#hcevent3

All right, I’m about to get really sappy on y’all. And I just know this is gonna go right to his head, but it’s the truth: 

My hero is Sam. 

He’s only older than me by mere minutes... but he’s the best big brother anyone could ever ask for. By now, most of the school is aware he put himself through a dangerous sort of employment for the sake of getting a roof back over our family’s head. And he kept that hidden from all of us for so many years. Admittedly, when I found out I was kind of upset and annoyed. I mean, I was the family disappointment, through and through, and then I come to find out he was an underaged stripper? And he let me take all the heat I took for some bad decisions I made as a teenager... 

But then I talked to Mom, and Dad, and I got to thinking a lot about it. And yeah, he was an underaged stripper. For the best fucking reasons. He’s the reason we were able to afford a new house. He’s the reason Stevie and Stacie have gotten to spend most of their childhood in a home instead of bouncing from motel to shelter to tent... 

So yeah, I’m definitely still the family disappointment, but Sam’s my hero and I wouldn’t trade him for anything, even when he pisses me off. 

@sammythedominant

I don’t actually really have a favourite. I guess I’ve never found that one book that just speaks to my soul and makes me want to read it over and over... I think I like a lot of books but there isn’t one that I just love, you know? 

I remember getting teased in Kindergarten about my pig tails. One of the boys in my class pulled on them and teased me and called me names, so I punched him. I got in trouble. The teacher told me “Boys will be boys, and you know, the fact that he’s pulling your hair just means he likes you.” I got sent home early and my Dad had to come pick me up, and I thought I was going to be in so much trouble. But instead of taking me home and punishing me, he took me out for ice cream and told me he was proud of me. He said “I’m not proud that you punched him, but I’m proud that you stood up for yourself. Boys don’t have permission to touch you unless you tell them they can. You’re going to use your words next time instead of your fist, but if they don’t listen to your words, then you can use your fist.” I learned two things that day: 

1. It’s okay to say no. 

2. Teachers aren’t always right 100% of the time. 

Oh... so many. I mean, I don’t consider them to be controversial, but apparently most neurotypical people do. So, here’s a brief list of some of the big ones: 

-Don’t leave toast crumbs behind in the butter.  -Kitchen cloths are single use, as in, you clean the kitchen ONCE with them, and then you must wash/sanitize them, don’t hang to dry and use the next day. They are no longer clean.  -If  you lose the match to a sock you have to throw it out.  -Room temperature is 68 degrees, No more, no less.

These are not up for debate. 

What does perfect happiness look like to you?

Are you more of an idealist or a cynic? An optimist or a pessimist?

Imagine it’s New Years Day. What resolutions or expectations do you have for the new year?

If a movie was made about your life, what genre would it be and who would play you?

Which parent do you take after more?

Do you want a second claim?

Who did you most want to be growing up?

If you came back in your next life as an animal, what animal would you be?

Where’s a place you really want to have sex but haven’t yet?

Have you ever hurt someone, even if you didn't mean to? Is there anything you wish you could say to them now?

What are the biggest obstacles in your character’s life?

You are doing intense spring cleaning. What is easy for you to throw out? What is difficult to part with? Why?

What conspiracy theory do you believe wholeheartedly in?

Do you get jealous easily?

Do you have a social cause or charity that you are passionate about? Why?

What is your favorite book? Why? Do you reread it? Does it have a connection in your life?

Who or where would you haunt if you were a ghost? Why?

What Is your most unusual talent?

Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?

Are you more of an idealist or a cynic? An optimist or a pessimist?

Are you a forgiving person? Why or why not and what created that about you?

Where did you grow up? Is this a place you’d go back to now? Or avoid?

Have you ever been bullied or abused? Or have you ever bullied or abused anyone else?

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?

Do you have a social cause or charity that you are passionate about? Why?

What is your favorite book? Why? Do you go back and reread it? Does it have special meaning in your life?

What is your earliest memory?

What Is your most unusual talent?

I wouldn’t really call it a “favourite” book since I haven’t actually finished it, but the book that’s currently most significant in my life is An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. Steven and I had a tradition of listening to a chapter of an audiobook every night before bed. Neither of us were particularly enjoying An Abundance of Katherines, but we kept listening because we liked Looking For Alaska and we thought maybe it’ll get good, eventually. He died before we finished the book though, and since we had an unspoken rule about not listening ahead without the other, I haven’t bothered to finish it. I’ll never know how that book ends, or if it’ll ever get good. 

Nothing so heroic as that, I don’t think. I don’t really consider myself an activist, and admittedly I don’t think I’ve ever even donated to a charity. Not that I wouldn’t, I mean if I found one I really like I’ll definitely consider donating, I guess I just find it hard to get passionate about anything at the moment.