Childhood
You know… they say that you are a product of your upbringing. I don't really believe that or at least, I don’t believe it is always the case. I certainly didn't end up like my dad. My biological dad that is. My memories of him are vague at best, but he was violent. Probably alcohol.. or drugs. Maybe even both. I remember that much. The pain of getting beaten. The fear of when the next beating was.
Worst part was… no one believed me. Who believes a kid who never has a mark on them? That’s right… this… whatever I am has been around a long time. As far back as I remember.
My mom? She was an angel. Or seemed that way in my childhood memories. She always made things better. I remember such a gentle soul. Which is why I ended up in foster care. I don't remember why, but my dad went into a rage. Something happened and my mom ended up dead, my dad in jail and me…. I ended up in foster care.
Surprisingly, I didn't stay there too long. People expected this problem child coming from an abusive home, but I wasn't. My mom… my adopted mom… she said I always seemed so positive. I never acted out. It was just an easy choice for them. Of course, I wasn't really adopted right away. I lived as a foster with my parents for a time. We didn't have a lot, cause my dad was a teacher; just like I am. Mom worked admin for the school district. However, they always made sure I had what I needed.
You know… you hear about all these tragic tales of people's childhoods and yeah- mine didn't start out great - but once I found my real home… my life got pretty boring. I lived and I loved. I got bullied like any other kid. Difference was… they never got the satisfaction of leaving any marks. So eventually, they stopped trying. I think even my best friend in high school. He started out as one of the guys bullying me. Funny how that works out huh?
I pretty much knew what I wanted to do from a very young age. My adopted dad, was the coolest person I knew. So, I always admired who he was and what he did. He was big on teaching at the inner city schools, even developed some after school programs to help these kids find their potential. He helped so many kids be better people. How could you not admire that?
So I went to school and got my degree in Education. Started teaching. It has its ups and downs, but mostly, I love my job.
Family, Midtown, and The Massacre
I met my wife when I started at a new school. She was pretty hot to trot, let me tell you. She was a single mom, had rowdy kid that she was often at the school about. She was very much a business woman. Pant suits and sensible heels. I’ve always been amazed at the fact that she asked me out.
That whole relationship was such a blur. Then next thing I knew we were honeymooning in Tahiti… It’s a magical place. Kids started happening, we had two, and adopted one. It was a big family. We were so happy…. Looking back, it seems like a whole other life really.
S-s-so the bomb…. midtown. You… you asked about that. *clears throat* This… this is hard for me. I was teaching at the time. High school was in Midtown. When that man… *chokes up - eyes teary* What is the use of being invincible if you can't protect anyone? When you are the only one who crawls out of the rubble?
All those kids.
All those futures gone.
Who the hell does that?
Either way, at this point my secret was out. I mean people suspected. Since, I was told it was like hitting a bit of a brick wall, when they punched me. I mean, I had no reason to hide it. I thought registration was the best thing. I mean… look at what happened!?! Of course, we needed controlling. So I registered and continued teaching.
I was content, though a little worried about the government. I mean, they had the right ideas, but it ended up being really bad execution. They have clearly, not learned from history. Cause it was repeating itself. I guess that is why when I was approached by Broome to be a school teacher in the Arcology for the kids; I jumped on the opportunity he and the mysterious Richard Cardinal had this grand dream. It seemed too good and maybe I should have listened to my gut.
He said it was my destiny or something to help teach the next generations. That these kids would need someone who understood what they were. But… I never really knew what was going on beyond those doors. Never thought to ask. I should have. Maybe. I…. would not have agreed had I known. I mean… experimenting? On kids even!
It seemed like after that, all hell broke loose. It was… it was just horrible. The worst part was when President Mitchell decided that the only way to take on the problem was to gun down all those evolved in the Massacre of 2012. That included my wife and kids. We did nothing against this administration, yet… they gunned them down. If… if I had not been away, I…I would have been among them.
It haunts me.
The Timeskip
I ended up fleeing the city like everyone else, once the government started terrorizing those like me. Looking for shelter and keeping my head down, I had to keep moving. Everyone was trying to kill everyone else! It was horrible. I just stuck to the communities and taught the kids as best I could, but I was no fighter, even if I couldn’t get hurt.
My travels took me into Canada, where many found some semblance of peace. There I found a wonderful little school who needed a teacher like me. This is where I spent the next few years, while watching the events unfold in the states. Despite everything going on, I still felt homesick for New York, though it was nothing like it use to be. Maybe that is part of the reason I went back, once the old regime was overthrown and the new President was installed. It felt like it was time.
So in 2015, I made the long journey back to New York as they were getting ready to establish the Safe Zone. It wasn’t going to be easy getting schools set up again, but darn it all, I was ready to see it happen. Those kids needed something to keep them busy, else they could fall under the influence of bad men. I even worked long side crews when I could, I felt that if the community showed the government they were willing to help… maybe this country would start to heal.
Eventually, I accepted a position on the council, once I realized that the schools and children would need a voice. It felt great to be able to fight for something with words and not the ways of the past. Not every battle required an act of violence. Time for the peacekeepers to take the reins, I think.
