So one area I've really been struggling with is doing straight eighth notes on the hi-hats and doing kick triplets (ah-3-and). Either my right hand follows or my triplet sounds like crap and the notes muddle together. Think songs like Radiohead's "Creep" or Skynard's "Sweet Home Alabama."
Today I changed it up and started on the hi-hats with a ton of rebound (think push pull, but not doing the pull part and just going back in for another push). I think because the stick was ending up so far away from the hats, my right hand had no choice but to give up on following my foot. It sounded great.
I had read a while back (trying to learn When The Levee Breaks with its double kick) someone who suggested thinking of hitting something on the rebound as a sixteenth note, like if there were a cymbal between your body and the hats. This seems similar where it's sort of tricking your body into doing it.
Any thoughts on this as a technique? Am I going to be hindering myself for the future, or will my limbs use this as an opportunity to decouple?
Been drumming for about 7 and a half months.

Seeking help,
As the title says, my property management in Arvada is charging an absurd amount for a lease initiation fee (close to $500) and a $30 Residents Benefits Package that seems basically worthless that I am unable to opt out of. Has anyone had experience with this? I read the new law passed in August HB 23-1095 stating:
"A provision that characterizes any amount or fee set forth in the rental agreement, with the sole exception of the set monthly payment for occupancy of the premises, as "rent" for which all remedies to collect rent, including eviction, are available"
Both of the fees feel like that fall under that new provision. However, here is the response when I brought it up with one of the employees at the property management: "I spoke to the operations manager and he has made me aware of this law and after extensive direction from our attorneys, we are in compliance with the new law."
Additionally, we are being charged $120/Month for WateTrash/Sewage which seems incredibly excessive and overcharging for what should be cheaper utilities. Does the new law that went into account shield us from this at all?
Any and all help would be appreciated, because these unnecessary fees are a lot for us.
Thank you in advance!

A few months ago one of my pet rats bit the palm of my right hand, leaving a centimeter long arched cut. It eventually healed but left an awful mark; it's slightly discoloured and the skin is raised, it can be seen from a reasonable distance and remains white when the rest of my hand is blemished by heat or force.
This has completely ruined my own hand for me. Yes, my left hand is fine but it's not my dominant hand. Whenever I look at my right hand now I feel the need to cover the scar by holding it with my left thumb.
I feel disgusting.

Am I being used for attention? That’s my main question here:
Been on 3 dates with a girl, we are both 23. She is gorgeous and we get along very well. We’ve gotten drinks twice, and on Friday went out for food and then went to 2 bars. We actually ran into some of her friends on Friday and she introduced me. We are both moving in 3 months so it’s understood that it’s relatively low commitment. She also lives very nearby which makes asking her to do stuff on a whim all too easy.
We kissed outside of her place on the first date. On our second date for drinks, I asked her if she wanted to come back to mine, and she said yes. We had some wine, watched some TV, and then made out / did everything but sex. She stopped me while we were kissing and told me she wasn’t ready to have sex yet; not unusual at all for a first hookup. It was good, we both finished, and then we fucked around in bed for about an hour, and she walked home.
Friday: we had a great time. She paid for dinner. I asked what she was looking for to which her answer was very ambiguous, but — she is not seeing other people as she doesn’t like to have more than one sexual partner at a time. I told her as long as that’s the case I will do the same and put my dating on pause out of respect for her. We got back and made out for a bit before she told me again she wasn’t ready for sex. She hasn’t provided a concrete reason as to why but next time if it happens again I will probably inquire, just to sus out if I am being strung along because I am giving her attention and taking her out.
Sunday morning I asked if she would want to get a drink again. She replied enthusiastically, but told me she couldn’t that night because she was too tired, but could tomorrow (today now) or another day this week. We talked a bit today and I told her to let me know if she was free tonight and she told me she can’t, and again suggested tomorrow.
Any insight? I know people are genuinely busy but her communication is sparse and it’s a style I am not used to in women; I’ll try to set plans and won’t hear back until it’s almost the time that I proposed. Now that I’ve gotten other times suggested 2x in a row I think I am going to tell her I’m leaving the ball in her court and to let me know when she’s free. Or am I overthinking this? My friends I talk to think I’m overthinking things and she likes me, just is not great at planning and has shit going on.
Any insight?

I am 23 y/o F, H: 5' 2", W: 145 lbs, Race: South asian, currently living in US.
cc: experiencing red, circular, raised, itchy rash, warm to touch mainly on my legs.
These rashes first appeared when I traveled to South Asia last summer. I woke up with chunky rashes all over my thighs and shins. You could see each individual bumps, they didn't all mesh together into one huge mass. They were circular but not perfectly. About 1inch in diameter. I used a very strong steroid to cope with the itching. As the rashes healed, they became blue bruises and then left small dark scars on my legs. It took about 2 wks for them to clear up.
After coming back to US, I had 1 flare up of these rashes about 4 months ago. Same in appearance and healing time as the initial rashes.
1 month, I started getting these rashes out of nowhere again. Same in appearance and healing time. Unlike the last 2 episodes of these rashes, where I would about 10 bumps all at once and they would go away within 2 wks, this time, I keep getting 2-3 new rashes every other day. Right now, I only have this one big rash at the back of my right knee ( SEE PHOTO) and 2 small ones on my ankle that are almost done healing. It's extremely each and hot. I have never seen any of these rashes look THIS red so it's kind of scaring me.
Also, noting that most of my rashes have only been on my legs. Except for the episode that started 1 month ago, I got some on my lower back-upper buttock area and 1 bump on my arm.
Please help me figure out what might be going on. By the time, I manage to get any derm appt, the rashes go away and I always end up consulting the docs on the scars rather than the active episodes.
I do not drink/smoke/do drugs. Don't have any severe food allergies that I know of. I have gotten allergy tested before for ~30 allergens and nothing causes me hives. I haven't been spending time outdoor where I can attribute these rashes to bug bites. I haven't used any new cosmetics or eaten anything new. Nothing foreign in my environment that I can note.

When I was 18 I met my ex-boyfriend (24M), we'll call him Dick. Conveniently I met him at a traphouse as he was selling wed at the time. I was pursuing my bachelors (which I completed) and also started my career in an office job, two completely different worlds. Well, I took a liking to him because he was so my type, I wasn’t necessarily seeking a relationship but I shot my shot very confidently and we fell hard for each other (I’m talking moving into his father’s home a week of knowing each other, ironically his dad was a director with a nice home and it gave me an excuse to move away from my toxic family). We were together 24/7, but things were quite toxic because I guess I was quite immature and insecure (think crazy Latina), and he was not really the best influence. However, we loved each other very much, he was my first love. It became sort of obsession for me. Well 2 years into dating (after we got kicked out of his father’s complex due to fighting and had to move to my mom’s home) we had a huge fight and he left *radio silence. I then found out that he was now dealing with ccaine after hanging around a new group of guys who do the same thing. I had zero self-respect and kept trying to contact him, until I moved out to a nice apartment on my own at 20. We somehow started seeing each other again and he wanted to move in with me, so we got back together, but things were’nt the same. With his newly found job and friends, he started to stay out late nights pretty much every day, I’d find condoms in his bags and ask who they were for, and he said his friends, I’d believe him. I’d find him talking to girls on his phone and I’d confront him, and he always said it’s not what it looks like, they’re just “clients” or “friends”. I 100% believed him, because I could not fathom my best friend is capable of doing this. He started to embarrass me in front of others in public, as if he didn’t want to be around me. My mental health was deteriorating and my anxiety through the roof to the point I can’t breath. One night he never came home and I had a suspicion he was at a hotel, I left home at 3/4am and went to that hotel and saw his car in the parking lot. When he came home the next morning he said he slept by his friends house but later admitted to solicitation for one of his friends but he had nothing to do with it. : So I had enough and got him to share his location. After this he again did not come home and I saw his location was at his father’s house, I went there and waited for them to come out, it was him, his friend who is wanted by police, and two known prostitutes. Despite this, I stayed. Fast forward I am now 24 years old and we are continuing to argue almost on a daily basis at my apartment. I was yearning for his love and felt so alone, he didn’t want to take me anywhere. One Friday night (Sept 2022) I was I wanted to do something with him (I was home alone), he said he was at some bar and I came to meet him. He acted as if I almost never existed. Well, we met two tourists who were his clients and he asked if I can stay at the bar with them and he’ll be back later. : Naturally I got so upset because NO, I don’t want to stay here with these two strangers. Well this led to a huge argument in the car, and eventually it go physical. He ended up pushing me out of the parked car and drove over my leg which ended up being skinned at the back. Then, radio silence. A few days later I found him at my apartment packing up his stuff, I cried. He didn’t care, and he said something along the lines of “that’s why I cheated on you because I don’t care”. Naturally I was heartbroken, but I was tired of chasing him. I was so angry at him for doing me the way he did. I was tired of choosing him over me. So after that day I never contacted him again. A week later I hear that he was seen at a bar with a 17-year-old girl on his lap (he was 27 at this time). In November 2022, he “accidently” messaged me at 5am, but I ignored. I later found out that he was still dating that 17-year-old, and he has been with her I believe on and off since then. In June of 2022 (while we were still together), his buddy was sentenced to 6 years in prison as they found cell phone conversations suggesting he was a cke dealer, his buddy said the police presented many exchanges between him and Dick as they worked together, this resulted in an investigation on Dick which we were unaware about. I told Dick maybe stop altogether and lay low, but no one could stop him. The investigation came to light in 2024, when police informed him of this and put a monitoring device on him while they investigate further. Shortly after, about January 2024, police respond to a tip (apparently by one of the neighbors) that Dick was harboring dugs in a hedge behind their complex. Police found about half a brick and hence a search for Dick ensued. I guess Dick got word of this and so he cut off his monitor and went on the run, he was renting a rural house and stayed there with his gf for months until the police raided the home. They found lbs of ccaine (apparently bricks which I assume a couple kgs), an unlicensed firearm, other hard drgs, and a large quantity of cash. As of February 2024, he has been charged with intent to supply ccaine and tampering with an ankle monitor and has been in remand since then. However, he seems to not be phased at all, which is slightly alarming, as it just shows how much he’s accepted his life now, and it’s almost as though he gets a thrill from this. For context, when we were together he got into a high speed chase with the police and got convicted for supplying marijana, he got 2 years suspended sentence as it was his first ever charges, luckily that night I decided to go out with my gfs instead of joining him. I thank the universe and God for keeping me safe through the 4 years I was with him, because I could have been caught up in the mix. I am grateful that he left me because I wouldn’t have been strong enough to do it on my own, I really do feel like my angels were keeping me safe because it was 4 months after the breakup that police made it known they were onto him, and about 1 year after that he was raided and went to prison. I can’t imagine what would happen had I stayed. Moral of the story, a man can fck your whole life up, so be careful and be strong when you feel something doesn’t feel right listen to your gut feeling. My regret is that I didn’t have the self-respect to leave him on my own, I wish I did and I wish I did it the very first time I knew I should of, it would have spared me a lot of embarrassment. Today, I have a great career and a successful business, I am travelling and in the best shape of my life. My mental state is probably the healthiest it’s ever been and I am now surrounded by positive, healthy people who look out for the best for me. Thank you for listening to my story, I just wanted to get this off my chest.
TL;DR - my ex caused me severe emotional pain and anguish, but now I’m in the healthiest state I have ever been. He is now in prison because of what he did.

Patient Info: Male, Caucasian, Mid 60s, Unknown Weight (but probably overweight), Cannabis use, Diabetes (I think), previous spine surgery at base of spine with hardware that has cracked, other medications unknown.
Backstory to current situation: He began having balance issues a couple months ago, and started falling more and more frequently. He then showed occasional confusion, like he didnt quite understand what you said to him but still responded in a related way. The confusion would clear up and he would be fine the majority of the time. Zero neck or arm pain, his lower back where his previous surgery was hurt him a lot due to a broken screw and his knees hurt him (previous knee replacement surgery). Went to the ER one night when family made him due to him being very disoriented and confused. Diagnosed at ER with some sort of issue at the base of his skull that was causing these balance and confusion issues. It was relayed to me as some sort of bone spur or restriction that needed intervention ASAP or the next fall could cause serious damage (if his neck is jolted). Cervical fusion surgery was scheduled pretty quickly fusing 4 vertebrae in his neck.
Current Situation: My Family Member (Male, mid 60s) had a cervical fusion surgery at c3-7 (4 vertebrae) about 1 week ago. First day he woke just fine, seemed happy, wanted to sit up and was doing fine. He is discharged, and over the next days he complains of worsening pain between his shoulders either at the very top of his back/base of neck (second hand info). The pain worsens each day for 3 or so days until he is in such a state that he is grunting, groaning, and banging his fists on things because of the pain. This past Friday he started getting almost violent and seemed incredibly disoriented, delirious, and terrified. He could not talk and did not recognize anyone or seem to understand words spoken to him. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Once there, he attacked staff (not like him at all) and seemed like a feral animal or a rabid animal. It took 4 people to get him restrained: and they gave him drugs to paralyze him to keep staff safe, restrained him, and sedated him to the point of being on a ventilator. Blood tests came back with only mild THC as anything out of the ordinary. He likely took his entire 30 day pain killer rx from the surgery (bottle was found empty) within a few days HOWEVER the prescription was weak enough that the doctor remarked that the 'drugs he is currently on is stronger than the whole bottle' so unlikely to be an issue. MRI came back fine, all tests they have run have come back fine (aside from blood tests, MRI, and 24hr seizure monitoring test, I do not know if other tests were preformed or what they would be.)
Each day they try to let the sedation wear off and remove the vent to gauge his reaction, and each day it has been the same nearly immediate intense aggression putting staff at risk. He broke restraints. I was told his eyes rolled back into his head where only white showed during one of these wake up attempts, and that when he does gain alertness he looks absolutely terrified and behaves like a cornered prey. So they just sedate/paralyze/intubate again. At this point the plan is to try waking him each day until he stops being aggressive due to tests not showing a diagnosis. He has been given a feeding tube today.
His surgeon's nurse had been contacted today and she said she does not believe this is related to the surgery and she has never heard of a reaction like this. His current doctors (not affiliated with the surgery) have told his mom and sister that 'they have seen this before' but also 'they don't know what this is', which is odd.
Is there anything else that could be going on, and tests that should be preformed, any idea on why this is happening? I cannot stand the idea of him being in terror over and over waking up to being pulled off a vent then put back on, indefinitely.
I apologize for the vague information, but any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Husband & I have been looking at houses since February. Put in offers on six properties, each $30k to $50k over asking, lost them all. Our condo was not yet on the market/sold at that point.
All we have been hearing IRL from others & reading here is how hard it is to find homes and how much over ask people are having to pay, we’ve been encouraged to offer over ask.
Condo went on the market beginning of this month, IMO priced at much less than it was worth, barely went for over appraised value (Appraised at $322k, advised to ask $305k due to “comps,” best offer received was $326k, had been hoping for at least $330k+).
Everything we’ve looked at since the sale has been HORRIBLE (mold, sagging floors, all windows needing replacement, etc).
Finally, yesterday we saw one that was “ok.” One bathroom needs a remodel, kitchen needs an island and possibly a new countertop, gazebo needs repainting/new screens, carpet & lighting fixtures all need replacing, gas fireplace may or may not work, but at least every problem seems cosmetic. Yard & neighborhood are good, a little too close/visible to neighbors for my taste but we’ll probably plant some screening trees.
Ask was $540k. We were told at least two other offers were coming in. I wanted to offer MAX $560k to leave us something to pay for all the work needed, but realtor knew our top budget was $575k. Realtor recommended we offer as much as possible, so we went up to $568k.
Was informed today originally there were NO other offers besides ours; later informed there was only one other offer and ours was “much” better, so we got the house.
Now, it appears we could have offered our original $560k or possibly even less and still gotten this house.
Note: Inspection has not happened yet, so we don’t know if there’s anything worse than what we can see.
What recourse do we have to lower our expenses now, knowing apparently no one else wanted this house and our offer was way over because advice?

Seeking help,
As the title says, my property management in Arvada is charging an absurd amount for a lease initiation fee (close to $500) and a $30 Residents Benefits Package that seems basically worthless that I am unable to opt out of. Has anyone had experience with this? I read the new law passed in August HB 23-1095 stating:
"A provision that characterizes any amount or fee set forth in the rental agreement, with the sole exception of the set monthly payment for occupancy of the premises, as "rent" for which all remedies to collect rent, including eviction, are available"
Both of the fees feel like that fall under that new provision. However, here is the response when I brought it up with one of the employees at the property management: "I spoke to the operations manager and he has made me aware of this law and after extensive direction from our attorneys, we are in compliance with the new law."
Additionally, we are being charged $120/Month for WateTrash/Sewage which seems incredibly excessive and overcharging for what should be cheaper utilities. Does the new law that went into account shield us from this at all?
Any and all help would be appreciated, because these unnecessary fees are a lot for us.
Thank you in advance!

Hello,
I'm an immigrant with an engineering degree from outside the US. I have general notions of electrical engineering but far from being an an actual electrical engineer. I've recently started a business and required the help from a licensed electrical engineer, but I was disappointed by the time I had to wait to get him to show up and then the work they performed, when I asked the GC about that they told me electricians are in high demand and they often can't keep up with the workload.
I'm planing to open several locations more in the future so since this took several months to get a hold of this technical person and get the job done to somewhat disappointing results I'm considering the option to become a licensed electrician myself since this was the most impactful bottleneck.
I'm very appreciative of people who know their trade, and I hope I don't come across as if I'm trying to belittle this one, but from what I've read the path to become one you have to go through an apprenticeship period instead of a course (see https://www.buildforce.com/blog/how-to-become-a-commercial-electrician-in-texas) I'd like to know if there's another route I can go like attend a class either online or personally to be able to get licensed in Texas, I don't plan to make it a business I'm just trying to eliminate this bottleneck for the my current business.

Hello, currently hold SGOV in my taxable, looking to add a MMF and also USFR to the taxable to decrease state income tax and also use as a semi liquid account to withdraw money from when I need it. My understanding is if you sell SGOV/USFR before dividends pay out, the “loss” is negligible because you will still get that money back. However someone told me to sell only when it’s the first of the month because that’s right when dividends are paid out. Which one is correct?

Back in February I had gone to a dermatologist for a full body check. I myself thought I had a few concerning moles that needed to be looked at. The doctor came in and checked every mole with a dermatoscope and said everything looked fine. I had a weird feeling that a few should have been sent out for biopsy. I went to a different dermatologist a couple months later who did NOT use a dermatoscope and ended up shaving 5 moles to send for a biopsy. I just got the call that one is pre cancerous and another is superficial melanoma. If you have a bad feeling always go for a second opinion people

A 60 inch 4k thin screen tv is around $400. Even as a poor I could buy a new TV every week if I wanted to. This is ridiculous. If you said you bought a new TV every year people wouldn't bat an eye. Some lunatics have a TV in every room. At the beginning of this post I chose a 60 inch TV as some comically large device. I go on reddit for some statistics and people in 2017 are casually talking about their new 72 inch TVs. At the same time I also discovered you've got to upgrade from (to?) the plasma screen OLED 4k HDR HBO TLC. It's such a huge improvement! It's obscene and embodies what is wrong with modern society.
These days you could probably create a fully furnished home theatre for one months rent. When the fed says inflation was 9% it's probably being skewed by weighing cheap ass TVs alongside food and housing. After 100 years When lazy-ass boomers think kids these days have it easy they're probably applying TV quality and price as their reference point. TVs are too cheap.

Hey guys, I got my IUD a while back and I thought that I would share my experience getting one with anesthesia.
So my nexplanon at the time was giving me 2 heavy periods a month. I decided to get it removed and replace it with an IUD. But I knew that I had a low pain tolerance so I decided to look for a place that would put me under for insertion.
It took 3 calls to find a location that was contracted with my insurance to do insertion. My insurance ended up covering the IUD itself but not the anesthesia so I ended up paying 600 USD for it.
The procedure itself was very smooth. I waited in a room with a bunch of nurses attending to me and then they wheeled me to the operating room. Then they put me under and I just remember waking up. They gave me an apple juice and it smacked.
Recovery went fine but I did have cramping later that night. Fortunately a heating pad and Tylenol did the trick.
I tell this story because if you want to get an IUD but you’re afraid of the pain, don’t be scared to advocate for yourself. It’s still worth getting a consultation to see if this option would be safe for you depending on your health condition. Cost may depend on what your insurance covers though. But IUD insertion does not need to be painful.
I remember trying to find threads about this experience but didn’t see much so feel free to ask me any questions.

Seeking help,
As the title says, my property management in Arvada is charging an absurd amount for a lease initiation fee (close to $500) and a $30 Residents Benefits Package that seems basically worthless that I am unable to opt out of. Has anyone had experience with this? I read the new law passed in August HB 23-1095 stating:
"A provision that characterizes any amount or fee set forth in the rental agreement, with the sole exception of the set monthly payment for occupancy of the premises, as "rent" for which all remedies to collect rent, including eviction, are available"
Both of the fees feel like that fall under that new provision. However, here is the response when I brought it up with one of the employees at the property management: "I spoke to the operations manager and he has made me aware of this law and after extensive direction from our attorneys, we are in compliance with the new law."
Additionally, we are being charged $120/Month for WateTrash/Sewage which seems incredibly excessive and overcharging for what should be cheaper utilities. Does the new law that went into account shield us from this at all?
Any and all help would be appreciated, because these unnecessary fees are a lot for us.
Thank you in advance!

I (40 Bi) dated my ex (37 M) from 2004 to 2009. He left me for another woman he had only known for a month. Needless to say, it was a messy breakup. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I was suicidal. I had to seek professional help and be given antidepressants. When he came to his senses, he tried to win me back, but I had already moved on by then. I am now in a 14-year same-sex relationship and at a happy place in my life.
Last night, while browsing Facebook, I came across a name on my list of suggested friends that caught my attention. It was “Jzyne Addanice” with my ex’s last name. It was an account made for a baby girl, not one year of age. My ex and I no longer have connections except for one common friend on Facebook. I did a little digging and found out the account was for my ex’s daughter, as I had assumed since the baby bore a striking resemblance to him.
To be clear, given that our breakup was more than 15 years ago, I am totally over my ex. Even yet, I still hadn't moved past the fact that he abandoned me for a woman he hardly knew. However, I genuinely don't care if he ends up having three dozen kids. What upsets me is that he took “our” baby name, Jann Adanice, tweaked the spelling, and named his daughter it. We were pretty serious, and Jann Adanice (J for my name, Ad for his name) was a name I came up with for our future baby when the time came.
I don't want children anymore, and at 40, I don't have any other than my fur babies. Still, I find it offensive that he took our baby's name and gave it to the child of another woman. AITA for being upset over this?

Had a virus about a month ago (typical sore throat and sinus pressure) directly followed by strep a week later. Took Amoxicillin and cleared it up then throat started hurting again a few days after the antibiotic and has been red and started getting these blister looking things appearing. (Top one in the pic is healing up but the bottom one just appeared today). Checked in with ENT and he gave me magic mouthwash. It helps soothe it but he didn’t really say what they were. Any suggestions on what’s going on? Just a byproduct of the strep from several weeks ago?
I have Ankylosing Spondylitis and take cosentyx monthly. I’m due for my cosentyx shot but don’t want to take it if I’m still sick. No fever and I feel fine besides the mild throat irritation.

The Hanging Tree By John Westrick

The ball streaked towards little Jimmy Hanson, covering the distance uncomfortably fast. The scrawny boy two sizes too small with the aviator glasses, cringed out of the way. It landed directly where he had been standing, and like that the game ended.
“Damnit Jimmy, you're supposed to catch the ball not hide from it!” a fat kid with a glove on one hand cried.
A skinny boy with glasses turned from the pitcher's mound to look at Jimmy disdain clearly visible on his face, “This is the third run you’ve allowed, and you wonder why we never let you play with us. You’re dog shit! Actually, I apologize to all loads of shit out there, you’re even more useless. I’d prefer to have Roger Morris on our team and he can’t see a damn thing with those bug eyes.”
An easy-going boy with blonde shaggy hair and a confident smile strolled up to Jimmy, extending his hand to assist, and said, “Here let me help you up. After all, you're the best player on our team. MVP hands down. Come on boys, give him a cheer!”
The boys chanted Jimmy’s name in a mocking parade of triumph.
“I don’t need your help, David,” said Jimmy.
Dirt smeared and face growing hot, the embarrassed boy attempted to climb to his feet. The hand extended to help, struck lightning-fast, catching the smaller boy squarely in the chest. With a groan of pain, the dirty boy hit the ground for the second time that afternoon.
“Well, if I knew you liked to eat dirt so much, I never would’ve offered to help,” said David, a wolfish smile forming on the landscape of his face.
A chorus of cruel laughter echoed all around.
“I hate you David Baxly,” said the wheezing boy.
David looked at Jimmy with disgust, giving him a savage kick to his left kidney. “Why don’t you do us all a favor and die. I doubt even your family would miss you.”
The rest of the boys walked away leaving the bleeding Jimmy whimpering on the ground.
No longer crying from pain but seething anger, slowly he began to crawl to his feet. “I wish I could go somewhere else. Just pick up and move and never have to see those shitheads ever again,” said Jimmy speaking to no one in particular.
It was thoughts of revenge that occupied his mind, half-baked plans, he didn't have the courage to act upon. No matter, it wasn’t revenge he truly sought, but a friend. The idea of having people look at him and truly see him. Humiliation for David Baxly was just an added bonus.
The bloody boy was still fantasizing about these things, when he found himself staring at the intersection of Jackson and main street in the sleepy town of Brookhollow, Tennessee. Brookhollow is like many rural towns, so tiny that it doesn’t even appear on the map. There are 876 residents in the tight-knit community, according to the 2008 census. Main street boasts one general store, a gas station, the town hall, and Debbie’s Diner.
It was on the outside of the later building that he saw the missing sign of Jack Dunkin, a 12-year-old boy from a neighboring town a few miles to the west. Jack was from Polk, a slightly larger town and known rival to Brookhollow. Even though Jack was in the same grade as Jimmy, they had never met.
Jimmy looked at the picture and saw that the boy had been missing for nearly 3 months. He wondered how his mom would react if he was missing that long; he reached the conclusion that she probably wouldn’t even notice. Ever since she took that job at Debbie’s to pay for the remainder of her husband’s gambling debts, she was hardly even home.
She was gone when he woke and didn't come back too well after he was asleep. The only time Jimmy had any communication with Laura Hanson was on Sundays. Even this small exposure was tainted by the bone deep exhaustion. She may have been present, even so, she wasn't there. Laura wakes, eats, drinks, uses the bathroom; yet she isn't really living. She reminded the boy of those cheesy horror movies they sometimes play late at night. The walking dead.
As little as his interaction with Laura, at least she still lived in the ramshackle motorhome right off the main highway. His dad, if he even still qualified to be called that, left some time back, draining the joint bank account and leaving the two of them penniless. Jimmy didn’t even know where he stayed, let alone had a phone number for the bastard. A few years back he received a postcard from him. He was shelled up in some two-bit motel in the thriving city of Las Vegas. On the back of the card was a charming little note, it said, “Jimmy, I wish you could see the city. Maybe you could come out and visit. I’d love for you to come and hang with my friends. Ps. Could you have your mom send me some money, I’m in a little bit of trouble here.
This led to his first real fight with his mom. He was adamant on going and meeting his father, thinking that if he got to know him he could change him. Bring him back. His mom wanted nothing to do with the man, nor did she want her son to be hurt again. The argument got heated and words were exchanged. In the end, he stayed, but some things chafe over time. Things were never quite the same.
If the boy was honest with himself, he would have to admit there is no one in his life. He has no friends in school, there is no one waiting for him at home, and he is not a part of any extracurricular activities. He goes to school, comes home, does his homework, makes dinner for his mom, and goes to bed. It has never occurred to him that he is lonely, the fact is he has never known anything else.
Jimmy doesn’t actually live in Brookhollow, his house is about two miles north up highway 29. He lives outside of the school’s jurisdiction, so he is unable to take the bus. He walks to school every day. The walk is peaceful and he actually looks forward to it. The boy possesses an overactive imagination and gets lost in his fantasies. A little less today, his ribs ache with every step. But not even this inconvenience can ruin the solitary 2-mile trek back home. He makes no turns, highway 29 is main street. All he needs to do is walk straight and he will arrive at his house.
But he is not walking in rural Tennessee anymore. He is a pioneer exploring the Great Frontier. Native Americans and wolves stalk him at night, he must be aware of the dangers that lie beyond every turn. He can see his way through any situation with the help of his trusty companion and best friend, One-eyed Pete. Pete used to be an outlaw that robbed and cheated people, but changed his ways when Jimmy saved him from being hung on the hanging tree.
A shutter runs through his body every time he remembers the hanging tree. It’s the largest oak he had ever seen. He loves to climb trees but would never dream of climbing that one. It is twisted, not a single leaf on its branches. If evil was ever a location, it would be at the heart of that gnarled tree. Jimmy doesn’t like to think about it. It always seems to ruin his mood. Poison his mind. His fantasies always turn darker when he thinks of the oak.
Suddenly he is aware of exactly how alone he is. A full mile out from the safety of the town. No one is nearby. It’s just him, the trees, and his own tormented imagination. He wishes he wouldn’t have thought of that tree. He wishes he had a dad to pick him up from school, but there is no rescue for him. In Jimmy’s experience, heroes only exist in the story books.
“The hanging tree is in your mind, Jimmy, it isn't real,” he tells himself over and over as if to ward away evil. And why not? For that tree is most definitely evil, the hideous villain in an insidious plot.
In the primal portion of his mind, he senses danger. The same skittish feeling the antelope experiences shortly before the concealed lion pounces and feasts on flesh.
“Trees don’t eat little boys,” murmurs the frightened boy.
“Maybe so, yet that oak could hardly be classified in the same league as other trees,” responds his own treasonous thoughts.
The boy's mind splinters; warring factions jockeying for supremacy. Paranoia seizes him, inky black hands clawing the air out of his lungs. A young boy unaware of the inward mutiny happening amidst his own wits, completely left to his own demented imagination. Yet, the stakes of this adventure are a great deal higher than any he has yet to experience.
His mother was fond of telling him, “What you think, you become.”
A truly awful thought slinks into his mind unbidden. What if the stories his mind conjures could gain reality too? The thought overwhelms the boy. His eyes shift back and forth searching for threats. Jimmy’s senses are keen to his surroundings. Every twig snapping, a creature stalking. Every bush rustling, a hungry beast ready to devour. Yet, the petty fears of a child's tormented mind pales to the unearthly wrongness of the hanging tree.
“What if mom is right?” says the concerned boy to the emptiness. At this unwelcome thought the boy slams his eyes closed in a futile attempt to banish the horrific idea.
“The hanging tree isn’t real,” says Jimmy, knowing in his heart this isn’t true. In the back of his mind, the boy is certain that the moment he opens his eyes, he will see it. He will see the strands of rope dangling from the gnarled branches. He will smell the smell of decaying bodies. He will hear the creak of rope swaying gently in the cool breeze.
The boy doubles his efforts in a vain attempt to keep his eyes closed. He sees red due to the strain he is putting on his muscles. He hears the steady pulse of his blood rushing in his head. The boy also understands that all this effort is for naught. He must open his eyes at some point. Jealousy creeps into the boy’s heart. Envy for the man born without sight. For the boy understands the moment he sees, there will be no coming back.
The moment has come.
Jimmy can no longer keep his eyes shut. Seconds before his eyes fling open, he feels the gentle touch of someone's hand on his shoulder. This touch startles him, and the boy throws wide his eyes.
Sure enough a few hundred yards in front of him, stands the abomination. A lone tree on the top of a bald, scarred hill. Not a living thing to be seen. No vegetation growing on the hill, no squirrels scuttling about, just a great oak, standing; an obscene gesture to the god of this world. The only fruit of this tree the decaying flesh of dead men, and likewise, the only cup the curdled blood of those hanging. A final meal set for the boy, an unholy communion.
The hand, whose was it? Was it even human? The little boy left visibly shaking at the touch of the unknown. Is this death? The icy grip of the Reaper himself here to harvest with his scythe. No marriage, no children, not knowing the pleasures of true friendship. Life cut short, a lamentable state of affairs.
It was in this line of thought, where true courage was mustered. A strength measured not by the size of his muscles or the amount one could lift, but the more impressive type, the type quantified in the amount of shit one can wade. Identified in the amount of crap hands dealt without bowing out altogether. Young Jimmy Hanson did the unthinkable, he turned and faced death looking it in the eyes.
Eyes, yes, but death perhaps not. It was no titan of horror, nor was it the poster child of demented evil. Child it was, but this boy was familiar. Not anyone from his class, yet he knew the boy. In a moment of clarity, he recognized him. It was the missing kid, Jack Dunkin.
He looked identical to the poster on the side of Debbie’s Diner. He wore the same black and white Van’s tee shirt, ripped blue jeans, and some tattered Nike tennis shoes. The thoroughly terrified Jimmy stood staring at the missing boy, mouth ajar.
Jack with an easy-going grin plastered on his face, said, “It's about time, someone comes looking for me. I've been waiting for you Jimmy, far too long.”
With an audible click the boy shut his gaping mouth and responded, “Ja- Jack, you've been missing for nearly three months. Have you been out here all along? Are you alone? Are you hurt?” Jimmy fired these questions in rapid succession, growing more suspicious with each word.
“I’ve been right here, waiting for you to come and play with me. You see, I am like you. I never had anyone to play with either. Now you are here, and you must stay with me,” said the bigger boy with a smile on his face.
Jimmy’s mind quieted, for the first time in his life he saw himself clearly. A boy with no friends, no father, hardly a mother, bullied every day, and no way of escape. Clarity revealed the harsh truth. A day had not gone by that he wasn’t lonely. There was no one in his life. There was no life for him.
The undersized boy looked at the other with longing in his eyes. He thirsted for a friend, like a man lost at sea. He hungered for companionship, like a man stuck in the wilderness. It wasn’t just a desire; he was desperate for a friend. If the bigger boy would leave, Jimmy felt as if his soul would tear in half. His heart would shatter into a thousand pieces unable to be put back together. The boys' eyes were a mirror reflecting the same sad truth, they understood each other. Both had lived, and neither had anyone to share it with.
The boys bound by shared hardships grasped onto each other refusing to let go. The combined burden of loneliness lessened by two backs, instead of one.
With few words exchanged, the two of them created soul ties. Not the ties of lovers, but of lifelong friends. The type one dies for. The rare type of friendship that most people never form in their entire life. It was rich. It was wholesome. Jimmy felt as if his life was complete. The one thing he always desired truly fulfilled.
Jack grabbed the smaller boy’s hand and guided him towards the tree.
Jimmy, not wanting to get anywhere near that monstrosity, tried to pull back.
“Don’t worry. The tree is a good place. It will take us to a new land filled with boys and girls just like you and I. No David’s or bullies like him,” said a smiling Jack.
“How did you know about David? You’ve been missing all this time,” said a concerned looking Jimmy.
“Jimmy, I hear whispers. My friends tell me things. They will tell you secrets too. If you want to be friends with me, that is.” The bigger boy looked down at his ragged shoes. He looked so pitiful and Jimmy was so starved for companionship, how could he not follow the boy.
Jack led the two of them to the scarred trunk of the tree. Here he let go of Jimmy’s hand, telling the boy, “Do exactly what I do.”
Jimmy’s fear bottled up deep in his guts. He felt as if he was going to explode. The tree was sinister and twisted. Evil through and through. Yet, the little boy had never had a friend. He was not willing to throw that away so easily.
Jack walked to the lowest hanging branch. He reached up and grabbed one of the dangling nooses. He wrapped it around his neck and looked at Jimmy. “Don’t worry, no pain is felt. The hanging tree is magic. You’ll close your eyes on this world, and wake up in a better place with me and all of my friends,” said a smiling Jack.
“Ja-Jack, I don’t think I can do this. It seems dangerous. I need to go back home soon. My mom will be waiting for me,” said a terrified Jimmy.
A heartbroken Jack looked at the smaller boy and said, “Jimmy, I can’t believe you would lie to me. Your mom isn’t home and she wouldn’t even notice that you are missing. Come with me. I am the only one who cares for you.”
Tears streaming down the smaller boy’s face, he responded, “Please don’t make me do it! This place frightens me. Can’t you just come home with me?”
“No! This world despises people like you and me. We weren’t made for it. We were made for the hanging tree. This is where you belong,” snarled the bigger boy.
Jimmy, eyes still running, reached with trembling hands for the dangling noose. He seized it. With one final glance at his friend, the little boy placed the loop around his neck. Immediately the noose drew tight. It felt as if the tree was hauling him up by it. The boy kicked and squirmed. Trying to shout for help, but his airflow was cut off. He managed to make a choking noise, then with one final twitch all was still. Still as the glassy surface of a lake on a spring day.
Little Jimmy Hanson had finally made a friend.
The two boys remained dangling together, gently swaying in the stale autumn breeze.

My girlfriend (F30) and I (F25) have been together for 4 years. We live 2 hours away from each other. She has meet a lot of my family due to them living in the same state as us, but I have yet to meet her family because they live in Texas. Though we haven't met, I do talk to her mom on FaceTime whenever my girlfriend talks to her so it's not like we have a bad relationship. My girlfriend and I have made attempts to go to Texas to see her but life always came in the way. And though my girlfriend has gone there to see her mom, it usually during the times her mom is going through something or a funeral and she doesn't want me to meet them during situations like that. I did try to meet her mom recently when I was staying over my girlfriends place because she is a truck driver and just happened to be driving through the state, but her mom expressed that she was tired and looked a mess so we didn't get the chance to meet. It was disappointing, however, she did say that she was planning on coming down on mothers day along with my girlfriends brother and his kids.
My mom usually likes taking trips during mothers day weekend and we usually celebrate it as a family the weekend after, so I told my girlfriends mom that we can see each other then. I told my mom about my plans to ensure she didn't feel any type of way about it too which she didn't). My girlfriends family was suppose to stay Friday to Monday morning and she asked if I could come that Saturday night because they were planning on going to see her grandfather 4 hours away. I have to take a bus in order to see her, so once she told me their plans, I booked my ticket the same day. For the past 2 months, my girlfriend has been working overtime in order to help prepare for their arrival and I tried my best to assist with that by buying things for her apartment.
Monday, the week they were coming down, my mom informed me that she was diagnosed with lupus. My mom almost passed away 4 years ago from a blood clot and ever since then, her health has kind of been all over the place. However, for 1 year, it did seem like everything was starting to become under control. So to hear she had lupus, did make me emotional. My mom told me that she was still okay with me meeting my girlfriends mom because she was still going to continue with her own plans. I informed my girlfriend about my mom's diagnosis and she was empathetic about the whole situation.
Fast forward to the day I was preparing to leave, I spoke to my girlfriend that morning and we expressed how excited we were for the overdue introduction in person. When I was in the middle of getting ready, my mom decided to have a conversation with me about mothers day. She expressed that she actually does want my sister and I to spend mothers day together with her because her health is starting to scare her and she doesn't know what will happen in the future. I don't see my mother crying often so to hear her breaking down, hurt me. I never want my mom to feel that she isn't supported so I decided I was going to spend mothers day with her. I called my girlfriend soon after and informed her what was going on. Her happy attitude soon turned to an annoyed one and said "I knew you weren't going to come." I asked her if she was upset and she said no and she loved me then got off the phone with me quickly saying she'll call me back. I texted her expressing how sorry I am and explained to her that it didn't feel right to just meet her mom after my mom broke down to me and up until now, I always had the intention of coming and would love to try and make a trip to her if we can. Though I won't be there in person, I told her that I would love to still speak to them through FaceTime. She told me " they're good, enjoy your family, love you."
I thought maybe things were okay but it feels like she is distant towards me. Whether she's busy with family or friends, she always makes time to at least text me and always calls me at night. The only times she doesn't is when she's upset. She did call me on mothers day that morning, but she asked if she could put my mom on the phone to say happy mothers day and then she hung up immediately after speaking to her. I tried not t jump to conclusions at first and just decided that maybe she'll talk to me after her family leaves cause she could be busy with them but I know they have left now and I still haven't heard anything. She has 2 phones, so even if something happened to her phone, she always makes sure to text me on her other one if something happened. Am I maybe overthinking things or aitah that could have handled things differently? I'm kind of lost on how to go about things and what to do.