to death in the middle of a Midwestern summer heatwave, when the idea of a winter storm's about as foreign as an alien planet. On the flipside, reading Russian lit in the throes of a Michigan winter, when just getting his ass to school on time is a misery in itself-- it's just not practical. Life’s too fucking depressing as it is; no need to get the Russians involved.

On the afternoon of the younger Goode's disappearance, Kevin's plodding his way through another chapter about Ivan, the middle son (and resident atheist), who at the moment is mid-conversation with the Devil (possibly related to his current affliction with "brain fever".) As it turns out, the devil is an atheist. He’s also come down with a bad case of rheumatism. “I put on fleshly form, and I take the consequences.” Kevin can sympathize.

A few hours in and his attention is waning; he knows because he catches himself eyeing the spine to check how much book is left. He rolls on his back and stares up at the ceiling instead. Nothing else in the house moves, not to breathe or stretch. Kelly and his parents have left, giving him an entire uninterrupted afternoon of peace and quiet, which is probably what he wants. He's always trying to get some space, right? Well, here it is. In the unfamiliar quiet he can almost believe he’s the last thing left alive in the world. All it would take to break the illusion would be turning his head to look out the window, see the houses beyond and their stirring curtains. Instead he falls asleep there, not awake to witness the sun setting, or the town coming to frenzied life. He doesn’t stir again until his parents come home and call him down to deliver the news.

NEW CONNECTIONS:

Stan Meyer – before julie realised stan was the new english professor, they met at a bar outside of town under fake names and ages. while she’s not aware of stan’s little indescretions, she uses their first encounter as a source of tension between the two. she loves to tease him, playing a game of cat and mouse… if only he realised he is the mouse.

Mary Hawker – despite everything, julie is still just a teenager. while her aspirations for fitting in don’t exactly stem from the want to be seen or popular, she still longs to be understood. mary sees the ‘cool kid’ facade she puts up and it reminds her of when she was younger. they each bring out something dangerous in each other, and julie isn’t particularly fond of mary’s attempt to break through her shell.

David Goode - David is her eldest son. She had him when she was just twenty-one. Her days went from writing articles and spending late nights networking to breastfeeding and changing diapers. It was a substantial change of pace. That was also when she almost simultaneously became Mrs Goode. She loves all her children very very much, and David is a little bit of her crutch. He wants his own space and freedom now instead of a coddling mother, something which Linda is still getting a hold on but she’s slowly getting better at it. Besides their occasional arguments, Linda only has the best intentions towards her son and only wants to see him happy.

Abel Hawker - Ever since the disappearance of Brian Linda has had a lot of guests over or people approach her. No one surprised her mother than Mayor Hawker did. Having him turn up at her doorstep was surprisingly comforting. Linda figured that if he was interested and committed, that means that the whole town will get involved. That aside, she can’t help but feel that he also has an ulterior motive. Something she doesn’t understand or see yet. Who knows what it could be... 

My Burn Book

Hey, well if you’ve made it to this point you’re here to find out exactly who my friend is and who my enemy. Ironically enough, sometimes people can be both. As a disclaimer, I want to dispell all the rumours that I wear black because my soul was taken from me. Nor do I bother with any witchy activities after school, unless you count studying, working or browsing videotapes. Anyway, moving on. Welcome to my connections! Enjoy or go suck a lemon, I don’t care.

Deborah Davies - So, this little girl is a real firecracker. Normally people don’t want to hang out with me because I’m trouble but whatever I say she just looks at me like I’m the most fun person she knows. She’s a good kid and I do actually enjoy hanging out with her. She sometimes seems a little lonely and I know I am too so we make a good team. It’s loads of fun to do whatever we want though and have a tiny partner in crime by my side.

Stan Meyer - Well, it’s common knowledge that the English teacher is a real hottie. With all his airs of mystery and wanting you to get involved in literature like he’s freaking Mark Twain reborn. Though I’m stuck with him every week or whenever I piss someone off. Soooo I see him quite a lot haha. This is because he’s my mentor and he’s trying to keep me on the straight and narrow. We’ll see how long that will last. (He’s actually a really good listener though)

Kevin Shah - Obviously my shallow teenage life isn’t complete without a crush so here comes Kev. His eyes are so dreamy and he’s so cool. I like that he doesn’t give a shit about anyone else. Never mind that Kelly runs the cheerleading squad like a sergeant, I can just see Kev roll his eyes in the corner. So far we haven’t really had much of a chance to talk but one day we will. Until then I’ll just be dreaming of all our long car rides and us making fun of people...

Pete Silverman - If you ever need to know anything about me, then ask this guy. Ever since our years in kindergarten together, he has been the only person that has been there for me. Since those years, we’ve changed quite a bit but we haven’t changed towards each other. We go for long drives together and eat dinners together, laughing at the rest of the world and sometimes at each other. The mushy stuff isn’t really my thing but if there is one person I’d get mushy about it would be this guy. Thanks for always being there for me and you’re most welcome that I call you out on your bullshit haha.

Julie West - The worst person that has ever graced this planet, or at least in this stain of a town called Devils Knot. When I think about her, my eyes permanently are rolling as my lips are curled in disgust. DO NOT GET CLOSE. She might seem all nice on the outside and everyone one lets her do what she wants but I know Julie West. Maybe one day we can talk and make up. When hell freezes over most likely...

Task 1 - Connections

What were you doing last Saturday afternoon?

“Last Saturday? I was in my office, getting some work done for once. I like to go in on the weekends when I can, get set up for the week ahead.” Ken sighed, leaning back against the hard wooden back of the chair. “Aisha hates it, but if I do the grunt of the work on Saturdays I can have all Sunday to hang with her and Josh, if he can make the time. Not to mention with midterms comin’ up, there’s a lot of prep work to do, especially when it comes to organizing the parents. We’ve got Homecoming, the Fall Festivals and various fundraisers, God – you know how busy fall term can be? And every one of the parents has got some say in the matter.” The tired man drew a hand down over his face, seemingly pulling the years along with it. “Look, I know you’ve gotta ask us all these questions, and I really can’t say for sure that anyone saw me at the school, but I swear I was there. Maybe one of the janitors? But they come in real early on weekends and are usually gone by the time I get in.” He let out a humorless chuckle. “More than once I’ve gotten the power shut off on me, poor guys didn’t even know I was in the building.”