CUTE MEET

This story takes place right after a big blowout at the animal shelter with its old corrupt management and leads up to the “I Have A Dream” post.

Julia and Buddy had spent the previous six summer’s being neighbors in W.VA and became very good friends, however, this summer Buddy had planned to stay in Pennsylvania and work with the dogs at the shelter. Julia realized that as life goes on and people get involved with their work that things change, and that she might never see him again.

Buddy had started his summer out volunteering his days at the shelter, working with and training the dogs. He had set up an agility course and the dogs were responding well, but he was getting all kinds of resistance from the staff and management who did not want him to succeed. An accident happened and the dog Buddy was working with panicked and bit him. Buddy felt bad knowing it was his own fault for pushing too hard but was totally outraged to find out the management intended on putting the dog down. That night Buddy broke into the shelter, stole the dog and walked the RR tracks all the way to his grandfather’s cabin in W.VA.

Julia Roberts - Character Sketch

I took an on-line writing course from Edtogo last year and developed this character sketch for Julia Roberts, one of my protagonists.

Julia is 17, and was raised on a horse ranch in West Virginia which also kept a herd of wild mustangs for the rodeo circuits. She knows all about the testosterone driven studs and the cowboys that try to mount them. She always roots for the horse.

By putting myself in Julia's, first person POV for this character sketch, I literally walked a couple of miles in her shoes. I saw life from her perspective, felt her passions, and walked away a little more enlightened about humanity, and a little envious too and I think that's what empathy is all about. I am finding that every time I revise this, I become a little more connected and passionate about this girl. I feel like she is my sister at this point and this seems a little weird to me.

Julia Roberts, Protagonist

Hi, I'm Julia, and no, I'm not the movie star, although people have said that I look just like her—Cool. Not much to say about myself, just a girl helping my dad run the ranch. My older brother, Bob, is in college, Mom tried to teach him the business end of the ranch, but all he ever wanted to do was work the horses, build up his car, and swoon the girls. Mom gave up and sent him off to college to learn proper math and such. She hasn't even attempted to teach me the books, I'm a hands on, animal loving kind of girl and that will never change. Fact is, the more I deal with people the more I like my dogs and horses. Maybe I should just get right to the personality points:

Archetypes— I could be considered the 'Girl next door' except for the need for the safety and security bit. I like walking right along the edge, that's where the passion is and the view is better. I would have to say I am a 'Warrior Woman'. in working a ranch you have to jump right in and fix anything and everything that needs fixing, and its kind of like doing battle with Murphy (Murphy's Law) every day.

Primary Strength—Well, I'd have to say my uppercut, just kidding, but I did knock a kid out cold once. All this psychological analysis stuff is making me a little defensive and I tend to talk a lot when I‘m nervous. Wow, this is a tough one, Primary Strength? Probably my 'Confidence in Myself'— no, 'Perceptiveness', yea, I can look at a dog or a horse and tell you what they are thinking about, and I'm hardly ever wrong. Or, maybe a 'Mystic', I can tell you what that dog or horse is going to do in just about any situation, lessen there's a problem that needs fixin. I would have to say 'Perceptiveness' is my strength, my primary strength; I've got more than one.

Central Flaw— That's easy, they call me little Miss Know It All around here, I can't help it; it must be some of that 'Mystic' quality coming out. But you know something about the cowboys that work this ranch, they are ego sensitive when it comes to the "Man's Work." The truth of the matter is, when you're dealing with animals—be it dogs, horses, cattle, or what ever, the gentle touch always wins the prize and the guys around here just don't get that, must be all that testosterone.

Short character sketch— Character Sketch? Thought I already did that. Oops, guess that could be another one of my fatal flaws, "Don't follow directions good." Okay, okay.

Three things I value most in life— Oh dear, Family, the Critters, and Justice for all.

My beliefs about love— Wow, now there's a can of worms. What is love? What is need? What is desire? What is lust? What is pity? What is just having somebody around cause being alone is unbearable. What's the question again? My beliefs about love, I don't know. What is infatuation? I think I am too young to know that answer, except that I would fight any foe to the death to protect my family, our critters, or justice for all. And so, that must be what love is, what you would die for to protect. —Heavy!

The secret I am most ashamed of— Well, I peeked through the cracks in the barn and watched a guy pee on the tractor tire once. Gross, I'll never do that again. That's more gag-gross than shame though. Oh, I know, I lied to my parents last year. There was this party with boys and beer and I wanted to go, so I told my parents it was a slumber party at Patty‘s house. Dad knew I was lying, but I just stared him down and lied again. He let me go, but he knew I was lying. To this day when he looks at me, in that special way, I know he is thinking about that lie and how I let him down, I am ashamed. — Moving on.

Special skills— Wow, I've got so many, let's see. I can plow a straighter furrow than my brother. Nah, I guess it would have to be my knack for talking to the horses, especially the wild ones, in the upper meadows behind the Freeman cabin. Every year, we round up the mustangs for the rodeos and my dad insists that I lead them down, singing, like the Indians use to do to keep their herds safe, contained and content. Horses have a distinct language all their own and its all sign, body language. Their vision is incredible; they can detect an ear twitch or a tail swish from 400 yards away and know what the meaning is. My dad calls me a "Horse Whisperer." Singer would be more like it, "The Horse Singer," I like it…, eat your heart out Julia Roberts.
Got chores to do, see you later.