Ciria's Perfect Catch

"A combined meeting?" Renita asked Ciria.

"Yes," answered Ciria, "It is the fifth Sunday afterall," she muttered as she and Renita made their way awkwardly through the chatty people in the halls to the large room designated for the lesson. Chairs were already set up and they sat as close to a door as possible so that they could be the first ones out. Though the two of them had been in the city for nearly 7 months they weren't exactly social people and really only knew the handful of band people that lived nearby and attended church with them.

They both sat together, hunched down as if they wanted nothing less than to shrink and disappear from the loud mass of young adults that was quickly filling the room. Looking up, Renita noticed the Burke twins, Sorrell and Daniel, walk through the door- wide eyed and chatty as usual. She made eye contact with Sorrell and he smiled at her, sitting a couple seats away. She also noticed Myron, the silent percussionist, sitting alone as usual, but not for long as the Burke twins sat on either side of him. Renita was definitely not a people-person for it reminded her of her previous life and all of the lavish parties her parents threw. She couldn't help but feel like everyone in the room was judging her and she entertained thoughts in her mind of running out the door to the quiet confines of her house.

Finally the lesson started and a tall and handsome man began to give the announcements. Neither paid attention however and all they caught was that the teacher's name was something Gibson. The only reason this even caught their attention was because there was a guy in Renita's section whose last name was Gibson and who also, as she had quickly discovered once school started, lived about a block away and attended church with them. The two of them looked up and noticed a guy that they had really never noticed before but who they had seen on occasion. For some reason, as he spoke, Ciria couldn't help but take notice of him.

He was about 6 feet tall, maybe a bit less, and had the build of someone who worked out just enough to put on some bulk. He was a bit thick but had the frame of a matured adult. His hair was a very light brown-blond color and he had a round face with soft blue eyes and a soft smile. He was wearing a suit, of course, and had on a red paisley tie. As he spoke, his voice was gentle and confident. The more he spoke, the more Ciria stared at him and the more she stared at him the more she wanted to know who this guy was. Why hadn't she ever noticed him before? Who was he? The longer she looked the more she realized he looked just like Cardo, the guy that had the same last name as him. She then realized that they must be brothers, though she had been wrong upon assumption enough times before not to take that for fact. However, towards the end of his lesson, he mentioned Cardo ("Richard would know… It's okay to say that, he's my brother!") which just made Ciria stare more.

The whole rest of the day, and the whole rest of the week, Ciria could not stop thinking about him. If he was the brother of Cardo then that means he lives just down the street. She was too afraid to look him up on the internet and wondered why on earth he had left such an impression on her. Was it his looks? His voice? His knowledge? Finally by the middle of the week she couldn't take it anymore and confided in Renita her feelings of the Gibson guy.

"If you think I know who he is, I don't," Renita said, amused, after hearing Ciria go on for a good 10 minutes about this mysterious Gibson. "I barely know Cardo. All I know is that he lives with his brother down here....... and that he has 12 brothers and one sister," she added, in a monotone sort of voice, for she was busy reading a book.

"WHAT? He comes from a family of 14 kids??" Ciria exclaimed in surprise.

"Yeah. I guess you do learn stuff like that when you sit next to each other. His mom had triplets and twins or something like that. I do know that that guy you're talking about is one of his brothers. They look alike. I just have no idea what his name is or anything like that." As she said this she went back to reading her book. About a minute of silence later she added, "If you want to find out who he is you should go ask him yourself when we see him again."

The next Sunday did roll around and Ciria was surprisingly early in getting ready. She was normally the slowest of the two to get ready but today she was ready before Renita had even chosen what to wear.

"Man, you really like this guy!" Renita said, teasing her aunt. Thought they were technically aunt and niece, they were only 8 years apart and since Ciria was completely starting over with a new major they made things easier and just told people they were either best friends or cousins.

"Hush you!" Ciria whispered loudly as she combed her short blond hair to get it to flip the way she wanted. "I'll talk to him when I'm ready."

"Hah, you mean you wanted me to find out who he was from Cardo! Too bad we have no school!"

They arrived at church on time for probably the first time in the seven months they had lived there. All they had to do was take a very short drive but they still managed to be late, both secretly wanting to be late so they could sit in the back. As they took their usual seats, much earlier than usual, they watched people come in. Ciria was especially vigilant in looking for the boy on her mind and when she finally saw him walk in her heart fell to her knees and skipped a few beats. He was the same smiling, handsome man that he was the week before and she valiantly tried to avoid eye contact with him.

All throughout church she thought about him and when church was over she deliberately stalled so that she could get another look at him. Renita, seeing everything with her observing eyes, knew that something had to be done so she took a giant leap of courage and decided to speak to him, something she found to be much easier when done for someone else. She saw him coming down the hall with a few other guys and waited patiently for him to round the corner while Ciria sort of paced around nonchalantly, deliberately trying not to act like she was waiting for him. Once he was in view she made her move, wasting no time.

"Hi! My cousin over yary wants to know what your name is. She's been *dying* to meet you! She loved your lesson last week!" Renita said, a huge grin on her face knowing she was making Ciria blush. She caught Ciria's eyes, full of surprise and panic, and winked at her, neither knowing how this Gibson guy would react. To their surprise and relief, he was just as kind as he was in his lesson.

"Oh, really? I'm honored! Where is she?" he asked, his eyebrows raised.

"She's over there," Renita said, pointing at Ciria who was trying not to blush and to act natural.

"H-Hi," Ciria said, extending a shaky hand, "I'm Ciria. What is your name?"

The guy chuckled. "The name's Wiley! Wiley Gibson... It's a cross between Wyatt and Sorley. My parents couldn't decide on a name so they decided to see what happened when they smashed it together and when they realized it too was a legitimate name they decided to give it to me. You're Ciria? Is that right?"

"Yes, that's right," Ciria said, and just like that, all of her nervousness was gone.

After his jolly introduction of himself, they began to talk. And talk. And talk some more! They talked so much that they sat down and eventually Renita got tired of waiting so she left without her. Hours passed and finally, just after 10, Ciria walked through the door.

"Ai-Sa-Biil! Where have you been?!" Renita asked, amused.

"Well, first we talked. Then we sat down and talked some more. Then he took me back to his house and we talked some more and I met his other brother Jeremiah who lives with him and his friend Corwin and of course Cardo was there. Then I had dinner with them and then we talked some more! Renita, you asking his name was probably the best thing to happen to me!" She said all of this rather breathlessly.

"Oh? And why is that?" Renita asked coyly.

"Because I'm going on a date with him next Wednesday!" Ciria exploded, unable to contain her joy. "He's a perfect catch! See ya later- I have to add him on Facebook!"

Renita's Monologue

Here I am. It's the beginning of February and I'm about to go to my future university for the first time to audition and tour the campus. I finally feel like I have control of my own life. Ciria and I will be staying with Robin and Ada at their house and I can't wait!

I guess I'd better start back at the beginning. I'm the middle of three kids, all controlled viciously by my overbearing and strict parents. If anyone looked up "living through their children" they would see a picture of the Gealy family. I've always, even since I was little, felt like I was adopted or put into the wrong family because while my brother and sister faithfully did all they were forced by our parents I always felt it was wrong. I'm stubborn and as I've learned it's not the negative thing that they tried to wring from me but it was the rock by which I finally launched myself away.

My entire life was mapped out for me, mostly by my strict and fearsome father. I happened to like some doctor set I had as a child and from then on my parents decided that I was going to be a doctor. At first I went along with it because I thought I liked it. I made my parents proud and they supported me. However, by the time I hit my teens I slowly realized that I was doing medicine for all the wrong reasons. I somehow convinced my parents to let me take band in elementary school and realized that music was my passion and that it was so much greater than being a doctor had ever been. Though I felt happy doing medical stuff I had a new feeling when I played music. My parents made me go to a medical charter school when I was 12 though and I couldn't do band anymore.

It was at this point that I realized I only wanted to be a doctor because my parents were making me. Just before my 7th grade year was over I went to the counselor's office. My perfect grades were still intact but my interest had slipped so much that I was depressed and couldn't do it anymore. After a huge fight with my parents about it, in which I'm not even sure how I managed to break their wall, I was sent back to the regular middle school for 8th grade where I again took band, having kept up with the trombone in secret. If I had a coin for every time that my family tried to talk me out of playing trombone I would have had enough money to bust out of this miserable place within a year.

My parents, mad that my stubborn side had actually challenged and subdued them, didn't support me at all in my musical endeavors. I had to get rides from my friends to get to concerts because they wouldn't even drive me. They were pushing to get me into the good medical programs in high school but I held my ground and tried to resist. Eventually, I gave up and spent two hours a day getting bussed to a special campus to do medical training. I still managed to keep my grades up and do band on the side, although it was very difficult. I didn't have many friends at all and was absolutely miserable.

Throughout all of this time I managed to track down my aunt Ciria (my mom's sister) who had been kicked out of our family several years ago for not going with her parents' plans for her. She disappeared from all family related things and I just so happened to finally find her number and call her. We talked for hours and she gave me the reassurance that I was indeed doing the right thing. She even promised me that she would help me in any way that she could and that whenever I finally had enough and ran away from home (we both knew it was inevitable) she would welcome me with open arms. She paid for my high school band expenses and showed up at every music event of mine.

My father got increasingly more angry with me and he got scary at times. I thought he was going to beat me up. He never laid a hand on me but his words certainly did their damage. He'd try to manipulate me and it was only due to my gift of aura that I could withstand it without falling into chains. He threatened many times to kidnap me from music events and I had to attend everything while living in fear of what he would do to me. Somehow I managed to make everything work and keep my stupid high marks so that my parents could brag to their richy-rich neighborhood how perfect their family was.

The kicker finally came shortly after I turned 18. By then I'd had a job for 2 years and worked my butt off saving money for a car and to live on my own. With my own car came freedom to do more things. I lived in fear of my parents ruining my car but thankfully they never actually did. My senior year started and I was supposed to be filling out the form to go to AMU. Little did they know I ripped up the form after filling it out. They somehow trusted me with mailing the letter myself which gave me the perfect opportunity to hide it away. I instead applied for a normal school with a good music program as far away as I could. I got accepted at all of the schools I applied for and obviously didn't get accepted at AMU because I never turned in the forms. The consent forms were signed by Ciria. My parents finally found out on December 23rd, launching the biggest fight yet. Over the past few months I'd been ever so slowly packing up my things and taking them to Ciria's house a town over so that I wouldn't lose anything I cared about when the day came. They saw the letter from AMU saying I missed the deadline. I was so scared of being physically injured and there was a definite battle of words. Finally, my mother looked me in the eye and calmly said, "You have one hour to get out."

To me it was the best sentence I'd ever heard in that house. It still stung a lot but I was finally freed. No more picking my schedule for me. No more being forced to compete in things to being home trophies that my father prized over me. I calmly walked to my room, gathered the rest of my things (leaving all evidence of trophies, ribbons, and medical school things behind) and got in my car, leaving my house forever. When I got to Cyria's house I walked in without knocking, suitcase behind me, and saw her sitting on her couch. We made eye contact and 18 years of holding in any frustration and anger suddenly erupted from my soul. I've been physically unable to cry for years and here I was sobbing in my aunt's arms. She didn't even have to ask. She knew that I had been kicked out. December 27, 2011 to me is one of the most important days in my life. I haven't been able to cry since that day either. No matter how much I want to, tears don't come.

My estranged parents were kind enough to mail me all of my documentation like birth certificate and all of that legal stuff. They would have paid for my schooling in full if I had gone to AMU but I know Ciria's story and it's already making a difference in my life, as I'm able to do things right the first time without the pains of having to figure it out later down the road. Ciria, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for walking this path first. You were so brave. Thank you for charting these waters so that I wouldn't have to. For the first time in my life I was able to sign up for classes that I wanted to take. Having attained every credit necessary for graduation almost two years ago this semester is so very easy. No more medical school class, no more math, no more anything. I get a free period at the end of the day which means that I can go to work earlier and get more hours in. I'm still graduating with honors although I'm not walking. I don't even care. Every day when I go back to school I remember all I went through to get here. I do have a class ring which is a tangible reminder of my struggles.

This next Saturday, on 11 February, I'm going to Knywd with Ciria to audition for KU, the college we have decided on. I found it through my friend Robin, known to me as "12obin St00d." We play the same online game together and I found him a long time ago while cutting magic trees at the witch tower. We found out we both played trombone and became friends. As we talked our friendship deepened and I ended up being a member of his clan, Sno Gang. Around the time we became really close friends I began to open up about my situation. He's the one who suggested I apply at KU, which I did and it ended up being the best option for me and Ciria. When I got kicked out of my house I called him on Skype and got to talk to him. He's so sweet and we'll be staying at his house for three days come next Thursday. It'll be a long train ride but we're both excited to go and both of us are looking forward to meeting 12obin St00d and Antoine Reba in person!

Here's to peace.

Renita and Ciria

As I look at the list of newcomers to KU for next fall, I try to see if any of the names jump out at me. Sometimes a simple name will invoke a story so I take it and go from there. Such is the case of Renita Gealy and Ciria Hynda.

Starting with Renita, I immediately felt like she had a rough past. I picked up on the vibes that she was from a strict household where she had expectations placed so highly on her that she was caving in. Immediately a story from people in my life came to mind which easily became the basis for a new story, Renita's story. Based off some submissions from the website Six Billion Secrets, which I read daily for inspiration and to catch the auras of the lives of others, a story came to light.

Basically, in summary, Renita's parents are quite literally forcing her to become a doctor. However, she really hates all the medical stuff and would really rather play the trombone and major in music. They refuse to support her at all so she makes her own money to keep her passion going. She also has secret help from her aunt (who would become Ciria) who is 9 years older than her and has traveled the exact same path, realized that life is about happiness, and took back control. Ciria becomes a source of inspiration for Renita and fuels her courage to tell her parents that she is no longer going to try and live up to their unobtainable expectations. This really doesn't go over well and when they find out that Renita is not going to AMU (the best medical university in Kiillaana) and is instead going to major in music they flip out and not only refuse to pay a cent (they would have paid for everything if she went with their plan) but they also disown her. Her parents are very rich and materialistic and are in constant competition with the neighbors and friends and cannot comprehend what they would say if they found out their daughter was not going into a rich profession.

After this happens, during Renita's winter break, she moves in with Ciria who lives nearby and makes all necessary plans to get scholarships needed for school. Renita plays Runescape to chat with others and to get away from the frustrations of her family life and one of her close friends (Robin Coulter) from the game, a trombone player himself, encourages her to audition for the university he attends (yes, he was quite brave for sharing that much personal info, but he did it over facebook and not Runescape). Ciria, who has taken up the saxophone since quitting the school of her parents' dreams, decides that she too wants to major in music and that it "sounds like fun" so she too prepares an audition and studies the basics of theory with Renita.

Ciria herself has a unique story as well. Growing up in the same situation as Renita, she was told by her parents that she would be an engineer so that's what she did. She met someone in college who noticed right away she wasn't happy and spoke some simple advice that would strike her at the very center of her heart. Halfway through her sophomore year of college she realized that she could do with her own life what she pleased so she "gave school the middle finger," dropped out, and enrolled in a comminuty college where she majored in medical assisting and became an assistant in a radiology office. She is almost 29 years old and single, having sensed very strongly that she was to remain in the town she lived in until a certain major event would happen (she is strongly of Osai). Renita moving in with her would prove to be this major event and the two would go on to audition and receive near-full rides to KU.

Renita has quite a lot of baggage from years of being labeled second best next to her older sister and younger brother. She never really felt like she fit into the family because, unlike her brother and sister, she was not a people-pleaser in any way. Her self esteem is very low because she refused to be fake in her rich town community and was outcast all the time. She became depressed and bottled up her frustrations and sadness for so long that she is no longer able to cry. Her father would yell up a storm if Renita got anything below an A in any class and her parents would hand-pick her class schedule for her. They manipulated her to do what they wanted by verbally abusing her and making her feel guilty for anything she did outside of their desires and it was only due to Ciria's mentoring that Renita survived until she turned 18 in September of 2011 and was able to freely move out and take control of her own life, something Ciria learned far too late.

These two join the Newcomers 2012 and I hope to include them in some capacity in the Lochgren Series.