My take on Steven Universe and how Steven got his big break into the acting world and even got his own TV show on Cartoon Network. This was inspired by a short on YouTube I saw called 'Steven Moves In' you can look up 'Steven Universe shorts and watch the video.
I hope I can keep this going for you guys as much as I can. Anyway. Bye, guys!
Chapter 1: Steven's Big Break.
June 2008.
"Is it on?" a voice asked. A boy nods. The boy had a head of curly black hair, had black eyes, he also wore a salmon pink T-shirt that was too big for him, and cuffed jeans. He has a Band-Aid on his left cheek, he also had no shoes on his feet as he sat next to his father in his van which had both the doors open. the child flashed a smile and a peace sign to his mother.
The woman behind the camera chuckled, and the boy smiled softly at her.
"Come on, Steven, show us what you wrote." his father insisted. Steven took a deep breath strummed the ukulele and sang. Steven has heard stories about her team members and wanted to write a song about them, and him if he was a member of his mother's rebellion so, that was how this song came to be.
"If you're evil and you're on the rise
You can count on the four of us taking you down
'Cause we're good and evil never beats us
We'll win the fight and then go out for pizzas
We are the Crystal Gems
We'll always save the day!
And if you think we can't
We'll always find a way!
That's why the people of this world believe in
Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl and Steven!"
She laughed in amusement then stopped recording and closed the screen to the video camera, Setting it down so she could upload it to YouTube later on her computer. The man, Greg Universe, looks at his wife walks over to their van, picks up Steven, and kisses his cheek. Steven laughed as the woman spun him around. Her husband smiles, grabs her all-white MacBook, takes out the SD card from the camera, plugs it into the computer, and starts editing it for YouTube.
Steven Quartz Universe has a musical talent from his father, Gregory Universe, and the ability to learn faster than other children from his mother, Rose Quartz Universe.
Greg was only twenty-six years old when he and Rose had Steven. And he couldn't be any happier, they knew that they had to tie the knot, so in 2001, they got married in Los Angeles Rose's team — The Crystal Gems were there also for it, Pearl, Rose's friend (And probably crush) was jealous of her that she was getting married to a rockstar and had a baby with Rose in the process the previous year.
Seven years later, they were happily married and very happy with their son, Steven Quartz Universe who was born on August 15, 2000.
Over time though, He wondered why Steven was not aging like the other kids in his grade were. By the age of one, he still looked a few months old. Rose had an idea of why he wasn't aging.
Due to her being a gem, she and the other Crystal Gems don't age. But, no matter what they still loved him no matter what.
Steven looks at his parents.
His mother, Rose Quartz Universe possesses a commanding stature, towering above both her husband and son at an impressive height of approximately eight feet. Her taller and heavier build projects a sense of strength and presence. Her complexion is characterized by pale peach skin that exudes a soft and gentle radiance, complemented by defined pink lips that add a touch of delicacy to her features.
Her mesmerizing appearance is accentuated by bright black eyes that seem to hold a world of depth and mystery within them. Cascading down her shoulders, her long, curly pink hair is meticulously styled in thick ringlets, lending an air of elegance to her overall demeanor. Notably, her unique gemstone is situated where a human navel would typically be found, serving as a distinctive and striking feature that sets her apart.
His father, Greg is a uniquely styled individual, appearing with a slim physique typical of middle-age, yet with a touch of eccentricity in his appearance. His dark-beige beard frames his mouth, contrasting with his taupe hair, which is styled into a mullet cascading down to his waist. Despite his middle-aged plumpness, he maintains a somewhat skinny frame. Notably, Greg sports a full head of hair, adding to the curious juxtaposition of his appearance.
Moreover, he flaunts a tan line gracing his shoulders and feet, hinting at his outdoor ventures. To add a hint of edginess, his look is further accentuated by earring pieces that embellish his overall look with a touch of individuality.
The Video was finished uploading as they went back to their beach house, located in Delaware.
His childhood home. A two-story house elevated on stilts, characteristic of areas prone to flooding or coastal regions. The front of the house is symmetrical, featuring a central door and two windows on each floor. The exterior is painted in white, creating a contrast with the green surroundings of trees and a clear blue sky.
A distinctive feature of the house is its spacious second-story deck, accessible via a staircase from the ground level. This deck wraps around the front and one side of the house, providing ample outdoor space for relaxation or social activities. Beneath the deck, the ground level seems open, likely used for parking or storage purposes, effectively utilizing the house's footprint and offering protection against potential water damage.
They walked inside and Steven smiled and looked around his home.
He looked at a spacious and elegantly designed open-plan living space with a coastal design aesthetic. The room is illuminated by natural light and features a color scheme predominantly consisting of whites and creams, complemented by deep blues and natural wood tones.
In the living area, there is a large, white sofa adorned with stylish throw pillows, creating a cozy and inviting ambiance. Positioned in front of the sofa is a dark wooden coffee table adorned with books and decorative items, adding a touch of sophistication to the space.
Moving towards the left, there is a dining area featuring a simple wooden table surrounded by contemporary chairs, seamlessly connected to the nearby kitchen. The kitchen boasts white cabinetry and a visually striking blue island, topped with elegant white marble, adding a pop of color and a touch of luxury to the room.
Pictures hung on the walls of Greg and Rose's wedding in California, an acoustic guitar that was signed by Chester Bennington - who was the lead singer for one of their favorite bands LINKIN PARK. Three surfboards lined up the wall. A white one with red roses, A large board bright pink one with hibiscus flowers all over the board which was custom-made for Rose, and the smallest one was light blue with a large white stripe going diagonally.
The room is further enhanced by large windows that offer picturesque views of a water body, enhancing the serene coast.
Steven was now playing on his Nintendo DS in the living room, Rose was cooking dinner as her husband helped her. Steven looks up from his game of Mario. Pausing his game and walking to the kitchen. Steven grabs a chair and stands on it watching his mother. Rose looks over her shoulder.
"Looks like you have a little helper." Greg smiled and looked at his son.
"What are you guys making?" Steven asked.
"Where making mozzarella sticks," Rose said Steven's eyes lit up. He loved mozzarella sticks, and the way his parents made them was amazing!
Rose smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Oh, you don't need this anymore," she said, pulling the Band-Aid off his cheek. Steven smiled as he took his finger and felt the soft fuzzy surface, the cut wasn't there anymore.
He was playing at the beach the previous day. He and his friends Lance and Mikey were playing tag and Steven fell on a rock and scraped his cheek a little bit. He went home then got cleaned up, then he was back to playing again. Rose asked him if she could heal his cheek with her spit but he didn't want to. Rose respects his boundaries and wishes, so she doesn't press on.
Rose wondered if he would ever get his gem powers, or maybe it was a possibility that he wouldn't get them at all. But Steven wants to be like his mother and learn about his gem heritage and culture.
Greg grabs the bowl that was filled with the mozzarella sticks and puts them in the fridge to cool them before frying them. He walked to the sink and washed his hands. He dried them, walked to the couch, and picked up his acoustic guitar that was sitting on a guitar stand. He sat on the couch and began to strum it.
Steven and Rose both smiled. Rose loved her husband's playing ever since they met at that concert back in 1987. Steven knew the story of how they met. Then they had him — The light of their lives. Steven Quartz Universe.
When Greg heard his full name for the first time, he started tearing up. It was such a beautiful name for such a beautiful, bright, and intelligent boy. And Steven was very intelligent for Seven years old.
But, he does love doing stuff like most kids do, from going to the skatepark to playing video games. And Steven had an active imagination and loved to play pretend with his parents and friends.
Since it was summer vacation and his birthday was in two months, what he wanted to do was visit California and go to a movie/TV studio. Greg and Rose were unsure of this though — Any concerned parent would. But, they wanted to respect Steven's decision in all of this and be supportive as much as they could throughout his life and moving forward.
An hour passed, and Greg put the cheese sticks in the oven and closed the door. Rose was on her phone texting one of her teammates that she'd fought along the rebellion a long time ago way before she even met Greg. Steven sat on the couch next to her and looked at his mother texting on her iPhone 3G.
"Who are you texting, mom?"
Rose looked from her phone and faced her son. "You remember the Crystal Gems do you?" Rose asks him.
Steven nods.
"They just want to see how I'm doing and if I'm alright."
"Do you still talk to Pearl, Mom?"
"Yes, I still talk to Pearl, Steven." she smiled and kissed her son's cheek.
Steven smiled back. He felt a sense of happiness. Steven then hugs her. Greg pulled out the food from the oven and plated it for the three of them to share. He pulls out the marinara sauce that he'd made, puts it into three individual dipping cups, and puts the sauce inside them. He served it with some Caesar salad and some spaghetti he'd made earlier in the day while Steven was swimming on the beach.
Dishes were put in the dishwasher, Steven was changing into his bathing suit in his room. Rose wore a one-piece swimsuit with a circle in the middle where her gem was exposed. Steven grabbed a towel, walked downstairs, and saw his mother.
Rose and Steven both went outside to the waves and played together.
Greg smiled and walked down the steps of the beach house with his acoustic guitar in his hand. He had his long brown hair tied back in a ponytail. He sat on the sand and played some notes on his guitar as the sun was beginning to set.
Morning approached Greg and Rose were both asleep in their room, Rose woke up and stretched, her pink messy hair falling on her shoulders.
She got up and did her morning stuff. She walks out of her room Rose sees her son playing on his Nintendo GameCube up in his loft bedroom. Steven woke up an hour ago and now he was playing Sonic Heroes.
"Good morning, Steven!" Rose called out to him. Steven paused his game and smiled, he got up from his bed, ran downstairs, and hugged her. Rose smiled and bent down to hug him, Standing at eight feet tall. So he only reached up toward her legs. But he didn't mind it as much. He still had a lot of growing to do.
"You want to go out for breakfast?"
"Yeah, but what about, Dad?"
"We can wait for him."
"Or, you can text him."
Steven nods and pulls out his phone from his pocket then texts him.
Greg walked down the stairs in a black t-shirt and jean shorts. "Let's go, guys! Rose, you can drive." her husband said, tossing the keys toward her. Rose caught them one-handed and they walked out of the beach house, Rose unlocked the van and got into it, and Steven opened the passenger side door and crawled into the back, Rose stuck the key in and they went to Washington to a diner in Delaware.
Steven was reading the menu. Greg was on his phone, Rose looked over his shoulder. "Whatcha doing?" Greg looked at his wife and smiled. "I'm seeing if that video you posted of Steven playing the ukulele got some views."
Rose's eyes widen, that video got ten thousand views overnight! "Steven! look," she said, the seven-year-old looked up at his mother. Rose gave her phone to him and he read the numbers, he looked up with white stars in his pupils as he read the numbers. "Ten. T-Thous-what?!" Steven said in shock and disbelief at what he was reading off her screen.
Rose smiles and nods. "Looks like you are famous my superstar." Rose smiled softly at him, Steven stood up and sat in her lap. Rose felt his warmth and wrapped her arm around his body softly, Steven felt happy at the moment that he saw his video of him playing the ukulele and singing had gone viral on YouTube!
Rose got a text notification, she pulled it out of her shorts pocket and pressed the button to unlock her iPhone 3G.
She sees the lock screen of her iPhone. It features a background showing her, Steven, and her husband. Standing at his car wash The lock screen displays the time as 9:29 AM on Monday, June 17. Notably, there is a text message notification from a contact named "Christopher," Rose read the message content; Can Lucas come over today, or is it a bad time, Mrs. Universe? Additionally, there is a slider at the bottom prompting her to "slide to reply." Rose slid to reply to the message.
"Mom? Who are you texting?"
"You remember your friend, Lucas? his father asked if he could come over."
"Please, mom? can he?" her son begged. Rose giggled and patted his curly hair. "Sure he can, Steven. Your friends are always welcome." Steven smiled as he sat up and hugged his mother's neck. Greg smiled then put a hand on his black fluffy, curly hair
Rose texts him back, saying that he can come over. Steven wanted to jump for joy, but he sat still and kept calm. Rose saw a teen walking up to them, she wore a black apron and her brown hair was in a ponytail.
"Hello, are you ready to order?" she asked with a smile on her face, Steven smiled and looked at her.
"Can I have the chocolate chip pancakes?" he asked. The teen recognized the boy instantly and smiled.
"Hey! I saw the video of your son yesterday after my shift, he's very talented with that ukulele."
"Thank you!" Steven said.
"Thank you so much, miss. He is incredibly talented." Greg smiled
"He is very talented. Who does he get it from?"
"He gets it from me."
"And he picks up things very fast from me." Rose smiled. Steven looks around the restaurant.
"I hope your son gets a job as a singer or an actor one day, you're going places. Say," she knelt to his level.
"What's your name?"
"Steven," he said.
"Well, Steven. I hope to see your face in movies and TV one day, and if you do. Don't forget about who helped you achieve your dreams."
Steven smiles at her. "I won't! what's your name?"
"Pearl."
"Oh, that's funny. I have a friend named Pearl." Rose chuckled.
"That's awesome," she said. "Are you ready to order?"
"We will have the scrambled eggs with bacon and this little guy will have the chocolate chip pancakes," Greg said, passing the menus towards Pearl so she could collect them, Pearl wrote everything down on her notepad, then collected the menus. "Are you okay with water?"
"Do you have a strawberry milkshake?" Rose asked.
Pearl nods. "We do."
"Mom, can I have one too?" Steven asked.
Rose nods. "Okay, what kind? we have chocolate, vanilla, Oreo, and strawberry." Pearl asked him.
"Um, may I have Oreo?" he asked. Pearl smiled and wrote it on her notepad.
"Alright, I will put these in so you guys can get your breakfast." Pearl smiled and walked off.
Rose turned on her phone and she played a game. Greg went on his and dug into his pocket and pulled out a pair of earbuds. He looked at Steven.
"Steven, do you want to listen to some music with me?" Steven nods happily. Greg gave him the left earbud. He grabbed it and he went into his music and played a song. It was called 'All The Small Things' by 'Blink-182, one of their favorite bands. Rose looked at them and wanted to take a picture of them.
Maybe when Pearl comes back with our food I can ask her to take a picture of us.
Rose saw her walk up with their drinks. "Here you go, guys," Pearl said setting down their milkshakes and orange juice. "Thank you, oh, can you take a picture of us?" she asked, pressing the home button and going to the camera app.
"I can," Pearl said, as she took the photo and handed her phone back to Rose. Rose saw them and smiled. "This is so cute. thank you." she smiles.
Pearl nods. "I'll be back with your breakfast," she said walking off. Steven tapped his mom on the arm.
"Mom, can I get down?" Steven asked, pulling the earbud off his ear and letting it hang off from the floor.
Rose nods as she sets Steven off her lap and onto the floor.
The boy walked towards his chair and tried to get on so he could sit, but he was too short and tiny. Rose saw that his son was struggling so she helped him up.
"Thank you," Steven said, Rose smiled and kissed his head.
Just then, A boy and his father walked in, Greg looked at them and smiled
He sees a younger man, with a happy expression. He has short, neatly styled hair and clear skin. He is looking directly at his son. His overall appearance seems clean and well-maintained. Additionally, he is wearing a small earring in one ear, adding a subtle touch of style or personal expression to his look.
The boy standing next to his father is depicted as a cheerful and happy child with dark brown skin. He is wearing a blue short-sleeve T-shirt, blue jeans, and a pair of white Converse sneakers and has shoulder-length dreadlocks.
"Greg, Rose, how are you two!" the man — Christopher, or Cris asked the couple.
"We're good, I'm glad that you came. Greg said, hugging the man. Rose looked at his son.
"Hi, Lucas." she smiled.
"Hi, Rose. you look pretty today."
"Aw, thank you, Lucas." She smiled. he then turned to Steven.
"Hi, Steven!"
"Hi!" he smiled, Lucas went toward him and gave him a high five. "Steven! Where matching!" Lucas smiled, looking at Steven's blue T-shirt which was a little bit too big for him.
Lucas knows that he won't grow normally like other kids, but he doesn't care. They're still friends.
Steven and Lucas both met at school in September two years ago when Steven was in first grade. Lucas had changed schools in Delaware. Steven already had no friends because of the way he looked at others. One boy asked if there was something wrong with him or if he had a disability.
And someone even asked Lucas, in front of him 'Why do you hang out with that baby?' Lucas was so angry at this and wanted to kick him in the leg. But Steven told him to let it go and went to play Pokémon with him on his GameBoy.
"Hey, Steven," Lucas said.
"Hi!" he said happily.
"What's up? we're going to have so much fun together" Lucas said. Steven smiles and hugs his friend. Just then, Pearl walked back to their table with their food.
"Here you go, guys," Pearl said, handing them their breakfast. Steven smiled and unrolled his napkin revealing a fork and knife and eating his pancakes. Christopher smiled and put a hand on his son's head.
"Okay, Lucas. I'm off to work now. Have fun with Steven, your momma will pick you up. I have to work late tonight." he told his son, Locas nods
"Okay, bye Dad!" he said, seeing him walk out of the diner.
Steven, Lucas, Greg, and Rose went to the arcade when they went back and played some games, Lucas and Steven went to ski ball while Greg and Rose were on the racing simulators. The owner of the arcade—Mr. Thomas was pleased to see them having fun. He smiled and watched them, Despite that Greg's wife was an alien. He didn't care he was happy to see a person or alien, having fun.
Mr. Thomas was standing not too far away, attending the prize booth. He appeared to be in his thirties, with short light brown hair. He is wearing a checkered shirt with colors that include red, blue, and white. He also wore blue jeans and Vans on his feet. He also had a welcoming smile on his face.
"Hey, Steven!" Mr. Thomas said walking up towards the boy. Steven smiled and looked at the man.
"Hi, Mr. Thomas," he said. He smiled at the boy and knelt to his level.
"Hello, Steven! I heard that your birthday is in two months, are ya doing anything fun?" Steven wanted to go to LA for his birthday and meet his mom's friends who also lived there. He was excited for his birthday. He was turning eight years old. He loved his birthday a lot, hopefully, this one will be special for him. Steven smiled and continued to play ski ball with Lucas. They hoped they would never separate.
Steven was now in his bedroom, it was ten o'clock PM, and he was playing Super Mario Sunshine. Rose walked upstairs to his loft bedroom. Steven looks at his mom, she wearing her Mr. Universe T-shirt and long pants. "Hey, mom," he said, still playing.
"Hi, Steven," she said, the boy smiled, Rose sat on the bed, Steven paused the game and hugged her, feeling the warmth of his mother could put him to sleep. Steven yawned as he hugged her tighter, Rose smiled and kissed his forehead. "Goodnight, Steven."She whispers, covering him up with the white puffy comforter.
Rose walked downstairs and into her and Greg's room. Greg was on his laptop. His wife walked to her side of the bed and went in, he looked at her and smiled lovingly at her. "I love you, Rose."
"I love you too, Greg," she said, kissing her husband on the cheek. Greg smiled, closed his laptop, and put it beside him. Rose got comfortable and they both went to sleep.
A/N: Hi guys! I hope you all enjoyed this fanfic as much as I did. I love making stuff like this. I thought of a Steven Universe Actors AU for a while now. I started writing this three days to come up with, I hope you guys review this it'll mean a lot to me if you do.

Apologies for any formatting issues, I'm writing on mobile. After years of applying for jobs at a company I really want to work for, I was extended an offer and accepted.
Pre onboarding goes smoothly, and I was not concerned about the background check since I've never had an issue. The primary goal of this background check is to verify that everything listed on the candidate's resume is correct and verifiable.
I used a resume builder to create my resume for this role and heavily highlighted my experience as it was extremely relevant. The recruiter was sure I'd be a shoe in as I have some very specific experience dealing with very specific challenges this team is working through. The team is expanding and they are hiring several people for the role.
To make my relevant experience stand out, I switched the resume template at the very last minute to something super minimal to keep the recruiter focused on skills and experience. I was so busy double/triple checking experience bullet points that I did not realize the adjusted format had folded some education details.
The resume I submitted lists my education at the very bottom of the page and looks like 'BS Psychology, X University, years I attended"
The problem is that I did not graduate with a bachelor's. I completed 85% of the required coursework and my resume usually defines this period as "BS Psychology Program, X University, years I attended"
I didn't notice the change and removal of word "program" - what a dumb reason to miss out on a great opportunity.
Fast forward to a week after the background check is submitted and I get an email asking me to provide a copy of my diploma from X University. I clarified that I did not have one (the job does not require one) and that I always list my education exactly how it appears on my transcripts. Which is true in both scenarios whether or not I include the "program" identifier. Some additional context to my graduation status is that I only attended that program for 3 years.
I'm not sure how much authority this team has in making the final decision. I spoke with the original recruiter and explained, and they said I should write an email and explain everything exactly as I did on the phone. That I added the program details exactly how they appear on my transcript. They have a few days to make their final decision.
What I want to avoid is sounding like I have issues paying attention to detail. And I also don't want to seem like I was intentionally vague to imply I had a degree and now I'm backpedaling since they've called me out.
Does anyone have advice? Or been through something similar?

[To clarify the title, a Shoot Schedule is a common term in Commercials production here in Toronto. It is what TV-Film productions call a Call Sheet. They are essentially the same thing, summarizing the schedule of a single shoot day into printable pdf.]
First time Airtable user, deeply impressed at the potential.
I'm building out a short film production base and exploring the various templates available for video production; I've found this one to be the most comprehensive. They all have very good organization and useful forms.
However, I need to create a *printable* Call Sheet that can I can pull in various views and arrange them in the order needed. This is a typical film production callsheet:
https://preview.redd.it/xs9dhc8wu62d1.png?width=622&format=png&auto=webp&s=55e42447872afbd175f3c9d4c6f2f3659f11fcc9
As you can see its an arrangement of tables, ie views in airtable.
I'm unclear how to assemble a form? interface? like this in Airtable. There is a PageDesigner extension but it refuses to work in chrome (installs but unresponsive when loaded).
The interface section in the airtable ribbon seems to be where I'd create a Call Sheet, but no success yet.
I feel I'm missing a fundamental airtable workflow concept here, but I can't put my finger on it.
Any help?

It was the brisk night of mid-October when a group of friends and I were told about a haunt attraction about twenty minutes away from our college campus. I personally wasn’t a huge fan of these types of things because they always felt off to me. I mean what person decides to make money and fame off of making bloody and horrific scenes to traumatize people with? But after all of my friends unanimously decided to go, I knew I would end up there anyways.
There were six of us that went. Myself, my roommates Conner and Mike, and three of our other friends Jennie, Cassie, and Claire. We all sort of hung out these past few years and became close. My roommates had a tendency to act like morons most of the time, and Jennie and Cassie just encouraged them in return. But Claire was always my go-to out of our group. She was considerate, happy, and not bad looking either. Unfortunately most of our school thought so too, so I knew the farthest I would get was the friendzone.
We all piled into Conner’s van and made the trip to a place called “Victor Sinister’s Carnival Of Screams”. It was pretty far out into the countryside, about a solid 10 minutes away from any civilization. We pulled up into a gravel lot that was fenced off by metal poles with caution tape connecting them. There were maybe ten cars at most, which made it odd that an attraction this close to halloween would be desolate on a friday night. We just wrote it off as being small so nobody had likely heard of it.
We approached a ramshackle entrance gate with a crusty and rotting sign that read “ADMISSION $9” which seemed fairly cheap for an attraction like this. We all approached the booth by the gate and were welcomed by a dirty and foul man who likely was homeless before this gig. He took our cash and walked into a backroom but never came back with our change. Since it was just a dollar, we figured we would cut our losses and proceed.
The path ahead of us was a dark and twisted path into the woods, where we could see lights blinking up ahead behind some trees. Mike and Conner played around with Jennie and Cassie, screaming and jumping out at them while they pretended to be scared. Claire walked up beside me and bumped my shoulder. “Are you scared?” she asked me, with a sarcastic smile. “Oh yea, absolutely terrified!” I responded in my own sarcastic tone while laughing. Claire walked with me while we watched the other four mess around on our walk to the lights, which we could now see was a circus tent surrounded by wooden shacks.
“My Dad would always take me to these kinds of things when I was younger.” Claire told me. I knew her relationship with her father wasn’t a good one. The details were foggy but I recall a lot of abuse and neglect was involved. I hated it for her because she was such a soft and tender person who couldn’t hurt a fly. “Did you like them? Like was it something you enjoyed doing?” I asked her. She stayed silent for a moment with only the screams of our friends being heard. “Not really. Dad always brought me along with his friends because he thought it was funny to watch me be scared.” Claire explained. I held my head down and apologized for bringing up a sore subject. She just giggled and told me it was fine.
We approached the circus tent when a large clown mannequin that sat in a booth shot a green substance from its mouth and splattered all over Mike and Jennie. Mike laughed but Jennie didn’t see the humor of being covered in fake vomit. She almost started to cry when Mike reminded her that it was just fake slime you could buy at the store, and it would wash out. We walked under the archway of the tent to enter, all while Jennie wiped her hair out of the gooey substance.
Inside was a bunch of stacked up cages with various props and animals inside of them. Loud music played hauntingly in the background as we walked through the dark room. The first disturbing scene was a young actress, maybe in her twenties, was locked in one of the cages with her hands bound to the wall. She had realistic wounds and blood covering her town hoodie and jeans. She called out for help over and over but we trudged onward to avoid the awkwardness of the situation. Conner and Cassie remained silent but Mike and Jennie haggled the woman and tried instigating a reaction but to know avail, only more cries for help.
The next scene we entered was a room with three corridors in it. Before we could analyze the path ahead, an actor in full clown makeup jumped out and laughed. “Which way? Which way? Which way, indeed! Pick a hall and have a ball! Two of you young ones per path, lets go, lets go! Don’t make it last!” the clown shouted and pointed all around. We agreed to split into groups of two and proceed. Claire chose to go with me which boosted my confidence tenfold. The other four wandered down their paths laughing and screaming.
Our path led to an outdoor area where witch-like actors and actresses were having a seance of some sort. They all stopped simultaneously and turned to face Claire and I who stopped dead in our tracks. They rose to their feet and grabbed Claire's arm gently while they guided her to the middle of the circle they were sitting around. They all then chanted something over and over while she stood there giggling at what was about to happen. Suddenly they all grabbed something from their pockets and threw them at Claire. She screamed in a panic and bolted towards me while the coven of witches laughed. It turns out they threw live spiders at her, which is one of her biggest phobias. As she ran and grabbed onto my arm, one of the witches approached us and before we could react, jammed a spider in Claire’s mouth.
She screamed much louder than before and spit the spider out while gagging. I shouted at the actress who was now fleeing the scene and into the woods. I turned around to see Claire was throwing up where we stood. I ran to check on her, ll while dodging the spots of bile around me. “Claire! Are you okay? Did it bite you?” I asked in a panic. “No…I don’t think so. What the heck kind of person does that?!” she said in a disgusted and weak voice. I consoled her as we noticed a doorway light up that seemed to lead back into the main tent.
This room was an odd one. There was a straw dummy spinning on a big target on a stage. A skeleton in a barkers outfit sat up via a rope that hoisted the drop to a standing position. “Come one, come all! Hit the dummy square in the head to open up the hall!” said a speaker that sat by the prop skeleton. A bucket of axes and knives was then lit up in front of us. I looked at Claire, and we both shrugged and approached the bucket. Grabbing the first knife, I threw it at the dummy only for it to bounce off. “You have to throw it like you mean it, stupid!” Claire heckled. “Oh, by all means, web breath!” I instigated, while handing her an ax. I guess it was still too soon because she just shot me a piercing gaze and clutched a knife.
She quickly threw it fast as a bullet and the knife sunk into the dummy’s chest. She turned to me and made a mocking smile. I smiled back at her, at least happy that she was happy. We waited for the door to open, but nothing happened. “Wait, it has to be a headshot! Chest shots don’t count.” Claire said in a determined voice. She approached the bucket once again and prepared to fire. With a well aimed shot, she hit the dummy in the leg as it continued to spin. The spot in the chest began to leak a red substance which we presumed to be a poorly put together mixture to imitate blood. Claire huffed as her determination began to dwindle.
“Having trouble? Here’s some help! Now on the double!” the intercom chanted. A small box fell from the catwalk above, and landed on the ground. It was a single revolver, with what looked like only one shot in the chamber. Claire and I exchanged looks, and without hesitation, we both turned our eyes to the dummy. I grabbed the gun and point it at where I knew the dummy’s head would be once it rotated. Claire shouted for me to fire nearly ten times before I finally pulled the trigger. I was shocked to find out it was a real gun that, to my surprise, fired a real shot. Aside from how dangerous that was, we both noticed where the head of the dummy used to be. “Nice shot! But I think it was a little extra to put that much fake blood into a dummy. That stuff got on my shoes!” Claire shouted.
I looked over to see the doorway was now lit. Claire and I walked over to it as we passed by the now stationary target with the dummy on it. We both audibly grunted as the smell of whatever they filled it with passed through the air. One thing that stood out to us that made us feel uneasy was the only people we had passed or even seen were now walking past us in the corridor, but they didn’t look like they were up for conversation. They seemed worried and on edge, making a point to bolt right by without even making eye contact. We shrugged it off as just people being scared and entered the last room.
Inside we found Cassie crying on the floor, covered in blood and bruises. We ran over to her and knelt down. “Cas! What’s wrong, where is everyone?” Claire asked in a worried tone. Cassie turned to us with wide eyes and looked shocked to see us. She was crying hysterically, and neither of us could understand her for a brief moment. “This place…it isn’t a show, it’s real. I saw them! They took Conner and Jennie!” she said in between breaths. I looked over at Claire as we helped Cassie to her feet. She cried out in pain as we raised her up. She had a broken leg, we could see the bone sticking out.
“Cassie, who did this to you?!” I asked in a panic. She looked past me and screamed. A large figure emerged from a cage that was freshly open, and bolted into the darkness at the other side of the room. “That, that thing did!” Cassie yelled. I turned to look at my surroundings. There were more cages stacked around us, each with different nameplates on them. Most of the cages were tiny and held small creatures in them, but several were large, and could easily fit a human. One cage read “Harry The Hare” which was smashed to pieces with it’s resident nowhere in sight, another read “Sally Snake”. The one we saw open read “Abe The Ape”, and it was now empty.
Cassie cried in a panic as she looked around for the beast. Just then, Mike knocked over a wall and light flooded into the room. He was visibly hurt and limping. “Guys we have to get out of here, this pla-“ he said as he was cut off abruptly. Mike was ya is by his ankles into the dark corner Abe resided in. We all winced and Cassie cried as we stayed silent out of fear. First we heard Mike screaming, and then the screaming stopped instantly. The noise that followed was an awful, meaty crunching noise that sounded horrific.
We all took this opportunity to make a run for the now open exit, courtesy of Mike. As we passed his last location, we the beast’s glowing eyes peer up at us from his meal. We didn’t hesitate to keep running. The room we ended up in was a flashy and colorful room. Polka dots and stripes lined the dirty cloth walls of the tent. The room filled with clowns of all shapes and sizes. But the ones that concerned us were the ones dressed in doctors outfits and surgical clothing. A female nurse with clown makeup approached our group, who stood at the ready to fight if we needed to.
“Oh dear! Honey, you look hurt! Let’s get you patched right up!” the nurse said in a sinister tone. “Back off! Get out of our way you sick freaks!” I shouted at her. Claire and I were holding up Cassie due to her injuries, but we felt Cassie get yanked back by a group of clowns who threw her onto a nearby table. She cried out in pain as they removed her bloody and torn clothes and replaced them with a dirty hospital gown. I wanted to intervene but I couldn’t bring myself to leave Clair alone, not after what I was witnessing happen to Cassie.
“We’re losing the patient!” said a tall clown, now reaching for something in his bag. Cassie screamed and kicked at her assailants but it did nothing. “We’ll have to amputate, boss!” A short clown said to the nurse. A nurse pulled shot the clowns a twisted smile as Cassie flailed even harder, knowing what was about to happen. The clowns then all grabbed her arms and legs and pulled in different directions.
We watched in horror as the event played out. First we heard the crunches, and then we heard the tears. Finally, we saw Cassie's limbs give way like a wishbone. Claire screamed, but I was just left speechless. Cassie tried to scream too, but she couldn’t muster a sound. The killing blow came from the nurse, who pulled out a large mallet with the word “FLATLINER” written across it. She brought the hammer down and reduced our friend's head to nothing but paste.
The clowns turned their twisted gaze over to us, and we knew if we didn’t act fast, we were dead. Claire backed up, she had tears swelling in her eyes as she whispered “please..no..no…” over and over again. I backed up as well, but my foot met a large canister of gasoline. Thinking faster than I ever have before, I grabbed the can and dumped the contents all over the ground. All I needed now was an ignition source, which I found by an exposed wire dangling by Claire’s head. Upon contact, the whole floor lit up like a bomb, and I turned to Claire and shouted for us to run.
We ran back through all of our previous rooms, before finally reaching the outdoor area that the witches were at. I grabbed Claire and told her to run into the woods and not to stop until she finds help. She begged me to come with her but I knew I could distract them long enough for her to escape. Reluctantly she ran towards the tree’s, but as she set foot into the circle on the ground that the coven had drawn, she fell to her knees.
She screamed in pain, it was a sound that made me shake. The cry grew louder and louder until I saw the witches emerge from behind her. They whispered something under their breath as I charged the nearest one and pummeled them to the floor. I grabbed the witch and beat relentlessly until I noticed none of the others were coming to her aid. “What did you do to her?!” I shouted, raising my fist again to strike her bloodied face. She just laid there, cackling and coughing.
I heard Claire stop screaming, as a nightmare of sequences played out. First, laid on her back coughing and gagging. Then, thousands of yellow, and red glowing spiders poured out of Claire's mouth. They had thorax’s that resembled balloons or even the circus tent itself. They crawled around the ground surrounding Claire who was now motionless on the dirt symbol.
I ran over while the coven was distracted by the tiny spiders and scooped Claire from the floor. I had tears swelling in my eyes from the thought of my now possibly dead best friend. But not letting my feelings take over, I looked into the treeline and ran. I didn’t stop for nearly three miles when I saw the light of a gas station in the distance. I heard the laughs of the circus echoing through the woods and cornfields as I ran towards the light.
When I arrived, I was relieved to find regular patrons instead of more “actors”. I called for an ambulance and the police. I tried to explain everything to them before they went to investigate. I opted to ride in the ambulance with Claire to the hospital, and to my greatest relief, she showed signs of life, and eventually came to. She had countless bites all over the inside of her body, and an odd toxin within her that caused her to hallucinate for a while, but over time it faded away.
The police called me around three or four hours after they left to investigate and asked me to go to the station to talk about what was found. When I got there, I was immediately asked to identify three bodies that had been found. I shuddered at thinking of my friend's demise, but knew I was the only person capable of identifying them right now.
The first was a body that seemed like it had been put through a wood chipper. Bones were gnawed and chewed on, some limbs even removed entirely. I knew that this had to be Mike. The next was a torso covered mostly by a blanket. Judging by the horrific carnage that had unfolded hours prior, I knew this was what was left of Cassie. Finally, a body was shown that seemed mostly intact, but lacked a head. It was as if it had been blown off by a cannonball. I didn’t recognise the body at first but when I was told this body was found strapped to a large wooden target…I didn’t want to dwell on what had truly happened.
The police told me that Jennie had actually been found alive. When they arrived, she was chained into a cage with a dirty clown outfit on and poorly drawn face paint. She was in no mood to speak to anybody and was traumatized beyond words. I couldn’t blame her, if she witnessed half of what we had witnessed, then that would be enough.
Claire eventually recovered after about a week. When we left the hospital, she never left my side. As of writing this, it’s been four years since that night, and Claire and I are now engaged. I’m only writing this now because I’ve been seeing more than one post or account discuss the very situation we went through. They all describe a circus in a desolate area that had frighteningly real sets and scenarios. One account even reported that a friend of theirs had gotten lost, and was yet to be found. I almost wanted to tell them what likely had happened, but I wish I had the luxury of being naive to this situation myself.
Let this memoir be a warning to all of you. Don’t trust places or things that appear to be fake. You would be surprised at how often evil disguises itself as more evil.

It was the brisk night of mid-October when a group of friends and I were told about a haunt attraction about twenty minutes away from our college campus. I personally wasn’t a huge fan of these types of things because they always felt off to me. I mean what person decides to make money and fame off of making bloody and horrific scenes to traumatize people with? But after all of my friends unanimously decided to go, I knew I would end up there anyways.
There were six of us that went. Myself, my roommates Conner and Mike, and three of our other friends Jennie, Cassie, and Claire. We all sort of hung out these past few years and became close. My roommates had a tendency to act like morons most of the time, and Jennie and Cassie just encouraged them in return. But Claire was always my go-to out of our group. She was considerate, happy, and not bad looking either. Unfortunately most of our school thought so too, so I knew the farthest I would get was the friendzone.
We all piled into Conner’s van and made the trip to a place called “Victor Sinister’s Carnival Of Screams”. It was pretty far out into the countryside, about a solid 10 minutes away from any civilization. We pulled up into a gravel lot that was fenced off by metal poles with caution tape connecting them. There were maybe ten cars at most, which made it odd that an attraction this close to halloween would be desolate on a friday night. We just wrote it off as being small so nobody had likely heard of it.
We approached a ramshackle entrance gate with a crusty and rotting sign that read “ADMISSION $9” which seemed fairly cheap for an attraction like this. We all approached the booth by the gate and were welcomed by a dirty and foul man who likely was homeless before this gig. He took our cash and walked into a backroom but never came back with our change. Since it was just a dollar, we figured we would cut our losses and proceed.
The path ahead of us was a dark and twisted path into the woods, where we could see lights blinking up ahead behind some trees. Mike and Conner played around with Jennie and Cassie, screaming and jumping out at them while they pretended to be scared. Claire walked up beside me and bumped my shoulder. “Are you scared?” she asked me, with a sarcastic smile. “Oh yea, absolutely terrified!” I responded in my own sarcastic tone while laughing. Claire walked with me while we watched the other four mess around on our walk to the lights, which we could now see was a circus tent surrounded by wooden shacks.
“My Dad would always take me to these kinds of things when I was younger.” Claire told me. I knew her relationship with her father wasn’t a good one. The details were foggy but I recall a lot of abuse and neglect was involved. I hated it for her because she was such a soft and tender person who couldn’t hurt a fly. “Did you like them? Like was it something you enjoyed doing?” I asked her. She stayed silent for a moment with only the screams of our friends being heard. “Not really. Dad always brought me along with his friends because he thought it was funny to watch me be scared.” Claire explained. I held my head down and apologized for bringing up a sore subject. She just giggled and told me it was fine.
We approached the circus tent when a large clown mannequin that sat in a booth shot a green substance from its mouth and splattered all over Mike and Jennie. Mike laughed but Jennie didn’t see the humor of being covered in fake vomit. She almost started to cry when Mike reminded her that it was just fake slime you could buy at the store, and it would wash out. We walked under the archway of the tent to enter, all while Jennie wiped her hair out of the gooey substance.
Inside was a bunch of stacked up cages with various props and animals inside of them. Loud music played hauntingly in the background as we walked through the dark room. The first disturbing scene was a young actress, maybe in her twenties, was locked in one of the cages with her hands bound to the wall. She had realistic wounds and blood covering her town hoodie and jeans. She called out for help over and over but we trudged onward to avoid the awkwardness of the situation. Conner and Cassie remained silent but Mike and Jennie haggled the woman and tried instigating a reaction but to know avail, only more cries for help.
The next scene we entered was a room with three corridors in it. Before we could analyze the path ahead, an actor in full clown makeup jumped out and laughed. “Which way? Which way? Which way, indeed! Pick a hall and have a ball! Two of you young ones per path, lets go, lets go! Don’t make it last!” the clown shouted and pointed all around. We agreed to split into groups of two and proceed. Claire chose to go with me which boosted my confidence tenfold. The other four wandered down their paths laughing and screaming.
Our path led to an outdoor area where witch-like actors and actresses were having a seance of some sort. They all stopped simultaneously and turned to face Claire and I who stopped dead in our tracks. They rose to their feet and grabbed Claire's arm gently while they guided her to the middle of the circle they were sitting around. They all then chanted something over and over while she stood there giggling at what was about to happen. Suddenly they all grabbed something from their pockets and threw them at Claire. She screamed in a panic and bolted towards me while the coven of witches laughed. It turns out they threw live spiders at her, which is one of her biggest phobias. As she ran and grabbed onto my arm, one of the witches approached us and before we could react, jammed a spider in Claire’s mouth.
She screamed much louder than before and spit the spider out while gagging. I shouted at the actress who was now fleeing the scene and into the woods. I turned around to see Claire was throwing up where we stood. I ran to check on her, ll while dodging the spots of bile around me. “Claire! Are you okay? Did it bite you?” I asked in a panic. “No…I don’t think so. What the heck kind of person does that?!” she said in a disgusted and weak voice. I consoled her as we noticed a doorway light up that seemed to lead back into the main tent.
This room was an odd one. There was a straw dummy spinning on a big target on a stage. A skeleton in a barkers outfit sat up via a rope that hoisted the drop to a standing position. “Come one, come all! Hit the dummy square in the head to open up the hall!” said a speaker that sat by the prop skeleton. A bucket of axes and knives was then lit up in front of us. I looked at Claire, and we both shrugged and approached the bucket. Grabbing the first knife, I threw it at the dummy only for it to bounce off. “You have to throw it like you mean it, stupid!” Claire heckled. “Oh, by all means, web breath!” I instigated, while handing her an ax. I guess it was still too soon because she just shot me a piercing gaze and clutched a knife.
She quickly threw it fast as a bullet and the knife sunk into the dummy’s chest. She turned to me and made a mocking smile. I smiled back at her, at least happy that she was happy. We waited for the door to open, but nothing happened. “Wait, it has to be a headshot! Chest shots don’t count.” Claire said in a determined voice. She approached the bucket once again and prepared to fire. With a well aimed shot, she hit the dummy in the leg as it continued to spin. The spot in the chest began to leak a red substance which we presumed to be a poorly put together mixture to imitate blood. Claire huffed as her determination began to dwindle.
“Having trouble? Here’s some help! Now on the double!” the intercom chanted. A small box fell from the catwalk above, and landed on the ground. It was a single revolver, with what looked like only one shot in the chamber. Claire and I exchanged looks, and without hesitation, we both turned our eyes to the dummy. I grabbed the gun and point it at where I knew the dummy’s head would be once it rotated. Claire shouted for me to fire nearly ten times before I finally pulled the trigger. I was shocked to find out it was a real gun that, to my surprise, fired a real shot. Aside from how dangerous that was, we both noticed where the head of the dummy used to be. “Nice shot! But I think it was a little extra to put that much fake blood into a dummy. That stuff got on my shoes!” Claire shouted.
I looked over to see the doorway was now lit. Claire and I walked over to it as we passed by the now stationary target with the dummy on it. We both audibly grunted as the smell of whatever they filled it with passed through the air. One thing that stood out to us that made us feel uneasy was the only people we had passed or even seen were now walking past us in the corridor, but they didn’t look like they were up for conversation. They seemed worried and on edge, making a point to bolt right by without even making eye contact. We shrugged it off as just people being scared and entered the last room.
Inside we found Cassie crying on the floor, covered in blood and bruises. We ran over to her and knelt down. “Cas! What’s wrong, where is everyone?” Claire asked in a worried tone. Cassie turned to us with wide eyes and looked shocked to see us. She was crying hysterically, and neither of us could understand her for a brief moment. “This place…it isn’t a show, it’s real. I saw them! They took Conner and Jennie!” she said in between breaths. I looked over at Claire as we helped Cassie to her feet. She cried out in pain as we raised her up. She had a broken leg, we could see the bone sticking out.
“Cassie, who did this to you?!” I asked in a panic. She looked past me and screamed. A large figure emerged from a cage that was freshly open, and bolted into the darkness at the other side of the room. “That, that thing did!” Cassie yelled. I turned to look at my surroundings. There were more cages stacked around us, each with different nameplates on them. Most of the cages were tiny and held small creatures in them, but several were large, and could easily fit a human. One cage read “Harry The Hare” which was smashed to pieces with it’s resident nowhere in sight, another read “Sally Snake”. The one we saw open read “Abe The Ape”, and it was now empty.
Cassie cried in a panic as she looked around for the beast. Just then, Mike knocked over a wall and light flooded into the room. He was visibly hurt and limping. “Guys we have to get out of here, this pla-“ he said as he was cut off abruptly. Mike was ya is by his ankles into the dark corner Abe resided in. We all winced and Cassie cried as we stayed silent out of fear. First we heard Mike screaming, and then the screaming stopped instantly. The noise that followed was an awful, meaty crunching noise that sounded horrific.
We all took this opportunity to make a run for the now open exit, courtesy of Mike. As we passed his last location, we the beast’s glowing eyes peer up at us from his meal. We didn’t hesitate to keep running. The room we ended up in was a flashy and colorful room. Polka dots and stripes lined the dirty cloth walls of the tent. The room filled with clowns of all shapes and sizes. But the ones that concerned us were the ones dressed in doctors outfits and surgical clothing. A female nurse with clown makeup approached our group, who stood at the ready to fight if we needed to.
“Oh dear! Honey, you look hurt! Let’s get you patched right up!” the nurse said in a sinister tone. “Back off! Get out of our way you sick freaks!” I shouted at her. Claire and I were holding up Cassie due to her injuries, but we felt Cassie get yanked back by a group of clowns who threw her onto a nearby table. She cried out in pain as they removed her bloody and torn clothes and replaced them with a dirty hospital gown. I wanted to intervene but I couldn’t bring myself to leave Clair alone, not after what I was witnessing happen to Cassie.
“We’re losing the patient!” said a tall clown, now reaching for something in his bag. Cassie screamed and kicked at her assailants but it did nothing. “We’ll have to amputate, boss!” A short clown said to the nurse. A nurse pulled shot the clowns a twisted smile as Cassie flailed even harder, knowing what was about to happen. The clowns then all grabbed her arms and legs and pulled in different directions.
We watched in horror as the event played out. First we heard the crunches, and then we heard the tears. Finally, we saw Cassie's limbs give way like a wishbone. Claire screamed, but I was just left speechless. Cassie tried to scream too, but she couldn’t muster a sound. The killing blow came from the nurse, who pulled out a large mallet with the word “FLATLINER” written across it. She brought the hammer down and reduced our friend's head to nothing but paste.
The clowns turned their twisted gaze over to us, and we knew if we didn’t act fast, we were dead. Claire backed up, she had tears swelling in her eyes as she whispered “please..no..no…” over and over again. I backed up as well, but my foot met a large canister of gasoline. Thinking faster than I ever have before, I grabbed the can and dumped the contents all over the ground. All I needed now was an ignition source, which I found by an exposed wire dangling by Claire’s head. Upon contact, the whole floor lit up like a bomb, and I turned to Claire and shouted for us to run.
We ran back through all of our previous rooms, before finally reaching the outdoor area that the witches were at. I grabbed Claire and told her to run into the woods and not to stop until she finds help. She begged me to come with her but I knew I could distract them long enough for her to escape. Reluctantly she ran towards the tree’s, but as she set foot into the circle on the ground that the coven had drawn, she fell to her knees.
She screamed in pain, it was a sound that made me shake. The cry grew louder and louder until I saw the witches emerge from behind her. They whispered something under their breath as I charged the nearest one and pummeled them to the floor. I grabbed the witch and beat relentlessly until I noticed none of the others were coming to her aid. “What did you do to her?!” I shouted, raising my fist again to strike her bloodied face. She just laid there, cackling and coughing.
I heard Claire stop screaming, as a nightmare of sequences played out. First, laid on her back coughing and gagging. Then, thousands of yellow, and red glowing spiders poured out of Claire's mouth. They had thorax’s that resembled balloons or even the circus tent itself. They crawled around the ground surrounding Claire who was now motionless on the dirt symbol.
I ran over while the coven was distracted by the tiny spiders and scooped Claire from the floor. I had tears swelling in my eyes from the thought of my now possibly dead best friend. But not letting my feelings take over, I looked into the treeline and ran. I didn’t stop for nearly three miles when I saw the light of a gas station in the distance. I heard the laughs of the circus echoing through the woods and cornfields as I ran towards the light.
When I arrived, I was relieved to find regular patrons instead of more “actors”. I called for an ambulance and the police. I tried to explain everything to them before they went to investigate. I opted to ride in the ambulance with Claire to the hospital, and to my greatest relief, she showed signs of life, and eventually came to. She had countless bites all over the inside of her body, and an odd toxin within her that caused her to hallucinate for a while, but over time it faded away.
The police called me around three or four hours after they left to investigate and asked me to go to the station to talk about what was found. When I got there, I was immediately asked to identify three bodies that had been found. I shuddered at thinking of my friend's demise, but knew I was the only person capable of identifying them right now.
The first was a body that seemed like it had been put through a wood chipper. Bones were gnawed and chewed on, some limbs even removed entirely. I knew that this had to be Mike. The next was a torso covered mostly by a blanket. Judging by the horrific carnage that had unfolded hours prior, I knew this was what was left of Cassie. Finally, a body was shown that seemed mostly intact, but lacked a head. It was as if it had been blown off by a cannonball. I didn’t recognise the body at first but when I was told this body was found strapped to a large wooden target…I didn’t want to dwell on what had truly happened.
The police told me that Jennie had actually been found alive. When they arrived, she was chained into a cage with a dirty clown outfit on and poorly drawn face paint. She was in no mood to speak to anybody and was traumatized beyond words. I couldn’t blame her, if she witnessed half of what we had witnessed, then that would be enough.
Claire eventually recovered after about a week. When we left the hospital, she never left my side. As of writing this, it’s been four years since that night, and Claire and I are now engaged. I’m only writing this now because I’ve been seeing more than one post or account discuss the very situation we went through. They all describe a circus in a desolate area that had frighteningly real sets and scenarios. One account even reported that a friend of theirs had gotten lost, and was yet to be found. I almost wanted to tell them what likely had happened, but I wish I had the luxury of being naive to this situation myself.
Let this memoir be a warning to all of you. Don’t trust places or things that appear to be fake. You would be surprised at how often evil disguises itself as more evil.

Hello all, I have a question regarding shoes in Italy or maybe other countries in the south/south east area of Europe. Specifically interested in northern Italy though.
Were red shoes, like red leather shoes a common thing anywhere? Or maybe (painted?) wooden shoes? Is there culture significance? I am talking about shoes for common folk, not just for the wealthy.
I have found something about red leather shoes from Florence in the 16th century, but I find it very hard to find out more about this topic.
Any information would be appreciated.

The sun was high in the sky, watching the busy Streets of Aguris curiously. A couple wisps of white decorated the light blue sky, and a gentle breeze greeted a wooden sign board hanging outside a shop. It swung lazily in the breeze, on its surface was a carving of a thread and needle. Occasionally someone would walk in or out, but the traffic in this store was quite low.
"Hey, wait stop! Fuck, if you're gonna be that pushy. . . Hey, don't touch there!" a voice slipped out from the store as a customer left. The interior was brightly colored, and rows of clothes greeted the customers as they came in. At the back the store's floor was raised and a larger mirror could be found along with a desk where a worker stood. To the left sat a line of changing rooms, each had a curtain to hide the customer as they changed. One of those rooms had a violently shaking curtain.
"Come on, just take those off and try this." Another voice leaked out.
"Hey wait, stop pushing and huh stoooop!" Skarlet exclaimed as she stumbled out of the changing room, she wasn't wearing much. Through the fumble and bumble they'd managed to get her down to her panties and bra, this wasn't a super big deal. It was a girl's store and the likelihood of a guy walking in was low. Skarlet frowned at the person who walked out, Amethyst, her new friend. Skarlet looked a bit pitiful as she sat on the ground covering herself and glaring at the girl in front of her.
"If you're gonna be so pushy I'll just do it myself, just stay out of my changing room!" Skarlet grumbled in annoyance. Amethyst's tail was wagging and she was practically oozing excited puppy dog energy. But it sank as Skarlet said that, her ears dropped and she stepped aside.
"Sorry."
"Dummy." Another voice spoke up, Aiko was standing nearby with her arms crossed. She was wearing short black shorts and a sleeveless black shirt with a long scarf that was pulled back so both ends rested around the base of her tail. She had thick black boots with golden buckles and fingerless gloves, and the way she was standing made her seem like some kinda punk. The continued black from her shorts and shirt was broken by a brown belt that held two short swords on either side of her waist.
Amethyst was dressed in a short skirt that was bright red like a cherry and a white shirt with a color splash design, or maybe she just got carried away with some paint at some point. Her shirt had long sleeves but one was bunched up, she also wore a belt with a magic bag on it for money and stuff. She had a necklace around her neck with a purple gem in it. She was also wearing loose shoes meant for running and activities.
Skarlet sighed as she got to her feet and stepped into the changing room.
"I know what you're gonna say, but come on she's looking so cute!" Amethyst exclaimed while looking at Aiko, the cat girl just let out a sigh and looked away. "What, are you jealous, you're not pouting cause I'm not fussing over you right?" Amethyst asked as she got closer. The rustling sound of Skarlet changing faded into the background, Amethyst slipped up next to Aiko and blew a little air into her ear. A shiver ran through her as a small blush appeared. Aiko snapped her attention to Amethyst, who was smiling coyly at her as she stepped away. "You're cute Aiko." As she finished saying that the curtain blew out as Skarlet reappeared, she was frowning deeply.
"You're making fun of me aren't you!" Skarlet accused them as her face was a mix of embarrassment and anger. She was dressed in a short pink skirt with multiple layered frills, tall white socks and a shirt with ruffled sleeves. There was even a bow on her shoes. "I'm not a kid you stupid mutt!" Amethyst burst out laughing.
"I'm sorry, just you're so small I thought you'd fit clothes from the kids section, hehe. You look so cute though!! Ahh, hey why don't you try this next!" Amethyst thrust her another outfit and hurried her back into the changing room. Skarlet was stuttering and stumbling over her words as she tried to protest, but it was futile.
"You're a bully." Aiko spoke again looking at Amethyst, the girl in question looked back at Aiko.
"Maaaaaybe, but I only bully those I like. Besides doesn't she just feel like a little sis? I wanna spoil her, won't you let me indulge a little?" Amethyst asked. Aiko sighed again, but didn't comment. "Thanks bestie!" Amethyst exclaimed happily, moments later Skarlet stepped out again and she looked furious. She was wearing a one piece white dress with pink trim and a bow on the collar. Amethyst ran over and circled around Skarlet with a smile before messing with her hair. "If you ask me to put my hair up in tails I'm going to stab you."
"Woah, um heh, I wasn't thinking about it at all, promise ya. Hey um why not try this on." Amethyst seemed slightly taken aback by Skarlet's blatant hostility so she quickly grabbed an outfit from the women's section, but Skarlet seemed more interested in Aiko. Aiko was taller than Skarlet but also had the same petite build. Seeing this Amethyst smiled and grabbed Aiko's hand and dragged her into the changing room.
"Amethyyyyyst!" there was an exclamation, a look of pleading directed towards Skarlet then she was gone. Skarlet smirked in satisfaction, but then a realization came up. I'm having fun. . . She frowned with a bit of worry. I shouldn't be here, this is wrong, I don't deserve it. She wasn't truly angry, and her aggressive stance was more her trying to hide her happiness. Mostly due to fear. But this reminded her that things were changing a bit around here, not with the people native to Aguris. There were newcomers, like Cody and this group, Aiko and Amethyst. They didn't know about her and treated her with kindness. She had half a desire to relish that feeling, and another half to run from it.
Her line of thinking struggled to continue as Amethyst reappeared to show off Aiko now dressed as a Gothic maid, a black and white color scheme with lots of bows, frills, and a headband. Skarlet burst out laughing and Aiko glared at Amethyst, who just smiled happily while admiring her work. Aiko promptly turned around and tried to escape but Amethyst snatched her hand and pulled her closer.
"Awe don't be like that, call me Master please! I wanna hear it." Amethyst was in full blown happy dog mode. Tail running at a hundred miles an hour as she stared expectantly at Aiko. who hesitated, trying to not look at her friend's eyes. But she couldn't help it and soon was defeated by those pleading puppy dog eyes. Aiko looked down and began fidgeting with her dress before finally she opened her mouth.
"M-master." Aiko mumbled with a blush, and Amethyst immediately hugged her and started patting her head. "Good girl!" Aiko's tail shot straight up from that and she struggled from Amethyst's grasp. Skarlet was quiet though, she was staring with surprise at Aiko. Damn, that was unexpectedly really cute. Skarlet couldn't stop the smile as Aiko eventually slipped away and bolted into the changing room.
She came back out wearing her usual gear, after they finished teasing, they ended up helping Skarlet pick some proper outfits. This all started because they decided to visit her place, and apparently Amethyst loved to design outfits and was greatly disappointed by Skarlet's lack of a wardrobe.
Skarlet tried to protest but was promptly dragged around town to various clothing stores, she was aware that she was getting close to these two but couldn't stop it. She was afraid though, scared of how her curse would affect them. After they finished shopping they started the walk home. Amethyst and Aiko were quite close, Skarlet noticed this while hanging out. As they walked home, the energetic dog girl was hanging off of Aiko eagerly chatting her up. Aiko rarely spoke but Amethyst seemed to be able to almost read her mind, they conversed even if one didn't speak.
On the way home they passed the market and Amethyst dragged the group over to an outdoor restaurant. Plopping down on one of the chairs, Skarlet followed, at some point she decided to stop thinking about it so much and just go with it. So she was absent-mindedly following them.
"Say ahhh." Skarlet stared at Amethyst as she tried to feed Skarlet. "Awe no fun." Amethyst pouted as she realized Skarlet wasn't gonna go with it. So she turned to Aiko. "Ahhh" she repeated, Aiko sighed again for the upteenth time that day and opened her mouth. Amethyst was overjoyed and plopped a piece of meat in her mouth. Aiko chewed it as she eyed Amethyst from the side. "See it's good, this place makes the best meat!" she exclaimed, Skarlet was enjoying watching them interact as she casually ate her own food.
Skarlet closed her bedroom door, leaned against it and sighed, I've done it now, there's no way this will end well. I don't wanna hurt more people, I'm scared. She was conflicted due to her newfound closeness to them which made her feel good and her belief that she didn't deserve to feel these things. That coupled with her belief in the rumors about her, the bad luck charm. I'll only harm them in the end. I'm taking advantage of them at this point. She thought cynically as she plopped onto her bed.
Author note: I realized that I needed to find a way to force Skarlet to form relationships. This led to the creation of Aiko and Amethyst, a duo who form an interest in Skarlet as the only other Lithian adventurer in town. Amethyst being a massive extrovert and Skarlet being an Introvert, it made a good pairing I think. Also Aiko and Amethyst might be a couple lol that happened while writing, I wasn't planning or thinking about it. Just kinda happened.

** ALL WEEKEND (FRI 5/24 - MON 5/27) *\*
High Desert Cluster Memorial Day Weekend Show Expo New Mexico, 300 San Pedro Dr. NE Join the High Desert Cluster for new traditions with an ALL INDOOR show on Memorial Day weekend. Conformation will continue in the Lujan Complex Halls A&B and expand to the Creative Arts Center instead of The Farm and Youth Hall. Obedience and Rally will continue in the Horse Arena. 4 All Breed Shows with NOHS and Juniors. 2 Toy Group Shows. Many Breed Specialties. Coming as a spectator? Here's what you need to know. Entry is free and parking is $10. The event is held in the Lujan Complex, Creative Arts Center and Horse Arena. Shows start each day at 8am and end with awarding that day's best in show or high in trial. Want to know when your favorite breeds show? Download the judging program. We also have a great lineup of vendors with products for show dogs and family pets. For human and dog safety, please keep unentered dogs and strollers at home. They will NOT be allowed in the buildings. Of course, ADA qualified service dogs and miniature horses are welcome. Learn more about dog show etiquette
** FRI 5/24 - SUN 5/26 (3 DAYS) *\*
Graduation Tea Snapdragon Tea, 115 Harvard Dr. SE Our Graduation Tea is the perfect way to celebrate the ending of one of life's chapters and the beginning of another! We welcome kids of all ages, and provide children’s menus upon request. Special gluten free/vegan/vegetarian menus available upon request. Reservations are required. Tea party cost is $18.50 for the children's menu and $34.95 for the full 3-course tea party
Sabaku Con 2024 Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North, 5151 San Francisco Rd. NE Don't miss Albuquerque's largest and longest-running anime, gaming, and cosplay convention!
** SAT 5/25 - MON 5/27 (3 DAYS) *\*
12 - 6 PM New Mexico Wine Festival Balloon Fiesta Park, 5600 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy NE The New Mexico Wine Festival at Balloon Fiesta Park is an annual Memorial Day weekend tradition, with over 200 wines from New Mexico's top wineries, great food, art, and live local music, what's not to love. We welcome you to wander in the wine garden with us and enjoy the beautiful New Mexico sunshine (tickets)
**BOTH SAT 5/25 AND SUN 5/26 *\*
Sat 9 AM – 5 PM and Sun 10 AM - 4 PM Brick Fest Live Rio Rancho Events Center, 3001 Civic Center Cir NE, Rio Rancho Looking for a fun event for the whole family? With hands-on activities, life-size models, and celebrities, Brick Fest Live is the #1 event for BRICK lovers of all ages. Your family will have a blast building memories together while engaging in creative play (tickets)
12 - 6 PM Bear Fest 2024 Boxing Bear Brewing, 8420 Firestone Ln. NE FREE ADMISSION: In honor of our 10th Anniversary. Cheers to 10 years! Beer samples, music, craft vendors, food trucks. 21+ (click link for full music lineup and list of vendors)
1 - 2:30 PM THE LOVELESS - award winning director Kathryn Bigelow & iconic actor Willem Dafoe's feature debut! The Guild Cinema, 3405 Central Ave NE Check out the trailer. Dir. Kathryn Bigelow & Monty Montgomery - 1981 - 82m. AS PART OF OUR ONGOING ARTHOUSE CLASSICS & FAVES SERIES! The feature debut of both its star, Willem Dafoe (TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA), and its directors, Monty Montgomery (producer, David Lynch's WILD AT HEART) and future Academy Award-winner Kathryn Bigelow (NEAR DARK). A motorcycle gang roars into a small southern town en route to the Daytona races, unnerving and angering the locals with their standoffish attitude and disrespect for social niceties. When gang member Vance (Dafoe), hooks up with sportscar-driving Telena, he incurs the wrath of the girl's father, setting the gang on a collision course with the rest of the town as simmering tensions boil over into violent retribution. Raw, angry and honest, THE LOVELESS is fully restored by Arrow Films and ready to roar into theaters (tickets)
** Fri 5/24 *\*
Fri 1 – 11 PM Steph Ramirez Benefit Night Unhinged Brewing, 251 98th St. NW, Ste F For those of you who have been our patrons since our very early days a little over a year ago you may remember Steph's smile and charisma lighting up the room as she worked the taproom. We've been missing her for a while now as she's been fighting a stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis since late 2023. Unhinged Brewing will be holding a "Steph Ramirez Benefit Night", donating $1 for every beer sold all day to help with the financial burden of her treatment. We're really looking forward to having her out, having drinks, listening to good music, and sharing in the memories. Come out and have a beer! Catch RND Band performing live from 7-9 pm
Fri 5 PM Key Lime Pie Gose Release Tractor Brewing, All Locations We're celebrating Tractor Beer Week right with an all new sour we've never released before! Come try the new Key Lime Pie Gose made with real lime and graham crackers!
Fri 5 – 10 PM Sour Hour with Rowley Farmhouse Ales Tractor Brewing - Wells Park, 1800 4th St. NW Come quench that sour palette with a little taste from Rowley Farmhouse Ales for our first event to kick off Tractor Beer Week 2024. They'll be showcasing some of their favs, while we will be showcasing one of our very own sours as well. Grab a flight of four sours that will keep your mouth watering! Or just grab a goblet on one! Or both!
Fri 6 PM Variety Social Dance CSP Dance Studios, 1624 Eubank Blvd. NE Dive into the joy of dance among friends who inspire! For just $10 cash at the door, you'll have the opportunity to sample and practice social dancing a variety of dances including ballroom, latin, country, swing and line dancing. This is your invitation to try something new, meet like-minded individuals, and social dance in a welcoming, supportive environment. The night kicks off with a welcome lesson from 6:00-6:30pm, making it ideal for beginners or anyone to meet new people before the dance floor opens up. Step into a night of dance, discovery, and community. CSP welcomes you!
Fri 6 – 8:30 PM Sol De La Noche Live El Vado ABQ, 2500 Central Ave SW Prepare for an electrifying evening as we proudly present Sol De La Noche! Live music is back with a bang, and this week's performance promises to be a fusion of Latin, R&B, and Hip Hop that will have you dancing all night long. Get ready to be swept away by the infectious rhythms and soulful melodies of Sol De La Noche as they take the stage and ignite the atmosphere with their dynamic blend of musical styles. Indulge your taste buds with a delectable selection of culinary delights from our diverse food pods, offering everything from savory Latin flavors to mouthwatering desserts. And don't forget to quench your thirst with a refreshing craft beer from Ponderosa Brewing Company, available at the El Vado Tap Room. Let's create memories together under the starlit sky!
Fri 7 – 9 PM SIP FLOR // A Night of Local Art + Great Tastes Lapis Room, 303 Romero St. NW Let's shake our tail feathers! This is an intimate gathering with limited tickets available. Must be 21+ to attend. Live music by Lara Manzanares. Artist demo by Thomas Christopher Haag. Culinary bites by Honey Bee Kitchen
Fri 8 PM Salsa Night with Calle 66 Juno, 1501 1st St. NW Dance to Live Salsa with Calle 66, featuring Jackie Zamora with DJ Henry (Salsa, Bachata) on the new indoor stage. 21+. $10 at the door or presales online. VIP reserved seating available thru Eventbrite
Fri 8 – 10 PM Beer & Jazz: Tractor Beer Week Edition Tractor Brewing - Wells Park, 1800 4th St. NW We're doubling down with Sour Hour at 5pm and then jazz tunes. We'll have very special beers on tap as well as our Key Lime Pie Gose and then one of the best Jazz groups NM has to offer with Swing Magique at 8pm
Fri 8 PM – 1 AM Hot Club Time Machine Sister, 407 Central Ave NW Warm grooves, hot wax, and dancefloor magic. DJs Tech Rider and Trans Europe Caress at the helm of musical vessel. Trains, planes, and automobiles! We're really going places! Let the Hot Club Time Machine move your body through time and space on a dancing odyssey with engines powered by boogie, house, disco, ebm, synthpop, and funk from all eras and kingdoms. The ticket is free so don't hesitate! Hop on board as we fly above the clouds and trip the light fantastic!
Fri 9 PM - 12 AM Benefit Show Fundraiser for Tony Chavez Fighting Cancer Backstage at Revel, 4720 Alexander Blvd. NE Shawn Brooks, Daniel Solis, and Sal Vigil, 21+, $10 cover
Fri 9 PM – 2 AM Rewind Video Dance Party 80s/90s/2K Effex, 420 Central Ave Rewind Returns! All your favorite music videos from the 80s vs 90s vs 2000s on 7 large screens. Expect to hear music from Madonna / Kesha / Spice Girls / Madonna / Britney / Black Eyed Peas / Depeche Mode / TLC / Lady Gaga / Eurythmics / Nysnc / Nelly / Back Street Boys...and all of your other favorite hits
Fri 9:30 PM The 30 & UP R & B Experience Bama's 1865, 6001 Osuna Rd. NE Vegas Resident & Bash Town Touring DJ SupaJames will be our special guest. Tables and VIP Sections are limited... get them now 505-269-3301
** Sat 5/25 *\*
Sat 8 AM – 12 PM Downtown Growers' Market Robinson Park, 810 Copper Ave NW Every Saturday from 8 am - NOON! This vibrant community event connects local farmers, growers, artisans, wellness makers, and hot food vendors with the local community from mid-April to early-November. Bring friends / family or come solo to enjoy fresh food made on sight, a variety of seasonal produce, unique arts and crafts, live music, and special programming all in the heart of downtown
Sat 9 AM Viva Vino Run Casa Vieja, 4541 Corrales Rd, Corrales This 21-and-older event is one you won't want to miss! Casa Vieja Brewery in the Village of Corrales sets the stage for this flat and fast 5K. Each participant will receive an event t-shirt, a participant medal, a commemorative Viva Vino wine glass, and a serving of wine at Casa Vieja. So lace up those running and walking shoes and register now! (The start of the race is south of the Wells Fargo on West La Entrada Rd. Please stay on the side of the road or parking lot until the race director directs you to the start)
Sat 9 AM Unity Explorers at Plaza Bianca Unity Spiritual Center, 9800 Candelaria Rd. NE Unity Explorers Hike: A rare opportunity to hike in Plaza Blanca, inspiration for some of Georgia O’Keefe’s most famous paintings! Located 20 miles from Ghost Ranch this 2.8 mile hike is rated as “easy”. The canyon is on the grounds of Dar al Islam Monastery. One can only enter it with a permit, which we have! After the hike we may visit the Mosque as they love to have guests! We will meet at Unity and then carpool up to the hike, about a 2 hour drive. Bring a trail lunch, sturdy hiking shoes or boots, sunscreen as there is little to no shade and plenty of water
Sat 9 – 10 AM U.S.S. Bullhead Memorial Clean Up! 1606 San Pedro Dr. SE Trash bags and gloves will be provided to you at the 9AM check-in; please meet me in the parking lot. I also have 4 extra litter pick up sticks to loan for the hour so be there early to grab yours! Please remind your family and friends not to litter!
Sat 9 – 11 AM Memorial Day Grave Cleanup San Carlos Cemetery, Alameda and Edith Please join us in cleaning our fallen brothers’ & sisters’ graves. We will also honor them by placing new U.S. Flags on their graves. Please RSVP “going” for a breakfast burrito
Sat 9 AM – 1 PM Summer at the ATC Street Fair Alvarado Transit Center, 100 1st St. SW You're invited to attend a series of events the last Saturday in the Summer of 2024. We will have music, education, non-profits, local vendors, food and drinks! Saturdays - May 25 - June 29 - July 27 - August 31. Park for FREE at the 1st and Gold Parking structure, a QR code will be provided at the event to waive the parking fee. Take a stroll through our Street Fair, then head to the Saturday Farmer's Market at Robinson Park. We are so excited to provide another way to revitalize our downtown area and provide ways to enjoy your weekend!
Sat 9 AM – 3 PM 8th Annual Fundraiser Ride & Chili Cookoff Indian Motorcycle, 4509 Alameda Blvd. NE 8th Annual Fundraiser Ride & Chili Cookoff with 100% proceeds going to families of veterans killed in motorcycle accidents. $20 registration fee for riders & $10 for passengers. Register at Indian Motorcycle of Albuquerque Day of event. $20 registration fee per pot of chili. $10 All you can eat tasting – includes (1) vote; additional votes $5 per ticket. Raffle prizes!
Sat 10 AM Flamenco Para Todos New Mexico Veterans Memorial, 1100 Louisiana Blvd. SE Get ready for our student showing! Join us for a showcase featuring the incredible talents of our students from the Conservatory of Flamenco Arts at the National Institute of Flamenco, alongside students from Flamenco in Your Neighborhood Classes across Albuquerque! Come witness the culmination of their dedication and artistry!
Sat 10 AM Seed Bomb Craft! Corrales Community Library, 84 W. La Entrada, Corrales Join us for this free craft event!
Sat 10:30 AM – 4 PM Garfield Fest Flix Brewhouse, 3200 La Orilla Rd. NW Enjoy photo ops, freebies, an in-theater giveaway, and activities for the whole family. All ages are welcome!
Sat 11 AM Cannabis Farmers Market Mama and the Girls Dispensary, 915 Yale Blvd. SE Connect with Local Growers: Meet the passionate and knowledgeable cannabis growers in our community. Engage in conversations, learn about cultivation techniques, and gain insights into the art of the cannabis business. Support Small Businesses: By attending our farmer's market, you are directly supporting local small-scale cannabis producers. Embrace the opportunity to contribute to the growth of our local economy and the sustainability of our community. Admission is free, must be 21+ (or 18+ w/med card). Support local growers, discover premium cannabis products, and celebrate the vibrant cannabis community at our Farmer's Market. See you there!
Sat 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Morning Toons New Mexico Entertainment, 2408 Hendola Dr. NE New Mexico Entertainment is back with its Summer event, Morning Toons. Grab your pajamas and blanket, and participate in this Saturday morning event with your family and friends. Come out to watch old-school cartoons from your childhood on the big screen. Cereal is included with your ticket! So kick back, have some breakfast, and enjoy the toons! Your ticket includes admission and breakfast. Morning Toons is a LIMITED seat event
Sat 12 – 4 PM Mimosa BRUNCH Saturdays Oak & Ivy, 3109 Central Ave NE Every Saturday from noon till 4p we are here to provide your two favorite Saturday afternoon things to do.... Brunch and drink Champagne! $25 bucket specials and table shareable items
Sat 12 – 5 PM Live Music with Lani Nash & Adoption Event Noisy Water Winery, 301 Romero St. Come hang out for great music and meet your new best friend from Cross My Paws Animal Rescue!
Sat 12 – 11 PM Ciderday Night Fever Tractor Brewing, 122 Tulane Dr. SE We're featuring some of our amazing delicious ciders in flights and of course in goblets for you goblins. Then at 8pm DJ Wae Fonkey will be laying down some disco on the ones and twos to get your apple tree shaking!
Sat 2 – 6 PM Birds of a Feather Parrot Rescue Fundraiser Juno, 1501 1st St. NW Fundraising event for Birds of a Feather Parrot Rescue. Live music by Ross Brothers Band. Visit with the birds and volunteers. Raffles. Portion of all drink sales goes to the organization. Families welcome
Sat 6 – 8 PM KUNM Dance Party feat. DJ Aimie Jane! Smith Plaza in front of Zimmerman Library on the UNM Campus We'll be broadcasting to the headphones in front of the Library, so you can hang out there or go up the hill to the Cornell mall or hang out on the grass at the duck pond. This is a great place to skate, skate board, bike, etc. (but please be aware of your surroundings when headphones are on...). there is cover across the plaza with the Humanities and Language arts buildings so we will be jamming even if we have some weather! Plenty of nice places to throw a blanket down or sit at a table and enjoy some food with friends and family as well! *DJ Aimie Jane will be spinning live on Smith Plaza via Channel one! * Channels two and three will have special mixes created by KUNM's amazing DJs! Normally, we would use this as a fundraiser for KUNM but the station's and University bylaws make it tricky for us to do that, but if you feel like pitching in to pay our fabulous mixer, DJ Aimie Jane, we will gladly accept anything you want to give!
Sat 6 – 9 PM Gone Country Saturdays with DJ Gonzo Supreme Ponderosa Brewing, 1761 Bellamah Ave NW The fun starts with free dance lessons at 5 pm, followed by family-friendly entertainment until 9 pm. Come and join us for an evening of music, dancing, and good vibes!
Sat 7 PM Zia's Birthday Show! OutPost 1706 Brewhouse, 2034 S. Plaza St. NW Join us to celebrate Zia's birthday and catch some of the finest in entertainment including Helena Handbasket from Chicagoland! You will not want to miss this party because we will have raffles, contest games, and of course, plenty of delicious beverages available! Featuring Kardio and Karmelita Karbdashian, La Lorena, Gabby Oh!, Zia Sandia, Helena Handbasket, Vitani Williams, Cookie, Ruthifer, and Ale Bruja. Doors 7p, show 8p, 21+ (tickets)
Sat 7 – 9 PM Drag Queen Bingo: Pride Edition Tractor Brewing - Wells Park, 1800 4th St. NW It's back again and just in time for Tractor Beer Week and the start of NM Pride! Join us for a special Pride-themed night of sexy fun and bingo that will benefit our BBB non-profit Elevated Roller Derby! Hosted by the always hilarious Lady Hawk, come party with the best Queens in Albuquerque and win some prizes while you're at it
Sat 7 – 9 PM Sesh N' Flow at the Bside! Los Ranchos Bakery, 6920 4th St. NW, Los Ranchos Canna-Yoga Sesh N' Flow! Bring your mat and a friend and join us for a chill sesh and fun yoga flow! Please BYOB (no canna items for sale... and there's always plenty to go around) Limited space available, get your tickets early! Ticket link has further details
Sat 7 – 10 PM "Soccer Salutes Service" & Paws and Stripes Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park, 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE Paws and Stripes are hosting a fundraiser by selling tickets for the match. Tickers are priced under $25, with $5 of every ticket sold being donated directly to Paws and Stripes! Please consider purchasing your tickets through this link and supporting Paws and Stripes. Your support makes impacts possible for Veterans and service dogs. Saving Lives, Two At A Time
Sat 7 – 11 PM Rawk Out Brew Lab 101, 3301 Southern Blvd SE, Rio Rancho Rawk Out takes over the Brewlab with our Hard Rawkin covers paying tribute to the best of the best
Sat 8 PM Cumbia Night with El Gozao Juno, 1501 1st St. NW Cumbia dance party with high-energy band El Gozao. Crowd-pleasing favorites, including hits by Selena. DJ Double OG will keep you dancing between sets. On the Outdoor stage. 21+ (tickets)
Sat 8 PM – 1:30 AM Frikitona: A Reggaeton Experience Backstage at Revel, 4720 Alexander Blvd. NE Prepare for an evening filled with pulsating rhythms and infectious beats spun by renowned DJs Julio, Shatta, & Soiree. Join us as we transform Backstage into the ultimate reggaeton playground, where you can lose yourself in the music and embrace the vibrant energy of the crowd (tickets)
Sat 8:30 PM – 1 AM SABOR Latin Night - SATURDAYS Bama's 1865, 6007 Osuna Rd. NE DJ Gabriel Goza & DJ Pedro will be serving you the saucy Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia, Merengue y Mas! Ample Parking, Safe Environment, Beautiful Venue, Good Food, Good Music, Good Vibes. 21+ / $10 cover
Sat 9 PM Sugar: The Nu Metal Party Launchpad, 618 Central Ave A Nu Kind of 90's / 00's DJ Night. Doors 9pm Show 930pm. All ages (tickets)
** Sun 5/26 *\*
Sun 10 - 11 AM Yoga & Tea Lost Cultures Tea Bar, 1761 Bellamah Ave NW, Ste C EVERY SUNDAY. It's a special space where you can release what no longer serves you and rejuvenate your soul. Join us for a truly enriching experience. The first 3 Sunday's will be with @ yoga.birch and the last Sunday of the month will be with @ curvaceousmermaidgoddess. $25 per person. 1 drink from the menu included (tickets)
Sun 10 AM – 2 PM Indigenous Peoples Day Rail Yards Market, 777 1st St. SW Celebrate all things Indigenous at the Rail Yards Market (Tiwa land). New Mexico is home to 19 Pueblos, according to the Pueblo beliefs and actions are still guided by Pueblo Core Values, which include love, respect, compassion, faith, understanding, spirituality, balance, peace, and empathy. Celebrations and ceremonies are continued throughout the year, maintaining the connection to Pueblo communities, ancestors, and to the Earth. (Source: Indian Pueblo Cultural Center). New Mexico is a place of rich and painful history, where Indigenous cultures have resiliently thrived. Indigenous people implemented innovative and sustainable agricultural practices that have been utilized for centuries in New Mexico. The Rail Yards Market is proud to host many talented Indigenous vendors, and work with strong community partners, like New Mexico Community Capital, Native Health Initiative, and more. You can look forward to finding community tables by the Office of Equity and Inclusion - Native American Affairs, Americans for Indian Opportunity, and Indigenous Women Rising! A'he'hee means Thank-you in Navajo! Everyone is welcome! EBT doubled with Double-Up-Food-Bucks. Senior and WIC programs welcome. Fresh local produce! Breakfast & lunch prepared food options. Handmade Art. ADA Accessible. Free Parking. FREE :: LOCAL :: FAMILY FRIENDLY :: PET FRIENDLY
Sun 11 AM – 4 PM May Shop Small Sunday Sunday Service Motor Co, 2701 4th St. NW This month we teamed up with some truly rad shops to bring you the best ABQ has to offer. Stop in for local vendors, crafts, live music, food and drink!
Sun 11 AM – 5 PM Sunday Funday ABQ Food Park, 6951 San Antonio Dr. NE Bring the entire family for an unforgettable day filled with games, a bounce house, and face painting! There's something exciting for everyone, so gather your loved ones and join in on the fun! Challenge each other to lively games, bounce around in the inflatable wonderland of our bounce house, and enjoy our face painting station with Local Locas Face Painting. It's the perfect way to spend quality time together and make lasting memories
Sun 11:30 AM Twilight Historic Lobo Theater, 3013 Central Ave NE THE HISTORIC LOBO THEATER is excited to bring Twilight to the big screen! Showing Starts at 11:30 am Tickets are ONLY $10 for General Admission $25 Brunch and a Movie Ticket $21 Brunch Only ticket
Sun 3:30 – 6:30 PM Clark Andrew Libbey and Dave Barclay Casa Rondeña Winery, 733 Chavez Rd NW, Los Ranchos Come on out to the lovely Casa Rondena Winery for an afternoon of acoustic guitar and accordion with Clark Andrew Libbey and Dave Barclay
Sun 5 PM Lag B'omer BBQ Party Chabad of New Mexico, 4000 San Pedro Dr. NE Get ready to fire up your taste buds with a BBQ dinner in honor of Lag B'omer! Burgers, hot dogs, chicken wings, coleslaw, potato salad, drinks, jumping castle for the children! (tickets)
Sun 6 – 11:55 PM Nob Hill Cruise for Tattoos Albuquerque Ink Tattoo, 4815 Central Ave NE AND 2820 Central Ave Cruise from shop to shop on Route 66 every Sunday and receive discounts at both locations

Discussion Prompts:

1. Dickens paints a portrait of a country is ruins as a result of the revolution. Is this a necessary evil for revolution to succeed?
   
2. What did you think of the shaggy haired arsonist and his wooden shoes?
   
3. Darnay's family chateau is burned to the ground by the revolutionaries. How do you feel about that?
   
4. The police are asked to help but refuse to do so. Why do you think this is?
   
5. What did you think of the symbolism of a lighted candle in the widow of the village houses?
   
6. Anything else to discuss?
   

Links:
Project Gutenberg
Standard eBook
Librivox Audiobook
Last Line:

The altitude of the gallows that would turn to water and quench it, no functionary, by any stretch of mathematics, was able to calculate successfully.

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“Flesh and blood.”
“Are they tied up?”
“Yes.”
“Is the video stream secured?”
“Father. Please just trust me. It’s been over a year and all I’ve been doing is obsessing over it. Everything is set up exactly how it should be. Go get mother and we can start okay? I’ll make sure nothing happens down here.”
“It's always safe to be safe.” He smiled and walked up the stairs to get her, closing the reinforced basement door behind him. There are three of them this time and they even tracked down last year’s failure so it’s a sacrifice for each of us; a sign from god and this is my chance to prove myself to him. I’ve watched before but never thought I’d get to be a part of their sacrament. I remember the first time they allowed me to be a witness to it. It was my baptism and I was convinced it was a dream. I never felt more confused in my entire life and It took weeks before I built the courage to discuss it with them. “Why did you do that to Tony? Why did you cut him so many times?” They would always say that they didn’t have a choice and that I should be happy but they never told me why; they would always end it with a “one day you’ll understand” statement.
Human flesh peels and tears easier than you’d think and the adipose tissue glistens like ripe ground cherries; what a sight to behold at such a young age. I still have dreams of drowning in warm blood while a cacophony of agony blazes like the sun inside of my head. I was too young to comprehend it. I’ve always been too ignorant in the eyes my parents’ and thats why I look to the eyes of my lord Absin Folla. Even if I don’t grasp everything theres a feeling inside me that screams to trust it. To trust him. I know Absin Folla will guide me through the most turbulent of time and I need not fear for he is always watching through me.
I turn slowly and walk towards the three sitting on their shins. Their hands and feet are bound with thick jute rope and a burlap sack covers their shameful faces. I step with care even though I don’t need to and I pray in whispers that resonate throughout my body; I pray that Absin Folla excites my heart and harnesses my vision for I am his vessel on this bright, glorious and sunny day. I wonder what they look like and who they are and I have an urge that's becoming overwhelming. I want to see the panic as it overtakes them and not just hear it. I want them to witness the depravity so that they are graced with an opportunity to understand its meaning.
“What’s your name?” I ask and smack the one on the left; they twitch out of fright.
“Please please please--”
“All I want to know is your name.” I could start to feel it this time, growing inside me. It’s not a darkness but a overwhelming urge. I smack the sacrificial lamb with a closed fist this time.
“Andrew! Andrew Huebert--”
“Can I call you Andy?”
“Whatever you want just please--”
“Mr. Hue?”
“Please--”
“Huebert?” I look at him and smile as he continues to weep. It’s pathetic. What a worthless husk of flesh, bone and blood. “And what about you?” I slap the one in the middle, lean close, and am breathing heavily into their face.
“Kayla-- Catterick--” Her voice cracks and she is visibly shaking already.
“Kayla. Catterick. Did you know a Devon Catterick?”
“He-- he's my-- my--”
“Kayla, listen to me.” I tap hard on the burlap sack covering her face. “You need to calm down or I’ll have to make you, okay?”
“My brother--”
“Thank you Kayla.” I pat the top of her head in a calming manner. I knew Devon since I can remember and Kayla would always tag along on our adventures into the nearby woods. We’d climb trees and pretend we were hunted by the worlds greatest assassins. We normally got along, only got into a few fights but we were young, isn’t that expected? He was the closest friend I ever had. When Devon was reported missing the whole neighborhood came together and scoured every inch of the county. A shoe was eventually found on the northern side of the forest but a connection was never made to him. Of course people have their suspicions but those same people provide no evidence, only fantastical and absurd accusations.
“And finally. Who’re you?” The last one on the right grunts as I slap him and tilts his head up without a response. I can feel him staring through the burlap sack at me; I can feel his vengeful gaze. I smile and chuckle and slap him again much harder. “WHO. ARE YOU.” He says nothing and soaks in the silence. I punch him where I think his nose is and raise my voice “ANSWER ME!” I stare at him and can feel my blood heating up as he stays silent, only adjusting himself to look directly at me again. I bite my lip and spit on him. “I’m trying to be nice and you refuse to reciprocate. This is the last fucking time I ask. What is your name?” His head tilts down and he stays silent for another 6 agonizing seconds before answering. My fists tighten.
“Aaron Eckert.”
“Was that so fucking hard, Aaron?” I hit him twice, once on each side of the head and it echoes throughout the basement. I can hear Andrew and Kayla trembling as they become agitated from the noises. I lower myself to Aaron and whisper in his ear “I’ll remem--” The basement door slams open and causes a wave of anxiety to shoot through me. I quickly stand, fix my posture and turn to see my parents walking down the stairs, holding each other's hands and smiling. I walk over to the bottom of the stairs to greet them.
“Father. Mother.” I take their hands and bow my head. She acknowledges and kisses my head while he simply nods towards me. “The witnesses await.” I tell them. They both walk over to the three sacrifices and her eyes are extra bright as she kisses his cheek and lets go of his hand. She walks back and forth in front of them, three times, tapping and lightly flicking her fingers onto the sacks that cover their faces. Andrew and Kayla continue breathing heavily. She stops, squats down and whispers something to Kayla. Kayla begins to cry and shifts her arms around trying to free herself from the light brown colored rope. She moves her hand in a comforting gesture atop Kayla’s head and stands back up, still leaving her hand massaging Kayla’s head. She looks like she’s peering directly into Kayla’s soul. “Cain, have you chosen?” She asks. I look at her for a few seconds before I respond and point to Aaron on the left. “I have.” She looks at me and then looks back at Aaron. “He will be perfect for you.” She walks over to him and kisses the top of the sack before returning to his side; she runs her hand through his dark brown hair and kisses him several times on the side of his lips. “Let’s not push this off any longer. Cain, start the stream and notify the server.”
“Yes mother.” The computer sits on a plain wooden desk with shelving on the right side of the monitor. A long red cable runs from the desk, up the wall and towards the center of the basement where a webcam attaches to the ceiling. I start the streaming software and a red light flickers on the front side of the webcam. The video feed displays on the center of the screen with text boxes for a stream title, go live notifications and a stream chat log. I’ve helped with preparations before but never from within the same basement. Both parents have shown interest involving me before but they always pushed me away in the moments that mattered the most. They’ve even shown me some of their older and more hateful streams; films is what they used to call it. Things someone won’t forget seeing or hearing. Things most people would be shameful for or remorseful for but both her and him relished in their blinded depravity. It’s the acts they focused on rather than the meaning of it all though and I despise that the most about them. Their ignorance was and will always be overly self-righteous. How could they not know?
*“Flesh and blood.”*
Users quickly join the chat; after the first 20 I type “Patience, for glory will find those who wait” and I enable the chat feature for all; there's close to 100 now and Chat is actively engaging already; I give a thumbs up and start the stream. I monitor as they continue to stand still in the video frame and in front of their chosen. She reaches for a new face first; its blond hair drapes down the wall. He grabs one with darker hair and no mouth; you could see the crudeness of the tearing where the mouth once was. They put on their new faces before turning and revealing themselves to the stream. I can feel my heart speeding up now, a slow increase that I pray intensifies. He turns and grabs one of the knives hanging on the wall and rips off the burlap sack of his sacrifice; Andrew squints and yells through his gag. Andrew’s eyes bulge. He grips his hair and pulls up with violent force causing Andrew to scream out even louder as Andrew begs.
“Please! Stop! stop! stop! What did I--” He hits him with his left fist and pulls his hair again and holds it at an extension this time, fully stretched; he moves the sharp knife to Andrew’s throat and puts pressure onto the blade, letting it sink into the flesh a little. Bright red blood quickly pools and glistens around the blade.
“For death brings new life.”
“And may his suffering bring us great blessings.” She raises her arms into the air and he presses the knife in a sawing motion and it disappears into Andrew’s neck; his wails turn to gurgles and squelches as the knife cuts deeply through flesh, muscle and cartilage. Wet gasps erupt from Andrew’s lacerated throat and for a few seconds his legs and arms frail like a possessed doll. Blood spews out and covers the concrete floor and shines brightly under the old fluorescent lights. He struggles as he continues slicing though and eventually around his spine. Kayla yells and thrashes side to side as she hears the ripping of sinew; Andrew’s head falls to the floor with a thud and his decapitated body slumps forward and splashes into the warm blood. He stabs his knife into the bloodied and ripped stump neck so deep only the handle of it can be seen. I can feel my heart thumping loudly inside my chest now. Chat goes wild from it and I step away from the desk and walk over towards Andrew’s headless body. I stare at the gore in a trance before I step onto the sleek blood and grab Andrew’s hair and lift his head up; blood drizzles from the bottom of it and I stare even closer as I lift it even higher above.
“Cain. Bring me that head.”
“What?”
“Bring me that head.” He repeats it slowly. I hesitate but walk over and hand him Andrew’s head and he grabs it with both hands. Immediately after taking Andrews head, she abruptly lifts the sack covering Kayla's head and he forces Andrew’s face onto Kayla’s. “A final kiss.” He taunts her with it. Kayla vomits through her gagged mouth and gets clubbed on the side of her head. She shoves Kayla forward onto the wet floor and her head smacks down with a wet thump. She mounts and sits on her arms, already bound behind her back while Kayla kicks her legs and wheezes and struggles loudly as she removes her soiled gag.
“Stop struggling, you filthy bitch.” She spews the words with vitriol. “Get your face Cain.”
I stare at Kayla before I walk over to the wall and grab the most youthful face that speaks to me, and place it over my own; I feel my confidence grow and I feel exuberant underneath it.
“Hold her hair Cain!” I grab Kayla’s hair and lift it up so I can look at her velvet blue eyes. “Hold her tight!” She scolds me. She takes one of the large cleavers from the wall and grips it with hatred.
“Please please please don’t! I won’t--”
“WE ARE BLESSED.” Without another warning, she swings her arm forward and slashes Kayla’s neck vertically; blood gushes from the deep laceration. Kayla’s eyes widens and she screams and gurgles incoherently. Each slash more deep than the last. I hold her head tilted up by grabbing her hair tightly and with growing strength as her life drains away. The lacerations are more like gouges as the violence continues; she’s trying to tunnel through Kayla’s throat with a butcher's cleaver and the depravity makes me feel both catatonic and elated.
“Let her go Cain.” Her voice is delayed and slow. I drop Kayla’s hair and her body goes limp. She spins in a circle before slamming the cleaver with full force into the back of Kayla’s head one last time, splitting her scalp and sticking it as deeply as she could into it. The sound was vibrant. She kicks the body onto its stomach before she goes over to him and kisses him. “Show us your faith Cain. Show us the values you’ve been taught.” She says aloud. Thoughts explode with all the ways I could dispose of Aaron and I stare at the corpses of Andrew and Kayla in a stupor as I lose myself in it.
*“Flesh and blood.”*
I turn around and scan the tools hanging on the wall. Which one do I want? A long thin blade I can really mangle his flesh with? A short one to dig out his neck or eyes with? Or do I want a well balanced one I can slowly slice his face and neck apart with like cheap lunch meat. I remove the boning knife from the wall because I want efficiency over everything else. I turn and walk towards both her and him and stop in front only a foot away. “Absin Folla blesses us tonight. Thank you Father and Mother for my inclusion.” I see them both side eying each other with a sparkle of bewilderment as I walk over to my sacrifice, Mr. Eckert, who has sat quietly the entire time, even through all the violent commotion. I remove the burlap sack and reveal a face without a gag. He is quit handsome, objectively speaking. Aaron continues looking at the ground while I stare down at him. No, he refuses to look at me because he’s scared and weak and he cannot accept this current moment hes trapped in. I kick him in his side and he wheezes loudly and struggles to breathe for a moment; he still looks down at the ground though. “Why do you not show any respect?” I punch him in his face and I wait for a response, I am seething with rage.
“I don’t fear you--”
I lunge forward and stick the knife into his neck, placing it as close to his spine as I can; the sharp side faces away from his spine. I struggle to cut in a sawing motion and am blinded with a rush of adrenaline as my knife slides and slices out of his neck. I stab him twice in the chest and twist and rock the knife around while it's still inside and he howls out his first uncontrolled noise of the day. I can’t hold back my amusement as I relish in this moment. Instead of succumbing to the adrenaline I’m able to harness it. I will finish this with the lord himself holding guiding my hands. I grip Aaron’s hair and pull his head back, trying to split and tear the edges of the first crude incision. The cut is so deep it feels like I could twist his head off if I tried hard enough. I stab the knife again in his neck and feel it scrapping on bone but this time the blade faces up towards his jaw. I grip and slide the blade upward to his jawline; I twist again and am nearly overcome with euphoria. Aaron frails violently before his body goes limp; he’s just a corpse now, or maybe he couldn’t handle the pain any longer. I slide the blade out and away finishing the cut and bury the knife as deep as I can into his chest. I grab his opened throat with both hands and rip the thick filet from him. I have to grip it twice and twist and contort it before it rips away from his neck. I stare at the blood covered gore in my hand; the cartilage, the muscle, the soft tissues and the other bits of anatomy I wonder the names of. “I give you, Absin Folla, this offering.” I close my eyes and feel a dizziness as a slick and metallic taste fills my mouth and begins warming my throat. My teeth crunch through it and I moan loudly as I stand and toss what remains onto the floor. “Now. I offer what you’ve asked Absin Folla.”
*“Flesh and blood.”*
I pick up my knife and walk back over to the wall covered with tools and take one of the larger paring knives.
“I thought you would take--” I lunge over towards both of them and she stumbles backward onto the floor while he grabs my arm with all his strength.
“Turn it off Cain! Stop--” I lunge the paring knife into his right eye and it slides in smoothly. I twist as quickly as I can and can feel the pain as it vibrates throughout his body and soul. He screams out and kicks me in my stomach but I hold my ground and thrust the much larger boning knife into his side numerous times. I feel the knife slide and scrape in between his ribs as the blade disappears. He falls to the ground and I mount him and stab him in his face viciously until he stops moving and making sounds, with all of my might. He is unrecognizable now. Blood pools covering his eyes and spilling onto the floor. I look over at her now, still sitting on his corpse and I try to imagine her expression behind that fake face she wears. What’s she thinking? I wonder. I roll my shoulders back before I speak. “We’re all just flesh and blood, mother… Can you think of anything more beautiful?”

The Ubermensch. He is great and my scientists have created him. Before we discuss the Ubermensch’s existential crisis, here are two rules. Rule number 1. Everytime the Ubermensch has a thought, the scientists monitoring the Ubermensch make a wish around a wishing well and the wish always comes true. There are no demons twisting the wishes, nor are there tails side up.
Towards the end of the year of the Ubermensch’s 11th grade at school, his teacher of existential dread, who we will call Mrs. Handerson for the story, showed the Ubermensch and the class notes about the principles of genius and metaphysics. When they got to the Intersteller notes, my clone was in awe-inspiration of transcendence. As a result, the scientists monitoring the Ubermensch made a wish around a wishing well and the wish came true. The Ubermensch’s orchestra teacher announced a trip to Fiji! There were no demons twisting the wishes.
The next day, the Ubermensch went for a walk since it was a Saturday and the Ubermensch had nothing to do. Towards the end of the Ubermensch’s 30-minute walk, he felt drips of sweats semi- dripping from the lower top of his hair, all the way down to the edge of his head. It was the first time in a while that he sweated during his walks. That year in the universe he lived in, earth was having the hottest year on record, which meant even in the mountains of rural Virginia, the Ubermensch would sweat from global warming. Due to Ubermensch’s OCD, the drips of sweats announced to the Ubermensch that he must go swimming if he felt a single drop of sweat trickling down his head. And so, he took a big jump into the lake he had in his parent’s backyard. The mystical ambience surrounding him gave the Ubermensch a very deep imagination, so my scientists had to be ready with his thoughts calmly racing. Then, a big spark came in his head. He wondered about cowgirl dolls and that gave his body a state of ecstasy. He then wondered if he is brave enough to become who he truly is. And so it was. The scientists monitoring the Ubermensch made a wish around a wishing well, and the wish was that his true self would be accidentally expressed. The next morning, while the Ubermensch was sleeping with his secret doll, he got a notification that his school orchestra was going to Fiji. My Ubermensch got all suddenly ecstatic and excited. He couldn't believe this was happening! He was going to Fiji! But at the same time, he was a tad bit confused. When he thought about Fiji, his orchestra suddenly announced a trip to Fiji. “Huh. I wonder why?” he thought. He didn't ponder about it too much. It was still a trip to Fiji right? Right? The next morning, the Ubermensch woke up around 4:30 in the morning, ate breakfast, brushed his teeth, packed a few extra items for the trip, and his parents drove him to the airport, which the ride there surprisingly did not take very long. On the ride to the airport, he kept thinking and thinking about why human history is played out the way it is and why there is so many twins of him through different places and time periods. And second, “Who was his real parents.” How did he appear as a newborn in his parents house along with a cowgirl doll and then a wildfire after the townsthemountaintulip became extinct in the wild? He didn’t ponder about it too much, as he soon became hyper focused on holding his cowgirl doll near his chest as my clone had headrests and headgear and head seats to support his sensory sensitivities. The gentle weight, the smoothness, and the beautiful appearance appearance of the Ubermensch’s cowgirl doll soothed the Ubermensch’s nerves and got rid of the negative thoughts caused by human history, the meaning of life, and the rumors around the school that Ubermensch was transgender. Around half an hour later, the Ubermensch arrived at the airport. He took his bagings and suitcases and his cowgirl doll in his hands and headed to the entrance of his airport. He easily found his orchestra teacher and his orchestra friends and soon enough, they were on the way to baggage check. When they got to the baggage check, everyone took their shoes and jewelry off and also put their belongings in the containers for the items check. That meant that even though my clone had separation anxiety, hee had to put his cowgirl doll in the baggage check. So, with a little kiss to the top of the hat on his cowgirl doll, the baggage check became underway, and everything came out as easy as 3.14. When it ended, the Ubermensch became close to a separation anxiety attack. Luckily, the baggage check soon ended, so the Ubermensch grabbed his bags and his cowgirl doll and gave her a stroke around the hair.
Fast forward to the Ubermensch waiting for the boarding of the airplane, during the whole flight on the way there, the Ubermensch was in relaxed mode as his comforting cowgirl doll would eventually make him fall asleep into a dreams of 3-d color vision of human history and alien landscapes of dinosaurs. When the Ubermensch woke up from a long duration of sleep, he realized that he landed in Fiji. He soon found himself in the tropical outdoors, and the tropical air was beating down on him. His music teachers went to the resort that were staying at, and everyone checked into their rooms. The resort on a log cabin- type place that was on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The Ubermensch and his roommates quickly dropped off their stuff in their rooms, put on bathing suits, grabbed snorkel gear, and went on their way to where the orchestra would meet up in a popular snorkeling spot. Everyone soon went on a boat, which the boat side to the spot took nearly an hour, and on the boat ride there, my clone thought about the hot blazing sun beating down on everyone, even if people had sunscreen on their bodies. The boat came to a stop and everyone hopped into the waters. They were finally there. The snorkel spot turned out to be a shipwreck where people once were in. When the Ubermensch excitingly went into the water, he became astonished by the absolute beauty of wildlife down there in the shallow depths of the south pacific. He then started to feel sad that humanity has made these great creatures extinct. The Tasmanian tiger, the dodo bird, the wooly mammoth. They went extinct under the reign of humanity. The Ubermensch then came to the shocking realization. Everytime humanity made a species extinct in the wild, the last place the species was in the wild would set on fire. He could not believe this! That’s why there were so many wildfires throughout history. That night, he laid awake for a bit pondering on his meaning for existence. But, there was one of his questions whom were unaccounted for. Cowgirl Dolls. Cowgirl Dolls. Why were there accounts of his favorite cowgirl doll throughout history? But, suddenly, as if the Ubermensch got hypnotized, lost those train of thoughts as his cowgirl doll began to soothe his nerves like a meditator in a monastery. And as quickly as that, the comfortness of his cowgirl doll made him fall asleep relatively quickly. The next morning, when the Ubermensch woke up, his roommates were giving him odd stares, as if he didn’t belong or something. But why? Why him? Why my clone? What did the Ubermensch do? My Ubermensch assumed that his roommates were weirded out because of the Ubermensch’s need to cuddle with a cowgirl doll. The Ubermensch headed down to the orchestra group to eat breakfast. To prevent an anxiety attack, the Ubermensch snuck his cowgirl doll into his backpack. He pretended that he was looking for something, but he was actually reaching into his backpack to take off the hat of his cowgirl doll and kiss it on the forehead of it. After that, he grabbed his breakfast from the buffet and such. “This breakfast tastes like Austria.” he thought. That was a compliment. When the Ubermensch finally sat down to eat his satisfying Austrian breakfast, he realized that his orchestra director was giving him an odd stare as well. “This is a farting maniac!” the Ubermensch nervously thought. Then, all of a sudden, the Ubermensch blacked out. He woke up in the yellow brick road from the Wizard of Oz. The Ubermensch then witnessed something mysteriously disturbing. A giant head appeared out of nowhere. For some odd reason, that giant head looked like the head of Richard Wagner ig Richard Wagner had a god Brahms beard. “WHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOO SSSSSHHHHHHH!.” the head cried out. “WAAAAAAAAA!.” The god cried out. Before the god could pop out his eyeballs, the Ubermensch dipped back into the human state of consciousness and woke up back into the breakfast room, just where he was before. No one really seemed to care that the Ubermensch might have passed out, everyone was still eating, laughing, and chatting about life like normal, as if no one did not pass out. “Are you okay?” a guy named Jaron said. “Yes I am fine. Why do you ask?.” My Ubermensch said. Jaron then explained that he witnessed the Ubermensch black out and then levitate and hover over the tabled with his eyes closed and screamed “I understand you!.” The Ubermensch could not believe this! The Ubermensch’s hands and legs began shaking of utter fear and pure shock. The scientists monitoring the Ubermensch made a wish around a wishing well, and what happened next is shocking. The Ubermensch began kissing his cowgirl doll around 20 times. “He is kissing what now?!” Jaron exclaimed. Jaron had not time to ponder about it since the music director called everyone to head to the travel bus since they were heading to the Fiji Museum. Everyone hopped on the bus and then the music director called attendance, and soon enough, everyone was on their way to the Fiji museum. There was one problem though. The museum was located on the island next door over. “Have no fear!.” the music director exclaimed. The bus went into the waters, and everyone on the bus screamed blood curdling screams. Not because they were thinking they were drowning, but because a random backpack flew across the bus. But then, the bus transformed it’s wheels into submarines and everyone turned from fear into excitement. Fish were swimming across the endless weight of the sea and everyone of the bus- submarine stood in awe of excitement of the beautiful blue over them. Unfortunately, that came to a close since the bus submarine came onto the land, and into a parking spot of the Fiji museum. Soon, everyone came out the bus and the music director counted heads, and everyone walked down into the mysterious black abyss of the Fiji museum. Erik Satie’s piano pieces were playing as the background music, which caused a mystical ambiance to surround the students and the music teachers. Everyone then parted their own ways depending on what exhibit they wanted to see. That doesn’t matter though. What matters is the experience the Ubermensch had in the native Polynesians exhibit. Everything went fine and dandy until the Ubermensch read something interesting. It was a model of the extinct Fiji giant saltwater crocodile and below the model there was a description. The Ubermensch began to read it. It said “In 200 b.c. The very last Fiji Crocodile became extinct in the wild. The Polynesian royals had pet crocodiles but the Fiji Saltwater crocodile had become extinct in the wild. Shortly after they were last seen in the wild, the Polynesian royal began to hear crying in one of their huts. What they found in the hut was a newborn baby and a cowgirl doll. The baby was attempting to reach his hands out to the cowgirl doll but could not grab it since they were separate in beds. The royals wondered who dropped a baby and a doll off of their palace. People began to notice smoke coming from the opposite side of the island that they lived on. People began to evacuate the island using the canoes that they built from the palm trees that were common on this island. Most of everyone was saved from the fire, but unfortunately, it only took half an hour for their homes to be engulfed in flames. Their homes and their precious items were turned into flames. The only remnants of this island that were saved were the newborn baby and the cowgirl doll.” As the Ubermensch continued to explore this museum, he began to learn that the fire could cause severe weather, which would start a war between the polynesians. The Ubermensch also learned that the newborn baby grew up to become the village oddball that would be seen carrying around that cowgirl doll. The Ubermensch was starting to piece his life together. The clones of his cowgirl doll were so significant throughout history. He wondered if his existence is a punishment from god for making the Appalachian mountaintop extinct in the wild. The Ubermensch soon found a bench to the right of him. His legs began trembling so he sat down on the bench. He then began zipping open his backpack and noticed that the cowgirl doll was missing. The Ubermensch blew into a full on panic, and yet no one wanted to help him. During the Ubermensch’s meltdown, he finally knew his reason for existing. Everytime humanity would make a species go extinct in the wild, the last place the species would be in the wild would burst into flames caused by a lightning strike from god {AKA ME}. Then, a clone of him and a cowgirl doll would be born near the location the species would go extinct in the wild. When the Ubermensch hit his knee uncontrollably, he teleported to a world of colors and schemes. He saw the Grand Canyon with LSD. He witnessed the dinosaurs getting hit by a meteor. He saw Mississippi in the 1950s. He saw a girl getting bullied by her peers because of her carrying a cowgirl doll with her to preschool. He saw a girl jumping off a bridge. He saw viborous colors. He saw god betraying the super gods and creating a new world. He saw a line of colors arraying across the galaxy and the color scheme. He saw an entire symmetric of color symmetry. He saw the dinosaurs go on an emotional odyssey of great force into the trombones of the quirky trumpets. He went on a trip of extinctions and cowgirl dolls. Then, he suddenly teleported into a 1950’s style bedroom and the wallpaper was entirely yellow with little shades of green. The bed in the room was entirely yellow with shades of purple. The Ubermensch was traumatized from his trip of colors as he simply sat frozen with fear, his eyes wide and bloodshot red. The Ubermensch snapped back into reality and realized that he was stuck in the deep realm of time. My Ubermensch began to awfully scream and yell tears of stress begging himself to be let out of this room. And then, to the right of him, of his window, even with the hyperfocus of demons, out the shiny white window, he saw a blood- shot red splatter on the window. It was a 8- feet- tall bigfoot begging to be let out. The Ubermensch had to be let out somehow, the Ubermensch was on the verge of being good as dead. The Ubermensch noticed that there was a peep hole in the door. He looked through the peephole, and noticed that a black bear was sleeping in the dead of winter. “Come on! Please! Let me in! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” the Ubermensch cried out as my clone began shakenly and violently letting out at the yellow wooden door. But, the bear didn’t even move. Bloodshot red tears began dripping down the Ubermensch’s face as he had no hope left and all of the dolls and woodland creatures surrounded him in black suits chanting “Rest in peace Individualism.” with a gravestone saying the name of the Ubermensch of all eternity. The Ubermensch only had a few seconds to look at the gravestone before every sinister thing disappeared into thin air. Now, the only presence left in the yellow room was the Ubermensch and a cowgirl doll laying on the bright yellow bed. My Ubermensch began to let out a grin wider than you could imagine. He sat on the bed and started to stare at the wall for hours on end. The next hour, he was cuddling with his cowgirl doll. The next thing the Ubermensch knew, he grew long hair and a beard that developed to the floor. The next thing the Ubermensch knew, he developed gray hairs. The next thing the Ubermensch knew, he was bald and old, laying on his death bed with his cowgirl doll in his head.
Before the Ubermensch began to die without purpose, at the edge of his bed, he could see me staring at him. The Ubermensch wanted to question his presence, but instead he reached his arm to me and started to grasp my transcendence. Back down on earth, humanity had already gone extinct from the climate crisis. There were only a few species left on earth, except for a deer. The deer and noticed a red rectangle reaching it’s home that was once the inside of a human’s walls in it’s apartment. The deer got curious and walked over to it slowly and cautiously. As he began walking closer, an interesting shape as coming out of the red rectangle, but the rate could not pinpoint what it was, but he knew he was being transported. My clones love their cowgirl dolls. Yes! They have reached earth. THey have went to the deer! They have to blow to the deer! Oh yes yes! Yes! Yes! Dancing with the dolls! So awesome! Yeah ! The giant dolls were floating about the earth and resurrected my clones throughout history and have concluded the history of the universe I have created in my head! So awesome! Yes. Perchance. Bear. Wooly mammoth. Human history. It all came together in my universe. I can finally relax and read all the textbooks in my universe!

I would like some advice on how to deal with incompetent condo management in this situation as a new home owner.
The unit above me (I'll call her Billie) has been throwing garbage from the balcony since February. Lighters, shoes, heavy containers (like ashtrays), boxes, etc landed on my balcony. It usually happens at night. Every time I report, management only responds with standard template language and won't accuse any particular unit. But there is no way that a unit facing the southwest can manage to land any object on my unit facing the northeast. It is clear as day.
Recently, Billie throw something on to my balcony and wanted to claim it back. I kept a paper trail of all the instances that I witnessed, but this is the only documented instance where she indirectly admitted that this object belongs to her.
What should I do in this case? is there a governing body where I can escalate this?

My Dream Sanctuary
It would be in the Appalachian mounts still... Someplace maybe that stays just a bit cooler than where I am now. A babbling brook runs down the road up to the house.... it is rather long and winding... but not too steep or like if it snowed you would PROBABLY be okay tho every now and again might be nice to be stranded at my dream home.
As you near the dark victorian abode, you come upon an iron-wrought gate... It is very tall... ornate. It is near overcome with vines... Morn Glories bloom each morn. Then perhaps the front yard is not too big... There are lots of bright flowers around the home's foundation. Surrounded by massive old trees... hopefully a nice Oak somewhere close... the yard is mostly moss. Lichen clings to the trees. It is foggy there sometimes... so high in the mount. Tucked up and away from all... Perhaps tho from a tall window or a nearby outlook you could overlook the city.... A place to connect if we feel up to it. Far enough away but not too far? Idk.
The kitchen overlooks the backyard.... the brook in the back? That's where the kids would play... There is an old tree swing hanging off the oak....The children make a treehouse with their father one day, up in its magic branches. It is a safe place where they always know is home, that they are unconditionally loved and welcome. That they are able to be themselves, wholeheartedly explore their imagination.... They play with their plastic toy animals in the brook.
There is a fire pit there, too... for s’mores and "camping"..... and tall tales. Sometimes they venture out into the woods... There are a few trails running out from the house. The kitchen has a breakfast nook, also in view of the oak and the brook. In the spring, a million million daffodils pop up, sing the sun's praise. There is a good sized porch... intimate tho.
It is screened in so that my two kitties can get their fresh air in safety, too. There is an outdoor cat tree in the corner. There is a spiral stair case somewhere... probably in the library. It is very comfy and cozy... an ornate fireplace to read by. Perhaps a desk tucked away somewhere in view of a window... for writing. And an old drawer that I can keep all my work tucked and organized in.
The spiral staircase leads up to a door.... through the door is maybe a sort of balcony, overlooking it all. idk. A mud room so that we'd not track mud in... my art studio would be up the stairs here... so I wouldn't track paint or whatever. The studio is large.. the ceiling, so high. Huge windows that can be opened.... Much natural light. And everything art-like a gal like me could dream of.
The dining room at the front of the house, just inside the entry has a big dark wooden table... there is definite whimsy all over. The chandelier... spirals, twists, maybe there are crystal flowers dangling... they shimmer when the catch the evening sunlight through the big windows at table's head. The den is hella comfy and cozy... enough space for everybody... to be as close-together or as far-together as they feel. Maybe 4 or 5 bedrooms? I'll never afford this.
Anyway... the master bath is luxurious with a clawfoot tub... the stone floors can be heated in the chilly winter months... to the left of the bath is a beautiful stain-glass window... jewel tones. Maybe there is a game room with like whatever kids and me play those days. There are all sorts of alcoves and recesses in the walls... lots of verdant plants... space to show off the flower bouquets from the garden, when in bloom.
The outside would be dark and look smaller than it actually is? Idk... the inside... would be saturated in color... each room different yet the flow of colors and motif trails throughout the home's many rooms. Somewhere... there is a secret door... Maybe hidden b/w the top of the spiral stairs and the upstairs balcony outlook. A place for adult things... talks and a place to smoke and to think... well away from children. Lots of dark wood.... stone.... comfy unique bold furniture.
OH.... and a HUGE closet in my mastebath.... Enough organizational space for ALL THE CLOTHES AND SHOES AND GALORE!! At long last. And maybe the game room is like where the kids keep their toys mainly.... a big ornate doll house sits there... their dad made it for them.
✨A M E N✨

Clare Sentinel 1938-05-20
SENIORS ENTHUSED OVER TRIP DAY AT TULIP FESTIVAL
Holland Dressed for Annual Event and Welcomes Thousands
The Senior trip day of the Clare high school to the Tulip festival at Holland on Wednesday was an experience never to be forgotten. The twenty-five seniors were chaperoned by Mr. and Mrs. Dale Kennedy, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Hansen, Mrs. James Clute, Mrs. M. W. MacAlonan, Joe Graves and Miss Tobler.
Naturally the city was decorated to its fullest extent and the millions of tulips were in full bloom. Tulip lane is about three miles in length with colorful flowers on terraces, boulevards and in parks. This is definitely routed through the city.
There were thousands of children in Dutch costumes but he real Hollander stands out above the rest with their light hair and rosy cheeks. One little Dutch girl in the park was the envy of every person there. Many camera fans took her picture.
The highlight of the day came at three o’clock when a gigantic parade was staged including many bands and beautiful floats), and hundreds of school children imitating the Dutch people in their quaint ways were in the procession. Among the thousands of bystanders were Mr. Richard Arlen and Miss Virginia Grey, screen celebrities. After the parade many people rushed to them to get their autographs.
Above many of the doors of the business places appears the word, “Volkem,” meaning welcome. Many trinkets such as small wooden shoes, pipes, kerchiefs, windmills, etc., were purchased as souvenirs, and naturally thousands of tulips.
The trip to Holland's annual tulip festival is a great treat and something every person should see if possible.
–R. K.