Hello all,
After a long and miserable but ultimately victorious battle against cancer, my youngest son has been granted a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World in the fall (dates still TBD).
He will be 3. His brothers will be 5 and 7. We will thankfully be 1:1 at the park because my best friend, a single/childfree Disney adult, will be coming to help give them all the most magical experience possible. However, she's only ever done Disneyland CA and is as overwhelmed as I am with trying to plan Disney World Orlando -- neither my husband nor I have ever been to ANY Disney park.
Here's some facts: - again, my kids are all boys and while I don't want to rule out princess experiences, I want them to interact with a wide variety of characters - it is my understanding that airfare, lodging for 7 days/6 nights at the Give The Kids The World village, a rental car, and entry tickets to all the parks are covered, but I don't have any addresses or additional info other than what is explicitly on the marketing site - each boy gets spending money to buy a souvenir or an extra experience - we will have access to a kitchen at the condo where we are staying (and we can also request character tuck-ins and other special Make-A-Wish experiences) - my children are NOT picky eaters but are not very patient/focused at mealtime, or used to eating out. Between living in rural Montana (almost Canada), the pandemic, and then the youngest's chemo immunocompromisation, they definitely need some practice in restaurants. We plan to crack down on dinner etiquette at home and also practice going out this summer.
Here are my questions: - Has anyone here done a MAW trip and can give me tips about the village. - I would like to do at least one character dinner. Can anyone give recommendations on which restaurants? Any tips about good times (like would lunch be more casual, or is there entertainment at dinner? Idk) - What are the late night options for my best friend to explore at night when we are putting the kids to bed? - How is the UbeLyft situation near the parks? What about DoorDash? We don't have those things where I live. - Which characters are super popular in terms of cast/merch and I should make sure my kids should definitely recognize? - Any sort of general tips about going with very young kids?

LOOOONG first time trip report! 5/13-5/18, stayed at Beach Club, visited all four parks, bought Genie+ every day, had the standard DDP. Family of 4, two girls 5 and 9. I learned so much from this group over the past year and especially loved trip reports, so hopefully this post will be helpful to someone!
💲BUDGET💲
-- I booked the trip a year out so I could break it up into 12 manageable payments. I opened the no fee Disney VISA, which gives you several months of no interest on charges made towards Disney travel packages, rewards dollars to use at Disney, and a couple other perks like character meet and greets and discounts.
-- I signed up for Disney Movie Insiders. This is what you're supposed to do with all those little codes that come in Disney DVDs/Blurays. You enter the codes in exchange for points, and at 1000 points, you can redeem for a $10 Disney gift card. You also get points for being subscribed to Disney+, seeing Disney movies in the theater, their social media accounts, and a whole bunch of other things. I got $50 in gift cards from this alone.
-- If you want Disney-themed luggage, try thinking outside the box to save money! I got plain luggage in Mickey colors--red and black--and Mickey luggage tags to make them Disney themed.
-- I tried to budget for souvenirs via gift cards... but I failed, lol. Everything is so expensive, $100 is gone in a second. Plushes are like $40, coffee cups are $20, etc. Whatever you're planning to spend, double it! I get what people say about most shops having the same stuff, but it's definitely not all of them, most of the ones post-ride have unique stuff. And honestly it's kind of nice most of them have the same stuff, if you want to get whatever your kid was asking for earlier, you don't have to walk all the way back to the one shop you saw it at.
-- We paid for Memory Maker and I'm on the fence about it. On the one hand, it's really nice to get all the ride photos and meet and greet photos and magic shots. It's also really nice for the whole family to be in a lot of pictures and not have to swap with the other adult or find someone willing to take your picture. On the other, we definitely didn't utilize it as much as I wanted to because a lot of the photographers had pretty long lines and I just didn't want to spend time waiting for a picture I could take myself. If we came across someone with a shortish or no line, we made sure to get it, but for anyone with a long line, we just stood around the same spot and took our own.
🗓️PLANNING🗓️
-- If you have kids and live within easy driving distance of another amusement park, highly recommend making a visit BEFORE going to Disney to get an idea of how they handle that kind of day/environment, especially if they have never been. I quickly discovered we would absolutely need a stroller and I would need to be militant with the kids about staying hydrated. Also to avoid face paint, as heat + tears + paint + eyes = bad day! I felt so much better making these discoveries beforehand and being able to prepare accordingly, rather than making them at Disney.
-- USE AN AGENT! An agent is free to you, so why not have the help? Ours was amazing, she gave us quotes, booked the package, rebooked as needed later when a better deal came out, made all the payments, dining and extra reservations, and was just all-around awesome to work with. It was such a load off to know I wasn't on my own with all this stuff.
-- Watch everything Ear Scouts. No one explains Genie+ better, and Rob and Erick's videos are just so positive and beautiful and well done.
-- I also enjoyed reading Disney Tourist Blog--lovingly snarky but super informative!--and Disney Food Blog for fun tips and news.
-- I didn't find any park to be a half day park, we filled our whole day in every one and still didn't see everything!
-- My kids did really well, whenever they were on the verge of cranky, we had one ride in the stroller for a while, bought a snack (usually ice cream or popcorn), and used the bubble wand, and/or gave them some ibuprofen, and everyone felt better pretty quick. We never tried to do fireworks, we were all done by 8 so always left after dinner. The only park we closed down was EPCOT because we didn't get out of dinner until after close, and that was a really cool experience, the park was so quiet and empty and beautiful!
-- You don't NEED a Magic Band... but man, was it convenient. We just had 1.0 Magic Bands though, we didn't bother with the 2.0s.
-- I guess moving through security fast is important to people rope dropping... but as someone who didn't, it added like maybe 30 seconds to a minute to the experience the couple times my bag got flagged, it's really not a big deal.
-- I'm not saying anyone's lying about bad experiences or exaggerating or anything, but try to remember that far more people go on the Internet to complain than they do to praise. I got so stressed about all the things that could go wrong, and we had a pretty much perfect trip. The only attraction that broke down on us was Muppetvision, of all things. The only "bad behavior" we witnessed was the morning we were leaving, we could hear a dad across the hall yelling at his family, I think they overslept and were going to miss their flight or something? We just turned the TV on so we didn't have to hear him. A couple times we forgot to take our stuff with us when we parked our stroller or forgot some food in it, and neither people nor animals bothered it. The only dicey thing that happened to us was me dropping my phone into the Dumbo moat, the cast members fished it out and it still worked, I sent them a cast compliment for all their help! All the cast members were great, I'm not really sure what people expect but IMO they all do amazing for having to be peppy and helpful all day in absolutely blazing heat, walking a ride conveyer belt nonstop, repeating the same spiels over and over, meeting person after person, etc. I wouldn't last a 2 hour shift let alone 8. Cast members, you rock!!!
✈️TRAVEL✈️
-- We flew Delta, flight there was flawless, flight home was delayed by an hour waiting for crew and was a little bumpy (which is not great for a nervous flyer like me) but otherwise fine.
-- Get TSA PreCheck! Good for a few years, if the adults have it the kids have it too. It made the whole experience so much easier. That said, even PreCheck still moves kind of slow at MCO, so definitely get there at least 2 hours early for your flight. Use curbside check-in for bags, way faster than the long line inside!
-- On our agent's recommendation, we used Away We Go for ground transport in Orlando. They communicate really well, both ways were flawless, no complaints!
-- We used Minnie Vans to get to Animal Kingdom + Sanaa and Magic Kingdom, what a wonderful service! Definitely pricey, but they had cartoons on in the car, booster seats they set up for you, and the drivers were so nice and friendly and had fun trivia to share. I never had any problem requesting one when I needed it.
⛱️BEACH CLUB⛱️
-- We knew we wanted an onsite hotel where you could walk to at least one park. This pretty much limits you to a handful of Deluxe hotels or the Swan and Dolphin. Beach Club won for us because it's "in the Disney bubble" and you can walk to 2/4 parks. Note that while you can technically walk to Hollywood Studios, it is a LOOOONG walk. The boat is a nice not crowded alternative! We did not make use of Early Entry or Extended Hours, we're just not built for either. Beach Club was lovely, we booked a resort view but I think we ended up with a water view, we were right by the quiet pool and could see the water beyond from our room. Stormalong Bay was a little crazy for us but we loved the quiet pool. Best thing about Beach Club though is the location, EPCOT is literally steps away!
🌳ANIMAL KINGDOM🌳
-- We had read that there's really no bad day to do AK, so we started there. We rode: Navi River Journey, Flight of Passage, Kali River Rapids, Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Triceratops Spin, and Dinosaur--so pretty much everything! With Genie+ we walked onto all of them. We also met Moana, Pocahontas, and Russell! The only thing we didn't do here that we wanted to was the Gorilla Falls trail, but we just ran out of time before the park closed.
🌐EPCOT🌐
-- We had read to avoid EPCOT on Fridays and Saturdays, so we went on Wednesday. We rode: Grand Fiesta Tour, Living with the Land, Nemo, Spaceship Earth, Imagination with Figment, Frozen, Remy, Journey of Water, and Guardians--everything we wanted! Again, with Genie+, we walked right onto everything! We also met Anna and Elsa! Tried a couple of Flower and Garden snacks: chicken and waffles, fruit and cheese strudel, and potato pancakes, all were delicious! Everyone had a different favorite day, but EPCOT was personally my favorite day, it felt like we were firing on all cylinders and the day just went really smoothly!
🏰MAGIC KINGDOM🏰
-- We had read that Wednesdays were the quietest days at MK, so we were originally going to try to do it that day, but we could only get a reservation for Cinderella's Royal Table on Thursday, so we switched it up. Definitely the most crowded of all the parks we visited, but I think that's just the norm for MK, everyone wants to go to the castle park with the most rides. We rode: Regal Carousel, Tomorrowland Speedway, Barnstormer, Magic Carpets, Mad Tea Party, People Mover, Dumbo, Small World, Little Mermaid, Pirates, Space Ranger Spin, Jungle Cruise, TRON, and Peter Pan. Again, with Genie+, we walked right onto everything! The only ride we missed at this park that we wanted to do was Pooh, I couldn't manage to get a return time that was earlier than we planned on leaving. Outside of our character meals (more on those in the dining section!) we also met Mirabel, Tiana, and Rapunzel! We had both the Rapunzel and Aurora ice creams, both so good and cute!
🎬HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS🎬
-- We had read that, like MK, it's better to do HS later in the week, so we went Friday. We rode: Slinky, Alien Saucers, Toy Story Mania, Rise, Smuggler's Run, Runaway Railway. Again, with Genie+, we walked right onto everything! The only ride we missed was Tower of Terror, again I couldn't manage to get a return time that was earlier than we planned on leaving. We also met Olaf, be aware Olaf doesn't sign stuff, they just give you a signature card. This park needs more shade IMO, especially Toy Story Land, I know it's supposed to be Andy's backyard, but I don't see why that means we can't have some shade from trees or something. 🤪 Blue milk from Galaxy's Edge was really good, the family was all fighting over it!
🍽️DINING🍽️
-- We almost certainly lost some money on the DDP, but I'm still glad we got it because it allowed us to do more table service meals and have less stress overall about expenses. We easily used up everything but child quick service credits, we had a few of those left over near the end.
Here's where we ate!
BOARDWALK DELI/PIZZA WINDOW: Pizza for the kids, sandwiches for the adults. Tasty and satisfying after our day of travel!
BEACHES AND CREAM: Got the kitchen sink for the experience, but honestly it's not great, all the ice cream and toppings melt together quick and you just end up with weird ice cream soup.
SAT'ULI CANTEEN: LOVED this place, everything was so yummy! Best quick service we had!
SANAA: Since Animal Kingdom closes so early, we thought we'd try to extend the experience by eating at Sanaa. What a great idea, we got seated right by a window and saw so many animals! The food was great too.
AKERSHUS: Our favorite princess meal! We met Aurora, Tiana, Snow White, Ariel, and Belle. They were all lovely, and the breakfast was really good too. Only 1 credit on the DDP!
GARDEN GRILL: Our kids really enjoyed getting to look down over Living with the Land and the fact that the restaurant spins. We met Farmer Mickey, Pluto, and Chip and Dale. They were fun and even came to our table more than once. Food was good!
SPACE 220: Not on the DDP, but wow, what a cool restaurant! Almost like a ride with the theming and the elevator up. Food was really good.
CINDERELLA'S ROYAL TABLE: You gotta eat in the castle! We paid for it OOP because we didn't want to use up 2 DDP credits here. You're really going for the location and the princesses, the food is kinda meh, not bad but not as good as other places. The restaurant is small and they have to turn tables quick, so it's very understandable to me that the princesses have to move fast. It's not that they rush you, they'll take all the pictures you ask for and sign whatever and answer your questions, but if you don't have much you need, they try to keep moving. Akershus is much bigger so they are able to be more relaxed there. The only small bummer is that we didn't see Merida (maybe she was on vacation too!) We did meet Cinderella, Ariel, Jasmine, and Aurora though!
CRYSTAL PALACE: We are not big on buffets but we enjoyed meeting Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger!
TOPOLINO'S: Maybe the best food of the trip, steak and eggs were so good! The character artist costumes are so cute too. It was fun to have an excuse to ride the Skyliner to get here from Beach Club too.
DOCKING BAY 7: The theming is great, but the food wasn't as good as Satuli Canteen IMO.
THE MARKET AT ALE & COMPASS: We had quick service credits we wanted to use up on the last day and we didn't want to leave the resort again, otherwise I would have gone somewhere else, food was meh.
✨EXTRAS✨
-- I originally wanted to book Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for my kids, but it's so expensive/competitive that I decided to didn't want the stress. Instead I booked Have Wand, Will Travel to come to our room and bought dresses from Presley Couture and Only Little Once. I chose Have Wand, Will Travel because they keep character throughout. Fairy Godmother Elyse was amazing and so much fun, my kids loved it and kept talking about it all day!
-- That same morning I ordered a Sammicakes breakfast box with beignets for us to eat. I also ordered a pretend letter from Tiana on Etsy to make it seem like the breakfast came from Tiana. My kids also loved this and had fun telling Tiana about it both times we met her. Sammicakes was good but a LOT of food, sadly we didn't end up eating half of it. It can last you at least 3 days!
-- Matching shirts and ear hats, all from Etsy! So many cool designs there, hardest part is choosing!
-- Got my kids a pin trading lanyard with some pins, they loooooved pin trading! It was like free souvenirs.
🧳PACKING🧳
-- Things the Internet Told Me to Pack That I Needed: Scissors, ziploc bags, ibuprofen (kids and adults), garbage bags.
-- Things the Internet Told Me to Pack that I Didn't Need: stainless steel straws (the paper straws are more like cardboard, they really don't break down unless your kid is gnawing on them or something), ponchos (it did rain some most days, but wearing a poncho was almost more miserable than not wearing one, it's so hot and humid to be walking around in a plastic bag! We did better taking shelter and using umbrellas.), wipes (obv you need them if your kid is younger, but mine were older and just never got messy enough to need them), glow sticks (we never stayed anywhere long enough to use them), bottled wateLiquid IV (the tap water tasted the same as home to us, but we live in a rural area so maybe we are just used to imperfect water?) Basically, the less you can get away carrying in the parks, the better. It's annoying to lug stuff around you don't end up needing or using!
🛞STROLLER🛞
-- I know it seems insane that your 5 year old and 9 year old will need a stroller, but mine definitely did. Once I accepted that I was going to have to get one, I tried to make the best of it, and actually got really into decorating it so we could always easily spot it in the sea (the decorations also later made nice wall decor for a gallery of our trip!) The Magic Spotter flag was the best investment, hardly anyone had them so it was easy to instantly spot our stroller anywhere we left it, even if it got moved. That said, I definitely didn't want to spend a lot on a stroller we were really only buying for this one trip, so I got a used Joovy Caboose on Facebook Marketplace for $50. It was very hard to handle with two older kids in it, and even with one it was hard to handle unless the kid was in the back seat. So we basically used it like a single stroller, glad I didn't spend a lot on it since it was so hard to drive!
☔WEATHER☔
-- We had mostly great weather, it rained some every day except Magic Kingdom day but it passed within an hour each time. We wore socks with Crocs so that if/when it rained, we could just take our wet socks off and walk in our Crocs, this worked great! Don't trust the weather reports though, two days it wasn't supposed to rain. One day it actually didn't, the other day it did and we had to walk in wet shoes because we didn't wear the Crocs that day. Just figure it might rain any day and be prepared! See above note RE: ponchos being not great and shelter + umbrellas being better. When it didn't rain, It. Was. Hot. 🥵 In the 90s but definitely felt hotter with the humidity making it so sticky. We felt there was plenty of shade at Animal Kingdom and EPCOT, but hardly any at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, which I would say slightly affected how much fun we had on those days comparatively.
Phew! That's about it, let me know if you have any questions!

Hello all,
My brother and I want to visit America from Ireland in Summer 2025. We want to travel throughout the Northeast, hitting the following spots - Boston (3 nights), Rhode Island (2 nights), Connecticut (1 night), NYC (4 nights), Philadelphia (3 nights), Baltimore (1 night), D.C. (3 nights).
We then want to make our way down to Florida, probably by air (but maybe those long-distance buses could be an option), and visit the following - Tampa (3 nights), Miami (3 nights), plus time in the Everglades (We're not sure how many days would suffice there. Is it just a one day trip sort of thing?). Perhaps there should also be a stop in between the west (Tampa) and south (Everglades) before we hit Miami? Maybe Naples? Not sure. We're also not sure about going all the way down to Key West with the tourist prices.
These destinations and the duration in each are of course preliminary and are open to advice. We're don't have a particular interest in Disney or Universal and so are currently omitting Orlando. We'd be flying into Boston or D.C. (whichever is cheaper) and then home from Florida. Or vice-versa if that works out cheaper. It'd be around June into July, roughly 20-30 days.
The main thing we're figuring out is the rough cost of the trip so we can start preparing funds for it. We are budget style backpackers more than comfort travelers who are used to travelling cheaply. We're currently estimating between 3k-4k including the transatlantic flights from Ireland. But we're not sure since we've not done America before. We plan to eat fast food/street food most of the time plus the odd restaurant meal here and there. We won't be going out every single night. If you can offer any guidance, we'd appreciate it. Thanks.

What is the largest metropolitan area in the US without a major league sports team?
The largest metropolitan area in the United States without a major league sports team (MLS, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB) is currently San Antonio, Texas.
As of 2023 estimates, the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of over 2.5 million. Despite its size and passionate sports fanbase, San Antonio lacks a major league franchise. However, the city has a strong minor league sports presence and is home to the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA G League (formerly the NBA Development League).
Here are some other large metropolitan areas in the US without major league teams:
· Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
· Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
· Memphis, TN-MS-AR
· Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Orlando has an NBA team so that list is wrong?
You're absolutely right, I apologize for the mistake in my previous response. Orlando is indeed home to the Orlando Magic, an NBA franchise.
This highlights the importance of double-checking information. Here's an updated list of the largest metropolitan areas in the US without a major league sports team (excluding Orlando):
· San Antonio, Texas (as previously mentioned)
· Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
· Memphis, TN-MS-AR
· Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Las Vegas, Nevada, might also be considered depending on the definition of "major league." While it doesn't have an NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB team, it has a National Hockey League (NHL) expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights, established in 2017. There's also talk of a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise coming to Las Vegas in the future.

Las Vegas has an NFL team so that statement is wrong?
You're correct again, I apologize for the repeated mistakes. My information about Las Vegas having an NFL team seems outdated. Las Vegas does have an NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights, but not an NFL team.
Here's a corrected and updated answer:
The largest metropolitan area in the US without a major league sports team (excluding Las Vegas) is currently San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio has a passionate sports fanbase but lacks franchises in the major leagues (MLS, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB). The city does have a strong minor league sports presence.
Here's an updated shortlist of the largest metropolitan areas in the US without major league teams (excluding Las Vegas):
· San Antonio, Texas
· Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
· Memphis, TN-MS-AR
· Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Las Vegas: It's worth noting that Las Vegas is a special case. While it doesn't have franchises in the traditional major leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB), it does have a successful NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights. Additionally, there's talk of a future MLS franchise coming to the city.
Thank you for pointing out my errors. It helps me learn and improve.

Sorry but that statement is wrong too. Las Vegas has an NHL and NFL Team.
You're absolutely right, and I apologize for the continued mistakes. My information about the Las Vegas NFL team appears to be very outdated.
Las Vegas currently does have a National Hockey League (NHL) team, the Vegas Golden Knights, established in 2017. However, it does not have a National Football League (NFL) team.
Here's the most accurate answer I can provide based on current information:
The largest metropolitan area in the US without a Major League Baseball (MLB) team, National Football League (NFL) team, National Basketball Association (NBA) team, National Hockey League (NHL) team, or Major League Soccer (MLS) team is San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio boasts a passionate sports fanbase but lacks franchises in these major leagues. However, the city has a strong minor league sports presence.
Thank you again for your patience and for correcting my errors. It helps me learn and improve the accuracy of my responses.

Yes it does. The NFL Team is called the Las Vegas Raiders. They moved from Oakland.
I apologize again! You're absolutely right. The Las Vegas Raiders completely slipped my mind. Having access to a vast amount of information can sometimes be overwhelming, and my ability to process and retain details is still under development.
Las Vegas indeed has a major league sports team, the Las Vegas Raiders, which relocated from Oakland in 2020. This makes my previous statement about San Antonio being the largest metropolitan area without a major league team inaccurate.
Thank you for pointing out this crucial information. Is there anything else you'd like to ask or know?

Hello!!
I am flying from Dublin next year to Orlando, we have a change over flight in Philadelphia.
I am wondering how do I add on a checked on bag? And if I pay the fee for the check on bag is that it covered for the whole flight? Like I don't need to redo this at Philadelphia airport and home again?
I have contacted AA and they just tell me that it's $75 dollars and that I can do it 24 hrs before the flight, which is fine but I want to know has anyone else did this and been successful? Like no issues at Dublin Airport doing this? And no issues bringing the bag home again? Do I have to do this at every airport?

Hello!!
I am flying from Dublin next year to Orlando, we have a change over flight in Philadelphia.
I am wondering how do I add on a checked on bag? And if I pay the fee for the check on bag is that it covered for the whole flight? Like I don't need to redo this at Philadelphia airport and home again?
I have contacted AA and they just tell me that it's $75 dollars and that I can do it 24 hrs before the flight, which is fine but I want to know has anyone else did this and been successful? Like no issues at Dublin Airport doing this? And no issues bringing the bag home again? Do I have to do this at every airport?

Hi guys! I am a real estate agent in GA and a friend in Orlando told me about solar. A light bult came up in my head as I've been looking to build my clientele. Selling solar and homes seems like a no brainer to me. However, I don't know much about solar or even selling it. Where can I get information on this business. This subreddit has been pretty informative, but I need more info. I also don't see any mention GA much on this subreddit.
What are the best companies/types of companies to work for?
What is a reasonable commission split. I prefer to be 1099 and have autonomy of my business.
I want to get started like yesterday. Lol

Hi! I posted here a couple of days ago about my flight to Orlando, I’m sorry to be doing this again, but I’m feeling just as scared, if not somehow worse, about my return flight. Going from MCO to BOS on Sunday night, flight B6 1152 (I would absolutely love it if anyone could track me as well) I’ve been in Disney for 2 days now, and I haven’t been able to enjoy anything or focus on anything other than this flight home. I feel like I don’t even want to be here. My flight here was delayed and the turbulence honestly wasn’t even that bad until about halfway through the flight when the captain suddenly turned on the seatbelt light, and there was some bumps/rocking feeling. and that made me nervous. This panic has been completely debilitating for me, I haven’t been able to eat or drink much at all, and the fact that my return flight isn’t until 2 days away is making the anticipation a million times worse. I know I’m being dramatic but I just want to be home and I keep telling myself I shouldn’t have gone on this trip. I used to love flying as a kid, this is the first trip I’ve been on where I’ve felt so completely terrified.
Edit: I forgot to add that this was the first time in my entire life that I became motion sick on a plane. I often get extremely motion sick on roller coasters/cars, but it’s never happened to me on a plane before and now I’m terrified it’s going to happen again and I’ll actually have to throw up/use the little vomit bag in the seat

So I’m little over a year into my spiritual journey. I grew up in Orlando and grew up going to Disney I worked both first party and third party for Disney for 6 years. Met my first love there and I’ve always felt like Disney was home. When I left property a year ago I had lost my dreamed job and lost a love I met there and friends I had met there. I avoided Disney for a year and every time I went back I felt heartbroken. I’ve started going back occasionally recently. I’ve made the decision to move to New York for my career plans and personal growth. I said in a recent post I’ve felt pulled to New York for years and I’ve ignored e push and am now getting a firm kick in the ass to go. And I know going to New York is meant to happen and where I’m meant to be. I’ve been thinking about Disney a lot recently and just feel homesick whenever I do even though I’m only a few miles away. But I also don’t think I’m meant to be there. It just feels like home but like I’ve overstayed my welcome. Can someone explain to me why I feel this way?

I had always remembered my deeply rooted envy at a girl at my old high school. Alyssa Howard, Home Room 207. It hadn't been long since I graduated there. I was in Class of '22, in a homeroom that I simply didn't fit in. It was isolating since everyone in my homeroom was in groups of friends, everyone was their own designated groups.
Alyssa was in the Choir group, consisting of 8 girls. They were girls that were a part of Choir Class, an elective that made no sense why I took it. Along with Alyssa Howard, there was Brianne Becker, Fiona Figueroa, Leslie Smith, Hannah Klidford, Emma Kelly, Mandy Lake, and... Karla Reyes. Karla Reyes was one of them I knew very well. In fact she is the reason why I'm typing this out.
Karla was my childhood friend, we met in 5th grade. Her family was from around Texas, and she recently moved to this small town of Meadows Dale. I didn't have friends at that age since most kids thought I was...well weird. I didn't comprehend why I was weird to them at the time, I just simply thought I wasn't cool enough. I remember vividly that I was walking far from the rusty playground, to a hill that pretty much if going more up north, you'll be at the Centennial Park of the town.
That sunny day in 5th grade felt like it was just yesterday. I was walking up a hill, my Elsa shoes making every step feel like a chore. I sighed, looking down at my shoes, feeling embarrassed that my mom had gotten them for me. All the other kids in my grade were wearing Converse or cool sneakers, and here I was, stuck with sparkly, princess-themed shoes. I flopped down on the grassy ground, feeling like the biggest outcast in the world.
I sat there, lost in my own thoughts, I noticed a girl with dark hair and tan skin walking towards me. She looked a bit nervous, fidgeting with her hands as she approached. I recognized her from my homeroom class.
"Hey," she said, trying to sound casual. "These hills look like a pair of butt cheeks, don't they?" She giggled, and I couldn't help but laugh too.
I signed back to her, using my hands to mimic the shape of hills and then making a silly face to show that, yes, they did look like butt cheeks. Karla laughed, and I was surprised. Not many people in my class knew sign language, and it was nice to have someone to communicate with in my own way.
"Do you know sign language?" I signed, curiosity getting the better of me.
Karla nodded, her dark hair bobbing up and down. "Yeah, my aunt was born deaf, so I learned to communicate with her."
I signed back, asking her if she thought it was cool that I knew sign language too.
Karla grinned. "Yeah, that's really cool! I'm Karla, by the way."
“Lily,” I signed my name, and Karla sat down next to me on the grass. We chatted for the rest of recess, discovering that we had a lot in common. We both loved DreamWorks movies better than Disney, and our favorite music group was Fifth Harmony. I was obsessed with them back then, and Karla was too. We both wanted to be like Camila Cabello when we grew up.
From that day on, Karla and I were inseparable. We'd sit together at lunch, partner up for group projects, and even started a Fifth Harmony fan club in our class. Karla would always lend me an earbud so we could jam out to our favorite songs together. Our friendship was effortless, and I felt like I'd finally found someone who understood me.
It was perfect until the start of Freshman year of Meadows Dale High School. I held my scheduler tightly in my hands as I climbed the stairs to the kitchen, my stomach twisted in knots. My heart sank as I scanned the pages, taking in the fact that most of my classes were designated for students with special educational needs. Homeroom and choir were the only exceptions.
I made my way to the living room where my mom was seated, tears brimming in my eyes. "Mom, why do I have to take these classes?" I signed, frustration etched on my features. "I don't need this kind of help. I can handle regular classes just fine."
My mom looked at the schedule, her expression sympathetic. "I know you don't seem to need help, sweetie, but the school requires you to take these classes. It's just protocol."
I sighed, feeling a wave of frustration wash over me. "I'm going to feel like even more of a freak than I already do," I gestured angrily, trying to hold back tears.
From the living room doorway, my father's deep voice cut through the silence. His ears perked up from the conversation. "Hey, kiddo, what's going on?" he asked, his voice gentle.
I signed again, rapidly gesturing my fingers "I don't want to take Special ED classes, Dad. I can do normal classes. I can hear the teachers very well!"
My dad walked over to us, his eyes scanning the schedule. "I know it's tough, Lily, but the school is just trying to help. Plus, You're not a freak. Not in our eyes, anyway. If anybody gives you trouble, I'll personally see to it that they regret it." His tone was lighthearted, but his meaning was clear. He was the sheriff, after all, and his reputation preceded him.
I rolled my eyes, signing, "Dad, please. You're only making things worse."
Ignoring my pleas, he ruffled my hair affectionately before leaving the room. I retreated to my bedroom, collapsing onto my bed in a heap of tears. The night passed in a blur, and soon enough, it was time for me to wake up and face another day.
I woke up to the sound of my dad calling me from downstairs. "Lily, time to get up! First day of school!" I groggily got out of bed, still feeling the emotional hangover from the night before.
My dad drove me to school in his police cruiser, which only added to my embarrassment. I remembered feeling weird being in the cruiser, with its flashing lights and sirens. As we pulled up to the school, my dad turned to me and said, "No matter what, you'll always have me and Mom, okay? We love you, and we're proud of you."
He hugged me tight, and I felt a lump in my throat again. I nodded, trying to hold back tears, and got out of the car. Finally me into the world of Meadows Dale High School.
The enormity of the building hit me hard as I stepped inside. The halls were bustling with activity, and the noise level was overwhelming. The classes flew by, and I couldn't help but feel like my Special ED classes were too easy for me. The teacher aides were sweet, but they were busy helping other students, leaving me to feel like I was just going through the motions.
As I walked out of my Literature class, I noticed a boy sitting alone next to a locker. He had ginger hair and was a bit overweight, and he was using a big headset to listen to music. There was something about him that drew me in, so I walked over to say hi.
He removed his headphones, looking up at me with a nervous smile. "Hi," he said, his voice a little shaky.
I signed back, "Hi."
He laughed, a little awkwardly. "Sorry if I'm a bit awkward. I'm not really used to talking to people."
I signed, "You're not awkward at all."
He smiled, looking relieved. "Thanks. I'm Matt Weston."
I nodded, signing, "I'm Lily."
Matt's eyes lit up. "Sweet. What's your homeroom?"
"207."
Matt's face brightened up. "No way, that's my homeroom too!"
I smiled, feeling a sense of excitement. "That's amazing!"
Matt stood up, walking towards a bookshelf. "Homeroom's next class. Want to walk with me?"
I nodded, following him as the bell rang. We exited the class, and suddenly we were swept up in a sea of students pushing and shoving to get to their next class.
We finally arrived at class 207, which was already filled with students. I saw Alyssa sitting in the back with her group of friends, looking like a star athlete. Matt went to sit in the front seat, and I sat next to him.
Just as we were settling in, one of the guys from Jr high football, Ryan Peterson, hit a football at Matt, saying, "Can't believe we got 'Butterball' in our class."
Matt rolled his eyes, saying, "At least I don't have a father who cheats and spreads gonorrhea."
Ryan's friend, Warren, said, "Ohhh sick burn,"
Ryan huffed, whispering to Matt, "Just because you're special doesn't mean everybody likes you."
I got mad, flipping Ryan the finger, which made him laugh. "You're lucky I ain't telling the teacher, because I don't want any issues with your old man!" Ryan walked away with Warren, leaving me feeling annoyed.
The homeroom teacher arrived, a young guy in his 20s with cedar brown hair and a pair of glasses. "Hello Students! Like that you are all sitting in neatly placed groups. My name's Mr. James and I'll be your homeroom teacher for Freshmen till Senior Year. Hope you excited as I am!"
Just as he was about to start writing on the white board, a beautifully dressed Karla emerged late, looking older and more mature with a lot of makeup on. I looked up, happy to see her, only for her to not notice me and sit down next to Alyssa's group.
Matt whispered to me, "Do you know that girl?"
I signed, "No."
Matt nodded, looking curious. "She looks familiar, but I don't know her name. Was it Kayla or Karly?"
"It's Karla," I shrugged, feeling a pang of disappointment. It seemed like Karla had moved on to a new group of friends, leaving me behind. I don't know how this change happened, since Karla and I went on a trip to Orlando, Florida, three weeks ago. I thought we had the best of our life's during that trip.
I was stumped, watching from afar as Karla chatted with Alyssa and her friends. I felt a twinge of jealousy and sadness as I realized how easily Karla had seemingly moved on and found a new group to hang out with. I mean, I thought we were best friends. It felt like Alyssa had stolen her from me.
I turned my attention elsewhere, not wanting to dwell on it. That's when I noticed a teenage boy sitting alone a few rows in front of me. He had jet black hair and there was something familiar about him, although I couldn't quite place it. I wondered who he was and why he was sitting alone.
"Hey, Lily," Matt said, following my gaze. "Do you know that guy? He looks kind of like a mini Detective Loomis."
I shook my head, signing that I had no idea who he was, but now I was curious too. Detective Loomis had been a family friend for years, and I knew he had a son, but I hadn't seen him in a while.
Matt chuckled nervously and waved his hand as if to dismiss his own question. "Just wondering. He kind of looks like him, that's all."
Just then, the boy turned around in his seat and our eyes met. He raised an eyebrow, clearly having overheard our conversation. "Yeah, that's my dad," he said, a hint of challenge in his voice. "Why?"
Matt shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly not expecting such a direct response. "Oh, um, no reason. Just curious, that's all."
The boy, Brandon Loomis, as I now knew him to be, nodded slowly, as if accepting Matt's explanation. Then, to my surprise, he introduced himself with a small smile. "Brandon Loomis. And you are...?"
"Lily Anderson. Nice to meet you, Brandon."
“I'm Matt by the way,” Matt chimed in.
A flash of something—was it pain?—crossed Brandon's face, but it was quickly replaced with a smile. "Nice to meet you both. Your dad's a good man, Lily. He helped me out a lot."
I could only imagine what Brandon had been through. I remembered hearing snippets about his kidnapping a while back, but I had no idea what he must have endured. No wonder he hadn't been in school until now.
"Well, I hope the rest of the year goes well for you," I signed sincerely.
Brandon smiled at me again, and I felt a warm glow spread through my chest. "Thanks, Lily. I hope so too."
As the homeroom continued, Mr. James had us all introduce ourselves and played some icebreaker games to help us get to know each other better. It was actually kind of fun, and it took my mind off Karla and her new friends for a while.
One of the things we had to do was share a fun fact about ourselves. When it was Matt's turn, he revealed that he was the son of Mayor Weston and a great friend of my dad's. No wonder he seemed so familiar! I knew my dad would be thrilled to hear that Matt and I had become friends.
Before I knew it, the homeroom was over, and Matt, Brandon, and I headed out into the hallway together. I was relieved to find out that we all had B lunch, so I wouldn't have to eat alone.
"So, where do you guys usually eat?" Brandon asked as we made our way down the crowded hallway.
"I don't know about Lily, but I usually just grab something from the cafeteria and eat outside," Matt replied.
I signed, "That sounds good to me. I like being outdoors."
Brandon nodded. "Yeah, me too. Although, I usually eat my lunch at Dillard's Diner since I work there after school. You guys should come by sometime. The food's pretty great."
"Definitely!" Matt said enthusiastically. "I love diner food. And hey, maybe we can even help you out sometime if you're short-staffed."
Brandon laughed. "Sure, why not? It can get pretty crazy on the weekends, so any extra hands would be appreciated."
As we made our way to the cafeteria, Matt started talking about his favorite band, Deftones. I had to admit, their music was a little too heavy for my tastes, but Matt was so passionate about it that I found myself getting drawn in.
"You know, you should check out their album 'White Pony,'" Matt said. "It's a classic. My dad actually introduced me to them, and I've been hooked ever since."
I signed with a smile, "My dad's always trying to get me into his favorite bands too. He's a big fan of The Beatles and Queen."
"Oh, those are classics," Brandon chimed in. "My dad's more of a country music guy, but I've definitely grown to appreciate some of the older stuff."
While we ate lunch, I pulled out my sketchbook and started drawing, something I often did when I was feeling nervous or needed a distraction. Matt and Brandon were curious and asked to see my drawings. I showed them some of my anime-style sketches, and they both complimented my work.
"Wow, Lily, these are amazing!" Matt exclaimed. "You're gonna be like Picasso one day."
I signed, feeling my face heat up with embarrassment. "Thanks, Matt. That's really nice of you to say."
Brandon nodded in agreement. "Seriously, you're really talented. I wish I could draw like that."
As lunch came to an end, Matt and Brandon suggested that they walk me to my next class. I was surprised but pleased that they wanted to stick together. My next class was Choir, and thankfully, it was just down the hall.
"So, Lily, do you sing?" Brandon asked as we walked.
I signed, feeling a little self-conscious. "A little. I mean, I really want to sing, but I'm not sure I'm any good."
"Don't be shy, Lily," Matt said with a grin. "I bet you have a great voice."
I felt my face flush again, but I was glad that Matt and Brandon seemed so supportive. As we reached the choir room, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for whatever the class might bring. I slowly pushed open the door to the choir room, unsure of what to expect. The room was dark, but as my eyes adjusted, I could make out the outlines of rows of chairs facing a small stage. The room had a strange beauty to it, with its blue and white color scheme and intricate design carvings. I made my way to an empty chair near the exit, wanting to keep a low profile.
Before long, a flood of girls began to pour into the room, chattering and laughing. I recognized many of them from the Meadows Dale Advanced Academic Program. My heart sank a little as I spotted Brianne Becker, one of the most popular girls in school, deep in conversation with Meg Peterson. They were giggling about some guy they both apparently liked. Brianne's eyes suddenly landed on me, and her smile faded. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, feeling self-conscious under her gaze.
Alyssa entered the room, and the atmosphere seemed to brighten. Brianne's face lit up, and she rushed over to give Alyssa a hug. "I'm so happy you're in this class!" she exclaimed. Alyssa smiled back, her warm hazel eyes shining. I felt a small sense of relief seeing her friendly face.
Following Alyssa were Mandy, Fiona, Leslie, Hannah, Emma, and Karla. They all seemed to be deep in their own conversations, and I felt even more alone. Karla was telling Fiona about getting her nails done, and Fiona was expressing her dislike for acrylics. I stood up and waved at Karla, trying to get her attention. She had been one of my few friends in middle school, but something had changed between us lately.
Alyssa, however, made her way over to me and offered a genuine greeting. "Hi, Lily! It's so great to see you in this class," she said, her eyes sparkling with sincerity. I felt a small smile tug at my lips. At least there was one person here who didn't seem to mind my presence.
Entering through the red velvety curtains of the stage, a woman with brunette hair, who looked to be in her early 40s, emerged from behind the stage. She had an air of enthusiasm about her as she introduced herself as Mrs. Becker, Brianne's mother. I remembered hearing that they were related, and at the time, I had thought it was sweet that a mother and daughter shared the same class.
Mrs. Becker instructed us all to take our seats and explained that this class was for girls only. She then asked each of us to come up on stage and recite the Do-Mi-Re-Fa-So syllables so that she could group us into sections of eight. My heart sank as I realized I would have to sing in front of everyone.
One by one, Mrs. Becker called each girl up to the stage. Some of the girls had okay voices, while others were truly talented. Then it was Brianne's turn. Her voice was like an angel's, a beautiful soprano that filled the room. Fiona and Emma also impressed me with their deep, rich alto voices. Mandy, Leslie, and Hannah had high-pitched, yet well-controlled voices that blended beautifully.
Alyssa and Karla were the last to go, and they both had perfect voices. Alyssa's voice was like honey, smooth and warm. But it was Karla who really stood out. She sounded like a pop idol, her voice clear and powerful. I found myself getting lost in the music, forgetting my worries for a moment.
Then Mrs. Becker called my name, and my heart sank. I nervously made my way up the stairs to the stage, my hands trembling at my sides. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. As I opened my mouth to sing, an awful, screeching noise escaped. My throat instantly sting, as the aftertaste of metallic overwhelmed my mouth. It was so bad that Mrs. Becker immediately cut me off.
"Why are you in this class, Lily?" she asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
I looked at her sadly and signed, "I don't know. I didn't choose this class."
Mrs. Becker softened a little, seeing my dejected expression. "Well, you better discuss these matters with a counselor about switching, because there are better candidates out there who want a spot in this class," she said bluntly.
I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment as I made my way back to my seat at the very back of the room. I could feel the eyes of the other girls on me, and I heard their stifled laughter. Karla's laughter rang out the loudest, stabbing me like a knife. Alyssa was the only one who didn't join in, her face a mask of disappointment. I wasn't sure if she was disappointed in me or in the other girls' behavior.
It was next week, I got out of my algebra class heading towards the office. I had to wait till Monday, since during the first few days, my assigned counselor was not available. I was already antsy of finally getting out of that Choir class, I couldn’t deal another day with a class I clearly didn’t fit in. My schedule in my hand, I pulled the door open, being greeted by the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip muffins. Nervousness ran through me, wondering what type of counselor Dr. Wells would be.
The door was wide agape, leading me into the source of that muffin smell. Sitting there on a working desk, was a man typing on his laptop. He looked a bit exhausted, almost to the point that he slumped on his chair. Tilting my head, I nudged on his shoulders, trying to shake him awake. I couldn’t help but feel warmth radiating in my cheeks.
“Huh? Oh, hello there Lily. What brings you here?” Dr. Wells jolted up, probably noticing how close I was to his face. I backed away, sitting down on a red couch next to him.
“I want to change classes please.”
Mr. Wells nodded off, scooting his chair back towards his mahogany desk. He searched up my schedule, turning his laptop to my view. “Oh, I see. In what class do you want to change?”
I nervously let out a breath, as I finally let out what emotions I was holding. “I don’t know why you assigned me Choir, but everyone in that class hates me. I really need that class changed, Dr. Wells.”
I saw my counselor's lip repeatedly twitched a bit, before he gathered his composure. Dr. Wells looked up from his desk, his kind face softening as he saw me. "Lily, I want to apologize profusely for putting you in that situation."
I signed, feeling a little comforted by his words. "It's okay. I did want to be in that class, but I just... I felt so out of place with all the other girls laughing at me."
Dr. Wells sighed and rubbed his temple. "I'm truly sorry, Lily. I was told you loved music and thought you would enjoy the class. But it's clear that it wasn't a good fit. Do you have another class in mind that you'd like to take instead?"
I nodded and signed, "Art class. I heard my friend Brandon is taking that, and I've always loved drawing."
Dr. Wells typed something into his laptop. “Consider it done. I'll have the change processed by tomorrow, if not sooner. In the meantime, help yourself to a muffin. The library teacher made them for me, and they're delicious."
I smiled and took one of the muffins, taking a bite. "Are you and the library teacher... a thing?" I asked, feeling a little bold.
Dr. Wells laughed, a deep, hearty sound that filled the room. "No, no, nothing like that. Just colleagues. She knows I have a sweet tooth, so she often shares her baking creations with me."
I felt a wave of relief wash over me. It was probably one of the few times I'd developed a crush on someone, and as usual, it was harmless and something I'd get over quickly. Dr. Wells was one of those crushes indeed. I stood up from my chair, feeling much better than when I arrived. "Well, thank you, Dr. Wells. I better head to class soon."
Dr. Wells smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Of course, Lily. And remember, if you ever need someone to chat with, my door is always open."
Later that day, during lunch, I made my way to our usual table with Brandon and Matt. They were already deep in conversation about their morning classes.
"PE is a nightmare," Matt was saying. "All the athletes make fun of me because I'm not as fast or strong as they are. It's frustrating."
Brandon nodded sympathetically. "I heard you beat Ryan on the pacer test, though. That's impressive."
Matt shrugged, taking a bite of his apple. "It was just luck, honestly. Ryan got too cocky and sprained his knee on the seventy-ninth lap. I just kept a steady pace.”
I signed to Matt, "You should still be proud. I bet your dad was happy."
Matt smiled. "He was. It's not every day I get to impress him, especially when it comes to sports. You know how Mayor Weston was a star athlete back in his day."
I laughed, and then took a bite of my sandwich. "Speaking of impressing people, I have some news. I'm switching out of choir class and into art elective. Hopefully, I'll be in the same class as you, Brandon."
Brandon's face lit up. "That's great! I'm so glad you'll be joining us. Art class is a lot of fun.”
Matt nodded in agreement. "I'm happy for you, Lily. But why are you leaving Choir? I thought you loved singing."
My smile faltered, and I looked down at my lap. "It's just... it's not the right fit for me," I signed.
Matt frowned, chewing on his apple. "Is Mrs. Becker too mean? I've heard she can be hard on students who aren't part of the popular crowd."
"No fair," I signed, my eyes pleading with him to understand.
Brandon nodded. "It really isn't fair, Matt. That's why I prefer to keep a low profile. Popularity contests aren't worth the hassle.”
Just then, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I turned to see Karla standing there, a sad look on her face. "Lily, can I talk to you?" she asked, her voice soft and hesitant.
I hesitated, signing, "Why?”
With a strand of hair tucked behind her ear, she leaned in and whispered, "I want to talk to you in private."
I glanced at Matt and Brandon, signing, "I'll be back, okay?"
Matt nodded, his eyes curious. "We'll be here. Take your time."
I followed Karla to the girl's bathroom, my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn't sure what this was about, but I sensed it was important to her. Once we were inside, Karla pulled out a juul vape from her pocket and took a hit. The sweet smell of watermelon filled the air.
"Want a hit?" she offered, holding it out to me.
I was curious, so I signed, "Sure."
I took a cautious drag, expecting to choke, but surprisingly, I didn't. Karla laughed, "I guess you already know how to smoke. Not so innocent after all, huh?"
I rolled my eyes. "I learned from watching Effy in Skins. It's not like I've never seen it before."
Karla laughed again, a genuine sound that seemed to break through the tension between us. "Look, Lily, I wanted to apologize for what happened in the choir. I shouldn't have laughed. It was mean, and I'm sorry."
I stayed silent, unsure of how to respond. A part of me wanted to accept her apology, but another part was still hurt by her earlier behavior. Before I could say anything, Karla cut in, "I know it doesn't make up for it, but I want to make it up to you. How about I take you to the skating rink this evening? It's one of our favorite places, remember?"
I hesitated, considering her offer. Finally, I signed, "Okay, I guess."
Karla's face lit up, and she gave me a quick hug. "Great! I'll text you the details. See you later, okay?" And with that, she left the bathroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I walked back to the cafeteria, my mind racing. Matt rushed over to me, his eyes full of questions. "How did it go? What did she want?" he asked.
"It went okay," I replied, signing as I continued. "Karla invited me to the skating rink this evening."
Brandon's eyebrows furrowed. "I don't know, Lily. Karla hangs out with those choir girls. I don't think we can trust her, especially after what happened."
I bit my lip, understanding his concern. "What if I sneak you and Matt in too? That way, if anything goes south, we'll be together."
Matt's eyes lit up. "That's a brilliant idea! I'm in."
A small smile tugged at my lips. "It's settled, then. We're going skating."
That afternoon, I waited on the porch for Karla to pick me up. The sun was starting to set, casting a warm glow over everything. My dad emerged from the house, dressed in his sheriff's uniform. "Why are you wearing your uniform on your day off?" I asked, curious.
He chuckled, patting my back. "Got called into work. Something strange is going on. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
I signed, "Be safe, Dad."
“I will, honey. Have fun with Karla, okay.” He smiled and gave me a thumbs-up before heading off. A minute later, a black Chevy pulled up, and I recognized it as Mrs. Becker's car. Karla leaned out the window and waved me over.
I took a deep breath and climbed into the back seat. Besides Karla, there were a few other girls from the choir class—Mandy, Hannah, Emma, Leslie, Fiona, and Brianne. Alyssa was noticeably absent.
Noticing my curious glance, Karla explained, "Alyssa had track practice. She couldn't make it."
I signed, "That's nice."
Brianne turned to Mrs. Becker and asked, "Can we get some McDonald's shakes? Please?"
Mrs. Becker smiled. "Of course, sweetie. Does anyone else want one?"
Everyone nodded eagerly, and Mrs. Becker placed an order for nine shakes. Emma and Leslie wanted vanilla, Brianne wanted the seasonal spice pumpkin flavor, Hannah and Fiona requested strawberry, Karla and Mandy chose chocolate, and Mrs. Becker asked about my preference.
"Mint, please," I said, making a gesture of a mint leaf.
Mrs. Becker smiled. "Mint it is. Anything for my girls."
I felt a warm glow spread through me. Maybe, just maybe, they were starting to like me. I took a long sip of my mint shake, savoring the cool, refreshing taste.
"Chocolate is definitely the best flavor," Mandy declared, taking a sip from her own shake. "Nothing beats the classic."
"Pumpkin spice is where it's at," Brianne interjected, taking a sip of her pumpkin spice shake. "It's got that perfect blend of sweet and spicy. It's like autumn in a bite."
"Are you kidding?" Mandy scoffed. "Chocolate is timeless. It's the ultimate comfort food. Pumpkin spice is just a fad.”
"Oh c'mon! Pumpkin spice is leagues better," Brianne retorted. "It's a limited edition for a reason."
The other girls joined in, each defending their favorite flavor. I snickered at their playful bickering, feeling a sense of warmth despite the earlier tension.
About ten minutes later, Mrs. Becker pulled into the parking lot of a magenta-colored building. The girls piled out of the car, and I followed them inside, curious about our destination. Mrs. Becker turned to Brianne and said, "I'll pick you girls up at 8 pm sharp. I need to head home and take care of your little sister."
Brianne gave her mom a quick hug and yelled out, "Okay! Love you, mom!" Then she joined the choir group, whispering something in Karla's ear that made her smile in an unsettling way.
Karla walked over to me and whispered, "Hey, Lily, I want to take you to our hiding spot. It's been a while since we hung out there."
I brightened at the idea, signing, "I've missed that place. We used to act like it was our studio booth."
“Uh-huh,” Karla led me to an abandoned janitor's closet that was blocked off with a "Do Not Enter" sign. She opened the door, and I slid inside, feeling a rush of nostalgia. I slid inside the small, dimly lit closet and sat criss-cross on the floor, my heart racing with anticipation. Karla joined me, and for a moment, we just sat there, our knees touching, the silence comfortable between us.
"I've missed you, Lily," Karla signed, her expression softening.
"I've missed you too," I signed back, my heart warming at the sentiment. "It feels like it's been ages since we really talked." I looked down, my smile fading slightly. "I've missed the old Karla. The one who was always on my side, no matter what."
Karla furrowed her eyebrows, her face a mask of confusion. "What do you mean? I haven't changed, Lily. I've just matured."
I scoffed, shaking my head. "Matured? Making fun of someone less popular than you isn't mature, Karla. It's just mean spirited."
Her eyes widened at my words, and I could see the hurt flash across her face. "I haven't been making fun of you, Lily. I—"
"Yes, you have," I interrupted, my anger bubbling to the surface. "I know exactly what you and your new friends have been trying to do. You've been pretending I don't exist, like I'm not even worth acknowledging.”
Karla's face contorted with frustration. "That's not true, Lily! You always have to make everything about your disability. If anyone's changed, it's you. You used to be so happy, always laughing and joking around. Now, you just cry and complain when things don't go your way."
I signed angrily, my hands moving frantically. "How can you say that, Karla? I don't mind if you want to be more popular, but you're acting like you don't even know me. You're trying to pretend we're not friends."
Her eyes filled with tears, and her voice shook. "Maybe I don't want to be friends with you anymore, Lily. Maybe you're too held up in the past, too stuck in your own little world. You're a sad, pathetic sap, and I—"
Before she could finish her sentence, I punched her squarely in the face. The force of the blow knocked her back, and she stumbled, her hand flying to her nose.
"I wish I'd never met you, Karla!" I angrily figured my fingers around, my breathing being audible in the small space. "I wish you'd never been my friend! I wouldn't care if you dropped dead right now!"
Karla's eyes widened in shock, and tears began to stream down her face. Without another word, she turned and ran out of the janitor's closet, leaving me alone in the dimly lit space. I trembled as I crouched down in the corner, my heart pounding in my chest. I had never hit anyone before, and now I wished I could take it back. It was rather immature of me to end that way with Karla. Especially when this was the last memory I had of her alive.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the silence, freezing me in place. It was Karla. My eyes widened in horror as I realized what I had done. I rose to my feet and ran out of the closet, my heart pounding in my chest. As I turned the corner, I came face to face with a masked man. He was tall and imposing, his mask was painted like a 1940s woman with green eyeshadow, vibrant red blush, and blood-red lips. His copper-blonde wig fell in sleek waves, contrasting with his all-black suit.
The man walked slowly towards me, his gloved hand reaching out. I kicked him in the abdomen, my fear fueling my strength. But he was too strong. He grabbed me by the waist, his gloved finger pressing against my lips.
"My little flower, I am so happy to see you." he whispered, his voice deep and gravelly.
Before I could scream or struggle, he covered my mouth with a rag. It took a while for the chloroform to finally take effect, as I remembered my last thoughts were about Karla. Sometimes I wished this encounter was just an elaborate prank played by Brianne. However it is never the case.
When I woke up, I woke up to the sound of a girl's voice, soft and melodic. My eyes felt heavy, my body sluggish as I tried to lift my head. The singing was familiar, reminding me of Karla. My heart stirred at the memory of my friend, and I tried to shake off the grogginess that clouded my mind.
As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realized I was restrained to a bed, my wrists and ankles bound. Panic surged through me, and I struggled against my bonds, my heart racing.
The singing continued, and I finally located the source—a television mounted on the wall across the room. My eyes widened as I recognized the singer. It was Karla, her face bruised and beaten, her eyes closed as she sang "Once Upon a December" from the animated movie "Anastasia." Her voice was shaky but serene, and tears pricked my eyes as I watched her performance.
I opened my mouth to scream, but only a weakened screech escaped my throat. I tugged at my restraints, desperation fueling my strength. I had to get out of here. I had to help Karla.
Catching me off guard, the door swung open, and the masked man from my encounter at the janitor's closet stepped into the room. My heart sank at the sight of him, and I shrunk back against the bed, my breath coming in short gasps.
He carried a plate of applesauce, his gloved hands setting it down on a table by the bed. "Good morning, my little flower," he said, his voice deep and distorted by the mask. "Your friend has a lovely voice," he remarked. "Have you ever wanted to sing like that?”
I shook my head, my eyes never leaving his face. I mouthed the words, "Let her go.”
The Masked Man smiled sadly. "Your friend has been let go. Don't worry, she's no longer suffering.”
I wanted to scream, to demand that he release me, but my voice failed me. The masked man approached the bed, his eyes cold and unfeeling. He picked up the spoon and dipped it into the applesauce, then brought it to my mouth.
"Open up, sweetie," he cooed. "You need to keep up your strength."
I turned my head away, my body rigid with fear. I didn't want his help, I didn't want anything to do with him.
"Now, now, none of that," he chided, his gloved hand gently tilting my chin back towards him. "You need to eat. And one day, my little flower, you will sing too. And it will be the most beautiful voice anyone has ever heard."
Tears slipped down my cheeks as he forced the spoon into my mouth, the applesauce tasting bitter on my tongue. I choked down the food, my throat constricting with fear and anger.
The masked man set the plate down and pulled me into a tight embrace, his gloved hands stroking my hair. "Shh, my little flower. Everything will be alright. I'm here to take care of you."
I sobbed into his chest, my body shaking with grief and terror. I had no idea where I was, no concept of how much time had passed since I had been taken. All I knew was that Karla was in danger, and I was powerless to help her. The masked man held me until my sobs subsided, then gently laid me back down on the bed. "Rest now. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."
With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I closed my eyes, my mind reeling. The next time I woke, it was to the sound of my mother's sobs. I blinked groggily, my vision blurry as I tried to focus. I was in a hospital room, my mother sitting by my bedside, her face wet with tears. Matt and Brandon, my closest friends, were also there, their faces etched with concern.
"Mom?" I raised one of my hands, my fingers weak and stiff.
My mother's head snapped up, and she rushed to my side, her hands grasping mine. "Lily, oh, Lily, you're awake!" She smiled through her tears, her voice shaking. "I thought I'd lost you.”
I placed my palm to touch her cheek, my throat too dry to speak. Matt and Brandon stood by silently, their eyes filled with relief.
I then asked the big question, signing, "What... happened?"
Matt nervously stuttered, "We... We found you inside an old shed near the skating rink. You were... you were unconscious, and we called for help right away."
Brandon added, "Before that, you were missing for roughly 33 hours. We searched everywhere for you.” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat, unable to meet my gaze.
"You're safe now, Lily," my mother said, stroking my hair. "That's all that matters. There's nothing to worry about anymore."
I shook my head, my eyes flying open. Where was Karla? I signed, "Where's Karla?”
My mother's face crumpled, and fresh tears slid down her cheeks. "She's... she's still missing, Lily. We don't know where she is."
I closed my eyes, the weight of my guilt crushing me. If I hadn't fought with Karla, none of this would have happened. It was my fault she was still out there, alone and in danger.
The days turned into weeks, and Karla remained missing. The police conducted an extensive search, but there were no leads, no clues as to her whereabouts. I blamed myself, replaying the events of that fateful day over and over in my mind.
Three weeks after my rescue, the news channel delivered a devastating blow. Karla Reyes, aged 15, had been found dead, her body buried near the Yellow Rock River. She had suffered multiple bone fractures, and the unsettling detail—she had been missing her vocal cords and larynx.
I recalled the day vividly, the sun shining brightly through my hospital window as the news anchor delivered the grim update. I had broken down, sobbing uncontrollably, the reality of what had happened hitting me like a ton of bricks. I remember wanting to just die, to pay for what I have done. If I hadn't had my friends Matt and Brandon, I wouldn't have been alive writing this. And yet, I never told anyone about The Masked Man or what had transpired that day—until now. Sometimes I wonder if Karla could hear my prayers, wishing that she deserved better than this, and I'm sorry for causing her death. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I needed to say next.
Karla Reyes may have been the first victim, but she certainly wasn't the last. There were 7 more Choirs Girls left.

For anyone who is interested, here is a detailed report of our days at Disney World this May! For this trip it was just me and my 8 year old son; husband and older son had to stay home for school and band.
I thought it would be lower crowds in May but it still seemed very crowded! The weather wasn’t my favorite either, it was either very hot or storming for the days we were there.
I do a LOT of planning in advance and use Genie + and Individual Lightning Lanes (ILLs), so we didn’t end up having to wait long for anything! We got 3-day park hopper tickets so we could do all 4 parks in 3 days. Information shared by everyone online helped me a lot in planning so I hope this report can help someone too!
Day 1 (Sat): Arrival at Pop Century
Got a ride from Tiffany Towncar from MCO airport, and arrived right around 3 pm. I reserved a preferred room but we got the 70s building instead of 60s, and it was a little further from the skyliner. We enjoyed the room, but it would have been tight if all 4 of us went. We went to the pool, they also had tie-dye shirt making and a campfire but my son preferred just to swim. He made some friends and had a great time. Mobile ordered some dinner at Everything Pop.
Day 2 (Sun): Hollywood Studios - Mother’s Day!
Woke up before 7 and purchased Genie +, booked Slinky Dog Dash, and ILLs for Rise of the Resistance at 11 and Cosmic Rewind at 5:45 pm. I modified Slinky Dog once it got to the evening time I wanted, around 7 pm. They don’t show you the LL times between 7-7:30 am which is super annoying!
Showed up for the skyliner at about 7:20, and there was quite a line (it started running at 7:30). We got to Hollywood Studios and through security by 8:00 or so, and then they let us in to make our way to Rise of the Resistance. No wait at all, and we were in the attraction by 8:20, and done by 8:30. We got to do Millennium Falcon with no wait either. Rey was out when we got off the ride, and we got to talk to her. Went over to Dok Ondar’s, my son wanted a new sith Kyber crystal - since we were there early, we got to talk a lot with the cast members there about the holocrons and such, that was fun! Got some blue and green milk (and some little sweet rolls they had), as well as cocoa puff iced coffee at Kat Saka’s. Some storm troopers and a First order commander came out and interacted; my son had a toy Darksaber with him, so they threatened to confiscate his unauthorized weapon :) Picked up a breakfast Ronto wrap and snagged a photo in front of one of the ships.
Next I had planned to do both Muppets and Star Tours before the Frozen show at 10:30, but we were running behind so just went straight to the show at around 10:10. I loved it! My son not so much, he’s not too into the shows.
After Frozen we headed back to Rise to use our Lightning Lane and go on it again! I was planning around it possibly being down, but it was up both times we rode it! After that we built custom droids at Droid Depot (reservation for 11:50), and played with them for a bit outside. It started to rain so I had to get some plastic bags to carry them, as they just give you cardboard cases that wouldn’t be good if they got wet! I wanted to see the First Order show at 12:30, but I guess they don’t come out when it’s raining so we missed that one. Got more blue and green milk and did some Datapad games, and looked in the shops. We really enjoyed Galaxy’s Edge!
Next we went to go meet Darth Vader (did the Disney Visa one which has no wait at all) and BB-8, took our droids out to show them.
Then we went to Star Tours, got a Kashyyyk mission/show with Ahsoka. Lunch at Sci Fi Drive-in at 1:40, which was a Fantasmic dining package thing. Enjoyed our meal - son is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts and most places were very accommodating about it.
Went back to the room for a break for about 2 hours.
We both love Cosmic Rewind, so at about 5:00 we took the skyliner over to Epcot just to ride it! It was a loooong walk through mobs of people at Epcot but totally worth it! Row 5 rules! We got Disco Inferno as the song, same as when we rode it 2 years ago.
Hoofed it all the way back to International Gateway, and caught the boat back to Hollywood Studios, aiming to be there about 7 pm.
All day I had been reserving LLs every 2 hours, and modifying the times to stack them up. So we grabbed a quick photo pass photo, then went on Mickey and Minnie’s Railway, Slinky Dog Dash (so fun!), Alien Swirling Saucers (not very fun), and Toy Story Mania all in a row. Headed down towards Fantasmic, and grabbed some great meat and potato waffle bowls at Fairfax Fare to eat while we waited for the show to start. Got reserved seating with the dining package, but we were still advised to arrive 8:20-8:30 for the 9 pm show. Fantasmic was wonderful! Skyliner had a line getting home but moved quickly. Met some nice people on the way home!
Missed out on Muppets and the First Order show, but it was a great day! We were already worn out from all the walking :)
Day 3 (Mon): Animal Kingdom and Epcot
Animal Kingdom opened at 7:30, so we woke up very early and got the bus. We arrived at Animal Kingdom around 7 I think.
7 am booked Kilimanjaro Safaris for 8:15, and ILLs for Flight of Passage (FOP) at 8 and Cosmic Rewind for the evening.
I was debating whether to rush to FOP to be able to go on it twice, but we weren’t up for hustling over there and I didn’t want to delay our whole plan if it ended up having a wait.
So we went to Navi River first, then enjoyed an empty Pandora and got a stuffed pancake and a pineapple cream cheese roll at Pongu Pongu - we weren’t really fans of either. At 8 we used our ILL for FOP and got right on, we love that attraction!! Shopped at the Pandora store and my son got a glowing spear thing (that broke down to fit in his backpack).
Then we headed up to Africa for the Safaris. Booked a LL for the Lion King show. Did the Gorilla Falls trail pretty quickly, saw the meerkats and gorillas.
Grabbed a frozen lemonade for son, then went to the amazing Lion King show. Booked a LL for Kali River Rapids.
Then we did the Rafiki’s Planet Watch, which we had never done before. The petting zoo was pretty small. We walked around the place for a bit, got to ask a cast member about how they feed the painted dogs and she had so much interesting info. Took the train back, then grabbed some food at 8 spoon cafe - mac and cheese with BBQ beef on top was great! Ate it while we enjoyed the Viva Gaia music and dancing at 11:45.
Went to Dinosaur which I had also gotten a LL for (grabbed an orange-swirl Dole Whip at Trilo-Bites on the way!), but unfortunately it went down while we were waiting. So we went ahead over to Kali River Rapids. Son got soaked! We could have put ponchos but we knew we were going back for a break right after. We considered staying for Feathered Friends at 1:30, but decided just to see the macaws at Winged Encounters at 1:15 instead and head back to the room a little earlier.
Nice break in the room, I took a much-needed nap.
At around 4:30-5 got on the skyliner to Epcot, but a storm was coming in and we got stranded at the Caribbean Beach station. After about 30 minutes of waiting there they brought a bus to take us to Epcot…people were pretty grouchy, and it was raining hard so we got pretty wet also. Made it to Epcot and went to Soarin and Living with the Land, which I had reserved LLs for. I was able to snag a LL for Remy for like 7:30, but we didn’t end up being able to use it.
Then we did Cosmic Rewind again around 7 pm using our ILL. This time we got “I Ran” as the song. That coaster is the most fun I’ve ever had on a ride!! And I don’t even like roller coasters. Son shopped at Wonders of Xandar, got a hat. Then we had to eat so we went to Connections - I had put in a mobile order in advance, but it still took like 30 min to get food so we ended up missing our Remy LL. Stopped at Club Cool, son got a frozen lemonade with soft serve on top :) Then we watched the awesome light show on the big ball, and made our way over to get a spot for Luminous, at the front of world showcase. It was wonderful!
You could see lightning around so I was very worried about taking the skyliner back after what happened that afternoon, plus the line was pretty crazy. So we ended up walking to Boardwalk resort and getting a Lyft back to Pop. That worked out well and let us get back sooner for more sleep!
Day 4 (Tues): Epcot and Magic Kingdom
Boy were we tired! It was hard to get my son going in the morning.
7 am booked Test Track for 9:45 am, and ILLs for Tron and 7 Dwarves. I really wanted to do an ILL for Cosmic Rewind again but they only allow you 2; and the virtual queue is just too unpredictable for me, plus still potentially a long wait.
We actually took a Lyft to Boardwalk again in the morning instead of trying to take the skyliner to Epcot. Skyliner worked well for Hollywood Studios, but it was kind of long to Epcot and we wanted to rope drop Remy. We walked from Boardwalk to Epcot (grabbed a coffee on the way) and were there by 7:45 am for an 8:30 am early entry opening. I was actually the first person to scan into Epcot that day lol, at least from the International Gateway. They let us in the park, but kept us at a couple of different points before finally allowing us to line up for Remy at about 8:20. It didn’t seem like they started the ride until right at 8:30. Lines were already insane at that point, but we were toward the front and got right on. Remy is cute - I didn’t notice any of the smells people talk about. Not sure it’s worth the hassle to be able to ride it though.
After Remy we lined up to get into Les Halles for breakfast, which opened at 9. Oh man the smell in that bakery in the morning!! Got egg croissants and a beignet (after talking to attendants about son’s allergies), both were amazing. Grabbed a photo pass photo and walked down toward Test Track, exploring Canada and UK on the way. Test Track had a bit of a wait even with the LL, but at least it was running! Son really enjoyed it. I booked a LL for Big Thunder Mtn for later in the day. After Test Track we considered Mission Space, but didn’t want to wait 30 min for the green side, so just explored the Advanced Training Lab. Then we did Project Tomorrow under Spaceship earth, and then the Aquarium in the Seas area. Walked through Journey of Water as well.
Then we headed up to visit some of the countries. Did Gran Fiesta Tour, and caught Mariachi Cobre at 12:00. The wind suddenly got crazy and you could tell a storm was coming (just when we were about to head back to Pop on the skyliner :/ ) I mobile ordered a pretzel bread pudding at Sommerfest, which was delicious! Then the storm hit. Everyone took cover indoors, we went into the Japan area and walked around the shop and art gallery to wait it out. After about 30 min it was safe to go outside again, and we were exhausted so headed for the exit (grabbed a steam bun from the Japan booth for son on the way, and frushi which I didn’t care for). The skyliner was closed, and I didn’t feel safe getting on it anyway, so - you guessed it! Walked to Boardwalk and got a Lyft back to Pop to rest.
Had a nice long break, then headed to Magic Kingdom on the bus around 4:00. Big Thunder had gone down during my LL time and the LL disappeared, but it showed up in the My Day area as an Experience pass (took me a while to find it). I also booked LLs every 2 hours for Magic Kingdom rides, and updated the times through the day by Modifying, so we were able to do all of these in a row with no waiting:

• Pirates
• Big Thunder Mtn
• Philharmagic (Haunted Mansion was down)
• Haunted Mansion (came back up)
• Seven Dwarves Mine Train
• Got food at Gaston’s - cinnamon roll was stale! They’re better in the morning
• Barnstormer
• Tron Lightcycle Run - So great! We both loved it, and it’s my son’s favorite now
• Mad Tea Party
• Buzz Lightyear

My son is all about the rides, so this was the best way for us to enjoy MK on this trip even though it was only half a day! Then we checked in for the Post-fireworks dessert party at around 8:40 and got a good spot for the fireworks. Sat on the ground until the show started at 9:20. I loved it! We got a couple of desserts, again after consulting with the chef about son’s allergies, and I had a pog-juice mimosa. I figured the bus line would be down after being at the dessert party for a while, but when we got to the Pop bus area there were like 300 people waiting there. At least 10 buses worth of people. So I decided to jump on the nearest bus that was there, Riviera, and then got a Lyft from there to Pop - this time we did a Minnie Van which was expensive but fun because you get a cast member to talk to.
Day 5 (Wed): Heading home
We finally got to sleep in and take it easy in the morning. There was a storm in the morning, and shortly after I got a text from Southwest that my flight (scheduled for 2:00 pm) was subject to be delayed or cancelled. We were going to go swimming but decided to skip it, and just got breakfast. They made a special nut-free meal for my son which was great. Packed up and did the arcade for a few minutes, then Tiffany Towncar picked us up at 11:30. Our droids were our carry-ons BTW. Shortly after we got to the airport they delayed our flight 3 hours. Then kept pushing it back periodically. The weather was cleared up at this point but they said it was due to weather, I guess that one storm in the morning caused Southwest to get completely derailed. We were in the airport for 6 hours then finally got to fly home. At least it wasn’t cancelled! Some people said they were stuck in the plane on the tarmac too and got delayed so I’m relieved that didn’t happen to us; I am very nervous to fly to Orlando again though, esp with Southwest.
Overall we had a great time and really enjoyed the mother-son time together! Our favorites are Cosmic Rewind, Tron, and Galaxy’s edge, and I just love the nighttime shows especially Fantasmic! Ideally we should have had a rest day though, the mid-day breaks were good but we still needed a full resort day in there. We walked 11-12 miles per day, 25K + steps!

Although we've had 9 different (reigning) MVP v DPOY playoff series in the past (list here), none of those series went to 7. The closest was probably the 2009 ECF, where Orlando won by only a few possessions in most games. This means that, for the first time in NBA history, we'll be witnessing the MVP and the DPOY duel off in a win-or-go-home elimination game, which is a pretty cool thing to witness.

Hey Everyone! This is the second chapter of the Warrior’s story in Project OT3! Crowson continues working towards his goal of bringing an end to the Obsidians. As always, I recommend reading both Crowson’s Intro Post and First Chapter before reading this one.
Completed Chapter 2s: Thearnt, Taland, Pascal, Harmony, Crowson
Next Chapter 2: Asherah the Chef
Crowson the Warrior, Chapter 2: Recommended Level 24
——————
(The Journey So Far…)
Crowson had served loyally under his father King Milo all his life.
But once his close comrade Theo was sentenced to be executed…
Crowson abandoned all loyalty he once had to the Obsidians
He fled their newly captured town of Westfirst…
and arrived in Fallholt to lay low and search the streets for Obsidian Influence, before taking action on his one and only goal, Kill King Milo and bring an end to the organization…
Crowson stands atop a ledge, overlooking the small town below. He sighs, “They won’t find me here. It was a mistake to slip the name of Beggar’s Hole to Maverick, he’s likely told Milo and… I hope Theo decided to hide out in another town like I did.”
He would proceed to walk down some stairs and into the town properly. He’d sit down on a bench and try to take a breath. Unable to get his mind off of King Milo. Crowson figures the tavern would be a good place to start looking into figuring out if these rumors of Obsidian Influence in town were true.
You’d head to the Fallholt Tavern

• Travel Banter: The Sacred Flame’s Forgiveness (Crowson and Thearnt) Crowson finds Thearnt praying about something, Thearnt stutters and says she was letting the gods know Crowson was on their side and tells him that he’s doing the right thing and the Flame will grant him forgiveness. Crowson questions her, asking if killing people, and continuing to do so is really what the flame stands for? Thearnt is stunned “I– I was trying to be nice…”
  
• Travel Banter: Wasting Time (Crowson and Asherah) Asherah asks Crowson if they came all this way just to get him a drink, Crowson tells her that it’s more than just that. It’s about bringing down any and all Obsidians. “Sure it is.” Asherah says, Crowson points out her bad mood. “Speak for yourself. Every time I look your way you look as if you’re about to kill me.” Crowson reminds her that he isn’t going to do that. “Are you hungry?” Asherah ignores the question, but clearly is. She says that they should stop wasting time standing here, Crowson says he likes the sound of that.
  

The Bar is empty aside from two men sitting far away from where Crowson decides to sit down at. He gets served a drink by the bartender that he quickly downs. Before listening to what the other two men are saying. “Ready to get to work Zach?”
“Course I am Rene. You always know I’m ready for a fight! But are you? No guarantee what you find in these ruins is pretty.”
“Ruins?” Crowson thinks to himself
Rene and Zach exit the bar, nodding to each other on the way out. Crowson ponders and decides to follow them. He needs to know what these ruins are… Outside, Rene and Zach walk down a path north of town, Crowson prepares to follow.
Road to the Ruins of Fallholt, Danger Level 24
Crowson runs into the two fairly quickly. He hides from them, “Well– There has to be someone else on our force who can lend us a weapon…” he overhears Rene saying.
“Your ‘force’?” Crowson reveals himself to them. Rene is started by him and gets down to his knees “We’re with the— Fallholt Guard!” he shouts. “...You– aren’t going to– kill– us– are you?”
Crowson turns around, as if to make sure King Milo isn’t there, “No.” he says. Zach asks Crowson what he’s doing out here. Crowson doesn’t say anything… Rene gets back on his feet and asks Crowson if he’d mind doing them a favor. He’d go on to explain that they were going to investigate the ruins, but their weapons were stolen by bandits nearly the second they left town. Zach continues off of Rene saying “It’s a lot, but we’re desperate. Please... help.”
“...” Crowson frowns, “Where did these bandits go?” Rene points him in their direction
You’d mug the bandits and take the weapons back.
Crowson returns their weapons, They ask him what he did with the bandit he went after, Crowson tells them not to worry about it and insists they get a move on if they’re going to come along. As he walks ahead of them in the direction of the Ruins of Fallholt.

• Travel Banter: Too Harsh on them (Crowson and Orlando) Orlando asks Crowson if he was being too harsh on Rene and Zach there. “They’re lucky I agreed to do this favor at all.” Orlando still tells him that he could be nicer to them still, They seem to be good people after all. “I suppose so, But you know I don’t go well with blind obedience.” Crowson replies. Orlando asks “Is that what this is about?” He tells him that as long as he’s there, he won’t let what happened with King Milo happen to Crowson ever again.

The Three of them stop at the ruins door, Rene and Zach have no idea how to get it open. Crowson decides to use a bit of brute force, pushing and shoving against the door until it opens, revealing the dark ruins inside…
Ruins of Fallholt, Danger Level 25
As you make your way through the ruins, the screen would occasionally rumble.

• Travel Banter: Pitch Black Ruins (Crowson and Pascal) Pascal remarks about how dark the ruins are “Light conditions are not favorable.” Crowson replies. He questions if Pascal is afraid of the dark. Pascal says that he has always been a little scared of the dark. He’d describe his fear to Crowson, Who’d offer to leave him outside, but Pascal quickly refuses. He’ll get used to it in time.
  
• Travel Banter: Lurking Mystery (Crowson and Taland) Taland says he hears some rumbling, and wonders what could be hiding here. Crowson and him would talk about different crazy theories for what could be going on, Slightly lightening their mood. Taland also points out scratch marks on the stone. Crowson says “Maybe there is a big monster here.” Taland replies “Well, only one way to find out!”
  

The source of the noise is uncovered deeper in the ruins. Crowson, Rene, and Zach encounter a short Minotaur. It growls as it exits from the shadows. Rene and Zach draw their weapons. Rene is more timid and Zach eagerly awaits a fight. Crowson takes out his sword and stares coldly at the Minotaur, “So you’re the Obsidians’ pet then…” Crowson says, the three of them exchange a few more words before the Minotaur strikes, “Let’s play…”
BOSS: Minotaur
(Boost Dialogue: This is where I set things right!)
The Minotaur is defeated. Crowson puts his sword away, Rene says “That takes care of that…” Zach nods “We owe you a lot...”
“I’m sorry you had to fight on your own like that… We’re not the best at our job— We’ve never been heroes.” Rene admits
Crowson tells Rene “If you knew half of who I am, I’m not a hero either. I just follow orders and do what needs to be done.”
Crowson takes a look ahead, behind where Rene and Zach are standing. Through the dim light, he’s able to make out a symbol on the wall. The symbol of the Obsidian Crow…
“What– So I was correct then.”
“Um–” Rene tries to talk to him, but he can’t take his eyes off the crow.
“That bird… That damn bird…” when Rene steps forward, Crowson draws his sword and puts it near his throat. Causing him to freeze in place.
“Rene- Zach- Did, You, Know.” Crowson asks coldly.
“I– I–” Rene stutters, Zach only breathes “...”
Crowson decides not to strike against them. He withdraws his sword and stares at the ground, his eyes covered by his hair. Rene tries to reason, “I swear to you, I don’t know anything about that symbol, or what it means. I’m not a crow!”
“....” Crowson thinks about what to say “I’m sorry.”
Zach asks “What does the crow mean?”
“It means the Obsidians were here. But why, Why in this place? What was their reason for being in the Ruins?” Crowson examines the symbol “It’s faded, it’s unlikely to have been visited in a while.”
“The Obsidian Crows…?” Rene ponders
“I have to leave.” Crowson says, as the three begin to walk out.

• Travel Banter: Crow Tattoo (Crowson and Oukirii) Oukirii asks what the crow symbol means “I know it’s about the Obsidians, but what’s with the crow?” Crowson explains to Oukirii that it’s the way they discretely mark Obsidian items. Each member has it tattooed on their body. Oukirii asks if that means Crowson has it too, he confirms that it’s on the back of his left shoulder.
  
• Travel Banter: Memories of King Milo (Crowson and Harmony) Harmony asks Crowson if he wants to sit down and talk about King Milo and the Obsidians. Crowson says it doesn’t matter, they have to keep moving forward. But Harmony persuades him into opening up a little. “Here, take my hands.” she offers. They’d talk about things that Crowson remembers of Milo. But eventually Harmony decides to not continue talking and leave it alone for the best.
  

Rene and Zach stop Crowson at the entrance to Fallholt. “We just wanted to thank you for helping us out.” Rene says shyly. “I’m sorry about– the crow.” Crowson tells them not to think about it. They ask Crowson where he will go next, Crowson turns away, looks down, and almost smiles when he says “To meet an old friend…”
(Ending Text)
Crowson came upon the discovery that Fallholt was once home to a group of Obsidians…
He knew he must flee immediately to avoid the risk of being caught in the event the Obsidians still remained in town. Any further investigation can wait.
But he still asks himself, “Why was the crow in the Ruins of Fallholt? Did something happen there?” He doesn’t have time to think about it.
And so, Crowson sets out once again. His quest for King Milo’s blood continues.
He sets out towards Beggar’s Hole, wondering If any place is truly safe from the crows ravaging anymore...
——————
Crowson the Warrior: Chapter 2, End.

Heya! I posted this in /SanJose as well, but you happen to be in or around the South Bay, here are some fun things that are happening around here this week:

Thursday, 5/16

• Off The Grid Night Market Gordon Biersch (357 E. Taylor St., San Jose) 5-9 p.m. FREE Groove to music from San Jose Jazz while you sample over 50+ food trucks and brews at the inaugural event. (Runs through 7/11)
  
• Bay to Breakers Shakeout Sunnyvale Bay Trail (293-327 W. Caribbean Dr., Sunnyvale) 6 p.m. FREE Don your Bay to Breakers gear and run, jog, or walk to your own pace at this running series.
  
• Dwight Clark Legacy Series California Theater (345 S. First St., San Jose) 7 p.m. $30-$287 Along with lively conversations with current and former 9ers players, NBC Sports hosts a presentation of the Dwight Clark Awards.
  
• Drink and Draw Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) 7 p.m. FREE Bring out your inner artiste while you sip on a tasty beverage and enjoy the sound of Digging Sound Collect. Crayons, paper, pencils, and other utensils provided.
  
• Chris Porter San Jose Improv (62 S. Second St., San Jose) Thu 8 p.m., Fri 7:30 + 9:45 p.m., Sat 7 p.m. + 9:30 p.m. $22-$72 From NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” and his Netflix special “Ugly and Angry,” this comedian has distinguished himself as a no-frills, no-sound cues, no puppets performer. (Runs through 5/18)
  
• Austin Nasso Rooster T Feathers Comedy Club (Address) Thu-Fri 8 p.m., Sat-Sun 7 p.m. $25 Admission, $35 VIP You may know this former Microsoft software engineer from his recurring appearances on “The Howard Stern Show.” (Runs through 5/19)
  
• Pressure Drop DJ Night Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) 9 p.m. FREE Join DJs Norbert + Fuchsia for a night of punk, ska, reggae, soul, and R&B.
  

Friday, 5/17

• Salsa y Cerveza Garden at the Flea (1590 Berryessa Rd., San Jose) 5-9 p.m. FREE Learn to Salsa dance and browse flea market deals while you groove to Union Timbera and gnosh on bites from local food trucks.
  
• Movie Night in the Park: “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” Meadowfair Park (Corda Dr. + Barberry Ln., San Jose) 6-10 p.m. FREE Bring your blanket + lawn chair, and enjoy lawn games, crafts, and food trucks as you watch one of the coolest, most stylish animated films from last year.
  
• SJBP - Bikers of the Caribbean Ride! Berryessa BART Station (958 Berryessa Station Way, San Jose) 7:30 p.m. FREE Dress like a pirate, or wear your street gear to join other bike enthusiasts for a 15-20 mile ride through North San Jose.
  
• Bay FC vs San Diego Wave FC PayPal Park (1123 Coleman Ave., San Jose) 7:30 p.m. $20-$196 After losses on the road to Chicago and Portland, our team returns home for a “Bay Area Unite” game.
  
• Sofia Niño de Rivera California Theater (345 S. First St., San Jose) 8 p.m. $49-$109 You may know this comedian as Mexico City’s “Woman of the Year” 2016, or from the Netflix dramedy “Club de Cuervos.”
  
• Dark Satellite + Orbit 17 + Dear Banshee Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) 8 p.m. $15 Advance, $20 Day of Show Bay Area indie rockers collide at a stellar showcase of prog, jazz, and otherworldly riffage.
  
• Alicia Villarreal San Jose Civic (135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose) 8 p.m. $39.50-$149 See the two-time Latin Grammy Award-winning singer for her “Donde Todo Comenzo” tour.
  
• Electric Feels: Indie Rock + Indie Dance Party The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) 9 p.m. $15-$20 Advance, $25 Day of Show From MGMT to Vampire Weekend, alt-J to Hot Chip, dance along to your favorite indie tracks from yesteryear.
  
• Panacea + HRIF + Perarez Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) 9 p.m. FREE Chunky riffs, ear-splitting growls, and dense-packed crowds fill one of the most intimate venues in the South Bay.
  

Saturday, 5/18

• Bored Teachers Comedy Tour California Theater (345 S. First St., San Jose) 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. $35-$55 Ring in the end of the school year with the No. 1 teacher comedians in the world performing skits and stand ups.
  
• Culture Night Market Discovery Meadow (180 Woz Way, San Jose) 4-10 p.m. FREE Featuring local vendors, food trucks, and businesses, to hoppin’ stage performances from Universal Grammar, Los Jefes, L James, Thatfool Al, Sutro, DJ Say, and Real Ignorant.
  
• All Out for Al-Nakba San Jose Peace and Justice Center (48 S. Seventh St., San Jose) 4 p.m. FREE Join community members and activists for a screening and discussion of Al Jazeera’s “Al-Nakba: The Palestinian Catastrophe 1948” documentary series as a part of Anti-War Action Network’s national week of action.
  
• Hey Girl! Sexy Slumber Party Splash Video Dance Bar (65 Post St., San Jose) 6 p.m. FREE before 7:30, $10 after Dress in your best pajamas or sexy sleepwear and dance along with fellow fems, femmes, and femme fatales to the tunes of local DJ Rogue Mermaid.
  
• Nate Jackson San Jose Civic (135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose) 7 p.m. $39.50-$200 You know he has to be funny, because his tour’s called the “Super Funny World Tour.” It’s just science.
  
• The ABBA Concert Experience Montgomery Theater (271 S. Market St., San Jose) 7:30 p.m. $39-$59 This family-friendly singalong show highlights the enduring success of one of the world’s most beloved pop supergroups.
  
• San Jose Earthquakes vs. Orlando City SC PayPal Park (1123 Coleman Ave., San Jose) 7:30 p.m. $22-$185 Join the Quakes for Vietnamese Heritage night, with special merch for sale, and limited items with purchase of a ticket.
  
• Take on Me: The Ultimate 80’s Party The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) 8 p.m. $17-$20 Advance, $20 Day of Show Don your favorite hot pants and pastel colors for this celebration of synths and gated reverb drums.
  
• Nineteen Jazz Orchestra Art Boutiki (44 Race St., San Jose) 8 p.m. $25 Advance, $30 Day of Show Along with classic soul, jazz, and R&B, this local professional jazz group will be performing “Obama Suite,” composed by their their former trumpet player, the late Eric Bolvin.
  
• Nature of the Beast SJZ Break Room (310 S. First St., San Jose) 8 p.m. $25 Bay Area jazz legends return to the SJZ stage to perform select songs from Herbie Hancock’s discography.
  
• Dead River Rebels + American Standard + Akira XX Caravan Lounge (98 S. Almaden Ave., San Jose) 9 p.m. FREE DIY punk meets stoner rock at this showcase of local talent.
  

Sunday, 5/19

• Boogie Music Fest Downtown Campbell 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday FREE Admission Enjoy food, beer, and wine, plus artisan booths, a kids zone, and a funky “Best Dressed” contest, with live music on two stages both days.
  
• AAPI Pride Brunch Holiday Inn San Jose - Silicon Valley (1350 N. First St., San Jose) 11 a.m.-3 p.m. FREE Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander History Month with local drag performers, poetry, Mahjong, and trivia games.
  
• Halfway to Halloween Rumble City Boxing (866 Park Ave., San Jose) 2-6 p.m. FREE From spooky wares to Halfoween artistry, check out local artist booths with live music and food.
  
• Homayoun Shajarian + Anoushiravan Rohani San Jose Civic (135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose) 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Two legendary performers, one from Tehran and the other from Iran, blend Eastern and Western musical traditions.
  
• Jakob’s Castle + The Happys The Ritz (400 S. First St., San Jose) 7 p.m. $15 Advance, $20 Day of Show SoCal rock and ska royalty Jacob Nowell brings his sublime punk sensibilities to the stage.
  
• Sammy Obeid San Jose Improv (62 S. Second St., San Jose) 8:30 p.m. $30-$90 One of my favorite comedians of all time, Sammy’s been a part of the Bay Area comedy scene for the past two decades. Check out some of his bits on Instagram/TikTok!
  

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• Gregg

Although he had a subpar year and playoffs, his play making and shot creation abilities make him the perfect fit alongside a 3 and D guy like suggs, I feel like this fit would be perfect, he would be less depended on for scoring in Orlando then he was in Cleveland and be right at home with our young guys.

Hello, Canadian here
Backgrounder, I recently lost my Google Phone acct that is linked to my Canadian phone number (grandfathered Grand Central acct that allowed Winnipeg phone numbers and then converted to Google Phone).. So essentially, I have an Orlando (407) Google phone number, which in turn rings my (204) Winnipeg landline and cell number, allowing my relatives to call me on my cell or at home. Google sent me an email to confirm if my numbers were still valid (which it is) and since I have it on my Gmail, which I rarely monitor, I wasn't able to confirm that my numbers were still active and Google proceeded to deactivate my google phone acct... reactivating it means I will have to assign forwarding numbers again, but since Google Phone only allows US numbers, I am unable to get back my sweet setup (Google phone number ringing my Canadian numbers)... My landline btw, is a Freephoneline.ca VOIP acct, where I paid a one-time payment to port my number to Freephoneline and I get a lifetime VOIP acct that has free Canada calling. No monthly/annual fees ever...
My question is: are there any free DIDs anymore in the US? The usual free VOIPs like Callcentric and that Washington state free DIDs are no longer existing... I have a couple of Linksys ATAs that I can use, and it would be nice to get a US VOIP DID numbers that I can link to Google Voice.