In 1970, my mother's family adopted an intellectually disabled man named Horace. Horace was 56, and had been in an institution since 1921.
My uncle, who was 19, was working as an orderly at the institution where Horace lived. He only stayed a few months as the abuse he witnessed was too much for him. He had become friends with Horace and told him "I'll come back for you."
Horace replied "They all say that."
By that Christmas, Horace lived with my uncle and his family. My grandparents did the official adoption. Horace had never seen a Christmas tree, and that was his first real Christmas.
Horace died in 2010, at the age of 96. He laid down for a nap and just slipped away.
At least two generations of children grew up with him. He felt immortal to us. He loved Hot Wheels, pizza, cartoons and to talk to the portrait of my grandparents as he sat in his rocking chair.
He knew everyone's birthday. He loved unconditionally.
He had scars on his back from the institutions. If you asked him about that place, his face would screw up and he'd say "oh, it was a bad place. Bad place."
And for 40 years, he was safe, loved, and happy. He loved us in return.
No point to sharing this. But I still miss his laugh as he held a conversation with a portrait, whispering about his day to the people who had helped rescue him.
my partner is only 40 but nestled within him is the soul of an elderly man
The motto I live by everyday
It's now safe and warm with some hazelnuts
i think i said this one before but i remember we used to go to church and one day on the way i just out of the blue asked the car "how do we know god is real? what if people just made him up" and the adults all got super mad at me and gave me generic answers like "we just know" and stuff and my ass was fucking CURIOUS so when church started i asked the Sunday School teacher and she was like "well the bible was written about him" or something like that and i was like "but someone wrote Curious George and hes not real, what if someone made him up too" and she was like irritated but was like "he's a talking monkey of course hes not real, children just like fun stories" or something like that and i don't remember exactly what i said but it was something very close to "but adults like stories too! how do you know he's not made up so because adults want to believe in something too?" and she got SUPER mad and i had to apologize in front of the church but i saw an opportunity so i was like "but no one answered me so i still dont know and i guess you guys don't either" and [everyone] got super mad and none of us could go to that church anymore
the adults were okay to go to church again but me and my siblings had sundays off from that point on and that was kind of a catalyst for the way my brother and sister perceived religion
you just got press crow'd. reblog to instantly press crow your friends
Modern!FE14 head canon! The kids are in high school and are apart of the schools underground/black market/or better known as—to keep it on the DL— Overtime.
--Siegbert secretly rules the entire underground of the school. From drugs(Kool aid gummies, quality snacks, weed, nothing ACTUALLY illegal-ish—but is ‘illegal’ in the school), betting on fights/fight club, alcohol, “deeds”, codes to the entire school, is able to change your grades/attendece, blackmail, you get the idea. All answer to him when they want to make a business in the underground. Usually keeps his face covered unless he’s talking with the “Elites” of the underground. Is thinking about choosing the next leader of the underground that isn’t a Junior or Senior. Gets paid handsomely every week. Code name: Golden Ruler.——Shiro is apart of Fight Club and participates in fighting matches and is so far the raining champion while everyone is racing to take his place before his senior year. Is one of the “Elites” of the underground since he’s the champion. Is personally one of the very few ‘Elites’ to see Siegbert’s face and know him personally. He also does ‘personal deeds’ for Siegbert every so often. Code name: Yorozu—— Asugi and Midori are the ‘drug’(-ish) dealers. Asugi sells and makes the candy and so far their are over 300 Kool Aid Gummy addicts in the school and people are try to thwart his Kool Aid Gummy empire. While Midori is actually selling full on drugs; aka weed and homemade drugs that she has no clue what the effects are and uses people as her personal test subjects for the drug. Him and Midori are escorts/retainers for the “Elites” and does their dirty work from time to time. Code names: Maverick and Harmony. —— Caeldori on the other hand is trying to figure out who the leader of the underground is or whoever got blackmail on her and is planning to get her revenge ——Kiragi, Forrest, Percy, Velouria, Selkie, Shigure, and the Kanas are apart of the 80% who don’t even know the underground exists and thinks that this ‘Golden Ruler’ is a rumor or stupid joke. (They eventually find out that it isn’t a joke and they are screwed because of finding out, hence how the story started).——Ignatius and Soleil are Siegbert’s bodyguards and they HAVE to wear masks because if their identities are revealed Siegbert’s might also be revealed. Are considered ‘Elites’ even though they are working for one. Code names: Sun and Moon.——Nina is someone who collects data on a person and gets blackmail. She also does ‘deeds’. Deeds can range from getting a lock combination, getting a teacher password/credit card and the higher the risk the bigger the price and they also can range to ‘personal’ status which happens often but can also dangerous work. Personal deeds are deeds that works like a favor if you do this you get this. It’s a double edged sword. It can range from stealing money, getting revenge on an ex/enemy, protection for a small while, or more actual personal stuff. Occasionally is Golden Ruler’s information collector from time to time. Never once seen his face, but know She is his go to information dealer. Code name: Blank——Ophelia and Hisime know about the underground (a.k.a the basement of the school that just so happens to have a ladder on the outside of the school going down. And that the teachers and principal LITERALLY NEVER USES) and are regulars to it. They get some exclusive stuff you couldn’t get normally. They usual buy some candy or weed, the occasional deed from time to time, sometimes even bets on things/people. — —Sophie found out Underground by accident. Rarely goes out and buys stuff off. Goes to Rhajat or Mitama often.——Rhajat is Sophie’s main. She specializes in curses and is considered one of the ‘Elites’ of the underground due to her powers. She rarely goes out of her way to help/meet Golden Ruler. Code name: Jersey Devil.—— Dwyer and Mitama own a business together and makes sleeping ‘potions’ (it’s just tea that makes you fall asleep. The only reason it’s in the black market is because they can amp up the dosages). Mitama does her occasional readings.—Everyone that goes down into overtime has to have some sort of mask to protect their identity. Just pray to god if the person you want to get revenge/blackmail on isn’t behind one of the counters.