Image created in Canva by me utilizing it's free bckgrnd and image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
The Ink Well is engaged this month in the Fast and Furious Festival. That means a month of fun, excitement, and learning. Day 6 of the Festival deals again with character development. I'm excited to learn from a different perspective how to develop my character from the first person, or character's point of view.
If you'd like to join in this festival, then check it out for Day 6 here.
Day 6 Prompt - Character Development
Task 1
Today, we are going to imagine ourselves as a character. Imagine what this new character is like, start to describe them or their surroundings, their likes and dislikes, what they want ... but in the voice of the character. So use the first person "I" and write as if you are the character. Take them for a walk, meet someone .... Source of directions taken from The Ink Well Fast and Furious Festival - Day 6 Post.
Two ambulances arrive on the scene.
One is probably taking that guy to the hospital. "Do you know what possessed him to attack and violently strike you like that?" I hear the medics say as they address that guy as "sir" and speak in a soft tone.
The other one I don't know where it's taking me. I'm trying to talk to them, but no one seems to be listening. The medics strap me in and tighten the restraints around my arms. Do they think I'm going to harm them?
The street blocks fade one after the other until I arrive at the medical center nearby.
The doors swing open and I'm wheeled into the emergency room. I think about the day's events as I look to the right through the window. I was supposed to be buying a bus ticket for home. What happened?
I remember this morning started off pleasant enough.
They told me I can do it. They told me I can now control myself. They told me my time is up. They told me I must now leave. They told me I'm a young man of 30 with a world of possibilities waiting. They told me all this with smiles on their faces. It's been five years, so I believe what they told me.
"We wish you good luck Mr. Hadley, they both say cordially." The orderly extends his hand. The nurse follows with a brief hug.
The doors opened and the staff dresseded in white escorted me to the exit. Bars across the windows and security guards stationed at the front entrance greeted me. I hesitated to move forward from that place as I didn't yet know where I was headed. I hadn't planned that far.
"Let's send up a prayer," I heard the nurse whisper to the orderly as I turned to walk down the steps.
"For whom; Otis, or the outside world," he responded.
"Both."
I turned to take one last look at the place I hd called home. No one to judge me like before I went there to live.
Once outside the gates, I opened my small backpack and searched for the information given me. Flipping through the papers I found a business card. The name Bridge to Hope with directions to the location stood out in large, bold letters. I remembered being at a place with a similar name several years back.
I shook my head, then rolled it about my broad shoulders. I started walking south on Edgeway St. Two blocks later, I was tired as hell. I admit the past five years I'd gained a considerable amount of weight for my height of 5 feet 7 inches. Nothing to do in that place but sit, listen, and eat. My favorite food is hamburgers and french fries.
A ping seemed to punch me in the gut as I thought of my childhood.
"Otis, time to come in." I thought about changing my name, but never got around to it. They say it costs money to do that. Mom always told me that she chose my name because Pops said it meant I would be prosperous and wealthy. Then, he said I would have a keen sense of hearing and understanding. He was party right. I never had more than a week's worth of anything valuable.
But the vibrations that carry words of others to my ears constantly, even in my sleep, is what I'm most proud of. I used to hear the young female workers in that place I just left.
"It's a shame Otis is stuck in here. He could go a long way just on his looks alone," one of them uttered from outside the hallway with the other one in agreement. That was the first day I considered getting by on my looks, but I didn't know how to go about doing it.
I thought about asking directions. Going to the shelter is not my idea of being free again, so in that instant I decided against it. Instead I decided to buy a bus ticket and travel home to New Braunsfels. I have ten dollars they gave me when I left that place.
I felt another sharp pain in my stomach. I knew the only thing that would stop it was hamburger and fries. But I only had enough to buy the bus ticket. As I looked down the street, I saw the Trailways Bus Station one block away. To its left another block was Hamburger Heaven. Eat first, then figure out travel arrangements later, I thought.
Head down with hands in my pocket, I stepped into the crosswalk.
Lights flashed, horns screamed, windows rolled, and finger signs flashed in plain sight. I could hear them saying bad things about me. Startled, I looked up to see the Walk signal had already switched to Stop.
The old memories from before stirred inside my head. But I didn't want to dwell on them. I was in a hurry, so I kept moving forward.
I made it to the next block. Both feet hurt. That was the farthest I'd walked in five years. I looked inside the glass window of the bus station, but the greasy aroma from the hamburger and french fries triggered a large gulp and lured my eyes one block away. I reached in my pocket as though extra money would magically appear. My head began to hurt. I couldn't understand why because I ate a large breakfast before I left.
I thought it was settled the reason I needed to buy the bus ticket, but then I couldn't remember. By now, my head felt like it was swimming and what to do seemed like the most difficult decision I'd made in the past five years. So I did what came naturally, and the aroma won in the coin toss. I headed toward the restaurant.
Image by Queven from Pixabay
By now my shirt was completely wet, so I pulled it off and put it in my backpack. I still had on my favorite overalls, though.
Once inside, I pulled out my money to order.
"Didn't you read the sign? NO SHIRT, NO SHOES, NO SERVICE." The waitress behind the counter looked at me in disgust and pointed towards the window. I yelled at her to give me a burger and fries. She repeated what she said, then called her manager.
"Dude, didn't you read the sign in the window?" The manager was just as rude as the waitress.
"What do you mean? I've never known this in my life. When did this happen? I have on clothes. What's the big deal if I don't have my shirt on underneath?" I was screaming and cursing. And it was a good thing he was behind that counter, else I would have punched his lights out.
I didn't see any sign on the window. I couldn't think straight. I looked around the restaurant. I could hear people whispering, then some got up and rushed out the door.
A man in a uniform walked up to me and told me I had to leave, else he'd call the police. Then he grabbed my arm, led me to the door, and pushed me outside. He stood blocking the entrance.
I turned and saw the large sign on the window.
I started crying. I was tired, hungry, and wanted to go home. Instead, I just walked a couple steps and plopped down near the outside of the building.
A couple feet in front of me, umbrellas shielded women from the scorching sun. A little girl waiting at the transit stop with her mom smiled at me. I smiled back before her mom turned and jerked her arm, whispering something in her ear.
An occasional breeze and cloudy sky couldn't calm the intense, humid heat. Instead, it delivered it faster.
As I put my head down, I sensed someone inside my personal space. A passerby shoved a dollar bill in my hand. "Who does these people think I am..a beggar?" I shouted, as my anger rose slowly.
I pushed myself off the ground. I was going to catch up with him and shove it right back. However, my hurting feet wouldn't allow it.
I turned back towards the Trailways Bus Station. I thought maybe it was time for me to just go home.
Just as I turned, another guy bumped into me and shoved me to the side. He didn't even apologize. Then I heard him say, "Why don't they come get these bums off the streets. They stink. Some people have no pride about themselves, begging for a living."
Suddenly, I was fourteen again, and I could hear the other boys saying nasty things about me. My hand flew up with the strength I hadn't used in a long time.
In one quick motion, I looked down, dropped the rock from my hand, and moved backward a few steps. That's when I saw the blood on my hand. What the hell just happened? I thought. I didn't remember picking up that rock.
I looked around and people were running and screaming.
With blood running down from his face, the guy lunged forward and knocked me to the ground before stumbling backward himself. I jumped up ready to retaliate. I noticed the red stain on his shirt. To find the source, I traveled back up his neck to the side of his head.
I was nauseated. Who did that to him I wondered and why was my hand bleeding?
People gathered around the guy and guided him a few feet away creating space between us. For a moment, I thought, why wasn't anyone rushing to see what was wrong with me; whether I was hurt too?
That's when I heard the sirens and saw the two ambulances stop next to the curb.
The police asked me questions. I remember trying to explain to them that the guy hit me for no reason, and that I was just trying to buy me a hamburger and fries and a bus ticket.
I noticed the people nearby.
Some stood looking at each other while waiting for the next transit to arrive. Some opened the doorway and entered the bus terminal. Still others turned away from the commotion. I remember seeing that pivot before when I was younger of not wanting to get involved. They kept walking towards their destinations.
The next thing I know I was being put inside the ambulance.
TASK: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT - 1st PERSON
I approached this Day 6 assignment by attempting to outline my character with all the tools I've learned so far in the Festival, such as:
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: Now apply all knowledge to the 1st Person
ARC:
Main Character: Otis Hadley, 30 years old
Conflict/Problem: Not knowing the current rules of society and abiding by them.
Antagonists: Restaurant workers / stranger on street
Obstacle Preventing him from solving his problem: Society's view and judgment of him
- How do I look? - overweight for my age; no opinion; however, others say I'm handsome
- How do I feel? (internally) - uneasy; headaches
- What do I think?
about life - doesn't want to go to shelter but home
about myself - can't make a rational decision; overweight
about others - they don't understand; look down on me; not kind
SETTING:
What do I see:
- unfamiliar landmarks
- people
- new warning street signs
- new restrictions on movement
What do I hear
- traffic noise
- constant talking in my head; can hear others
What do i feel? (externally)
- sweaty from intense heat
- judgment from other
What do I smell?
- favorite food
What do you notice about your character? Did they develop the way that you thought they would? What is their voice like? Is it different to yours? Include your thoughts about your character in your post.
In developing my character, a 30-year old man named Otis Hadley, I present him with first having a problem where he's committed to a facility to seek help for his mental state. I notice that he's not really sure he's cured, but the facility believes he is, constantly tells him this, then allows him to leave.
My character's name gives us an indication of his outlook on life and how he thinks. He truly believes he can hear things validated by his father who tells him the meaning of his name "one who has exceptional hearing ability." My character laughs one definition off, while embracing the other.
I don't think he believes he's cured, but the staff at the facility tells him he is. Upon being released, he sets out on his journey believing this.
However, things quickly deteriorate. He has a quick temper, and has been away from mainstream public for 5 years. During that time, laws were enacted regarding the safety of patrons at restaurants.
My character doesn't grow. He developed the way I thought he would, but not in a good way. He has a weak voice and personality; unsure of himself. He hides it with anger, unable to control himself. He never matures or improves.
My character is definitely different from my personality, but especially my voice.