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then told

stanch

Exchange, Missouri, USA

Chapter 12 – A Joint Christmas When I woke up on Christmas Eve morning, my mom offered to fix breakfast for me, even though she and my dad had already eaten. It was comical watching her flutter around the kitchen as she prepared my meal while also getting things ready for the rest of the day. She was also singing along with the Christmas songs that were playing in the background and it even looked as if she was dancing a few times as she did these things. She was definitely in a great m

A great word, not to be confused with meet or meat.

BRTHR Brett's Recipe Took Honors Reaching FIRST

Oscar's mother was totally insensitive to Oscar's problems and conditions.She did not tell her children why Oscar was away and they thought he did not love them anymore. They were very worried. She said it was Oscar's role to tell them why he left. He did not want to relive his painful time. His mother did not even prepare the groundwork with her two children. She seems to not care about Oscar's delicate mental health. Unfortunately, he began to have a panic attack. I assume his grandparents will take him back to their home. His siblings will be even more traumatized. Oscar will likely not want to see his mother and his siblings for a long time. He does not need to have another panic attack. It is up to his mother, an adult not a child, to repair the damage she made.He will need to rely on his grandparents and his friends for support,

And Brad already cut him off once when he refused to seek therapy. Brad can cut him off again. Brad actually forced Princess J to use public transportation! Can you imagine the horror?

Nope. Never have I ever worn eyeliner.

Dissociative Identity Disorder Here's a malady that has often been misunderstood and is one of the most abused troupes in fiction. Often called Multiple Identity Disorder, it is a very rare, misunderstood and often presents itself in unique ways. For years, DID (formerly called Multiple Identity Disorder) has been controversial. Some psychiatrists have denied it exists, and it was used as a dubious and failed criminal defense strategy in high-profile murder cases. DID is extremely rare because it takes a horrendous amount of abuse to trigger it. Any sane person, family member or teacher who witnessed it would blow the whistle - unless they are religious fanatics. Victims are often raised inside cults and subject to abuse of all sorts: physical, emotional, sexual and neglect. DID is a rare response to abuse trauma. Other responses are much more common, and DID is often comorbid with all sorts of other psychiatric maladies. DID is much more common in females than males and the stats are confusing, but most of them look like a 65/35 female/male split. Contrary to fiction, personalities almost always retain the gender of the sufferer. Abuse causes Dissociation, or an emotional detachment. Many people who experience abuse trauma describe this state as "going away". Repeated abuse/trauma can cause this state to extend and form personalities amenable to the abusers. For instance: John Doe is a teen who has been abused in all manner of ways since he was a small child. Four different personalities manifest. Good John is a sweet boy who is compliant and obedient. Good John will obey and do all his chores. He's a people pleaser. Bad John is the angry child who has been suppressed. Bad John understands he's a punching bag and acts out on his anger. Sexy John is compliant with and enthusiastic about sexual abuse. It's easier that way, doesn't hurt as much, and it is over sooner that way. He may trick or lure other children to the abuser. Calculating John is a cold and calculating personality that lies in the background and manipulates things for all the John's benefit. Calculating John is a controlling personality who is distinct from the others. His imperatives are survival oriented. He watches and makes decisions like not antagonizing his abusers. John will appear to be the same person, but one of these personalities will be predominate. Needless to say, if you take on writing a character like this, it can be a wild ride. For instance, if Sexy John is in charge in the middle school locker room, things are going to get interesting. Bad John will be wildly popular with the kids who sneak smokes behind the building, and Good John will be a teacher's pet. Calculating John will blame others for all their misdeeds. DID is the aftermath of a disastrous childhood. Sufferers present from mild to profound symptomatology. You will need to do a lot of research and think through how this character will act and react to situations and which personality will manifest. It makes my head hurt thinking about just how deep a dive it could take. I have only one character who manifests a mild form of DID. It's Joey Ashcraft from the Company. Joey's mother is an alcoholic who stays drunk and eventually became unemployable. Joey became a hustler to bring cash home and evolved a protective personality called Rebel. Where Joey is a sweet little boy, Rebel is loud, brash and aggressive-a survival adaptation. When Rebel was removed from the chaos and provided support, Rebel receded as he was no longer necessary, and Joey became dominate. Rebel is still in there and will emerge if he's threatened, but in his new circumstances where he's safe and secure, Rebel is unnecessary and Joey is dominate. He is under psychiatric care. This was an extremely simplistic example, but about the best I could manage. . For a short example, see: Two for the Price of One

JJ doesn't really care about controlling money or making it as long as the flow of money remains constant.

As welcome as any new chapter from you is @quokka, this one started well. Oscar seems to be doing well, with no recurrence of anxiety attacks or what triggered them before. His friends have rallied around him, and even schoolmate and neighbour Marcus Gresham, despite being in one grade lower, has become a good friend. Oscar learned Marcus' parents had to sell their small vineyard and orchard farm business due to finance issues, but the new owners agreed to let them rent the farm (at an affordable rate), and retain their home so that Marcus will remain in the same school and be a close by neighbour. And surprise (?), Gramps and Gran purchased the Gresham farm and added it to the growing 'Lands Trust' they've been assembling for Oscar's future. Unfortunately, a trip up north to spent a quiet weekend at the family farm, before school starts for Oscar, does not go as planned. When they arrived, Oscar's younger sister and brother, Amara 4 and Deacon 6, rushed to see their big brother who they love and miss dearly, running towards him as he got out of the vehicle. Amara asked, (as only a distressed child can), “Oscar, don’t you love us any more? Why do you not come home more often?” While Deacon asked: “I miss you, Oscar, why can’t you go to school here in Moore?” Oscar, more than a little shocked that his parents perhaps hadn't explained to his younger siblings that he was away at school, glanced over to my approaching mother for an answer. Which turned into a bit of a heated discussion, in front of the younger children, getting worse when Gran suggested it was a bad idea to visit and they should leave, triggering a panic attack in Oscar. (And scaring two little children needlessly). * (to a child, of any age, a 'discussion' can seem more extreme. It's all POV.) What is going on? A few chapters ago, it 'seemed' Oscar's parents were favouring their younger children over Oscar, hence the grandparents making separate plans for Oscar's future (unbeknown to his Mum and Dad). Now it seems Gramps and Gran are being too controlling? Some clarity is desperately needed. For Oscar, his siblings, and everyone else.

@Demiurge especially that one about pumpkins, yeah? That one is like, Really Important. Also, thanks boss. Very kind of you to suggest that anything I've said might be useful in any capacity. I mean, I don't really see it, but who am I to quibble. Besides, does a body a right treat to hear. Or, in this case, read Cheers man, and thanks again - much appreciated.

Yep. Ant had a tough ride too. Had to give him a break.

Hate that we lost Golvinte; but he will be avenged. Hell of a battle, still a little worried about Fonith, they had been torturing her for so long. This group will escape this time, but how many more escapes do they have in them?

Glad Ant's dad was released. That was good news.

Well, an education of what can happen and did happen long ago was gotten by all that witnessed this abomination as he spoke, let us hope the one that was able to take his body back will be okay. Agda is going to have to fight like never before; and they will need to find this counterweight and shut the door; or she may well not survive this battle no matter her prowess. Great chapter.

Okay, just feel this got way more complicated that I would have thought. I really like Nathan, and love that he and his parents don't fib to each other, but that might cause and issue with this one. The ability that Kieran has shown Nathan by healing Rom, what was the issue by the way, will not be something that the PM and his advisor simply dismisses like some others. Excellent chapter.

Professional chef no. Never have I matched my lip liner to my eyeliner.

It’s all about do the positives outweigh the negatives.

Hope the recording goes great. They need some good things to happen for a change.

As we had finished washing down the kayaks, I turned to Marcus. “I have enjoyed today, I would like to ask your folks for permission to come here again soon, if that is alright with them?” I asked, “I think that will be fine, we don’t own the property anymore, we had to sell up because some of Dad’s investments went downhill, thankfully the new owners have allowed us to remain here renting for as long as we need to stay, which my parents want to be till after I have finished high school at least

The soul stones may contain good people from the past it sounds like. And maybe they match the dragon eggs? Gordech can now communicate with them in a spoken language. That is very helpful. Great Cliffhanger with the dead walkers coming into the area they need to cleat the stuck gate mechanism…

They were up again tough odds. They were lucky only one of them was lost.

You know the old saying "loose lips sink ships" and that sum it up!