Character Sketch/Get-To-Know-You

[Keira]

That is scary

I had two good friends die before I turned eleven. One when I was eight, the other just before my eleventh birthday. The one who died when I was eight was only seven, and she accidentally strangled herself (long long story, but she lost consciousness in front of her little sister and two cousins her same age, and died hours later) and the other one in a car accident. I remember being sad over the first one, but I didn't fully comprehend the gravity of the situation, and with the second one it literally destroyed me for a while. If I even so much as thought of him I broke down. *Shudders* Bad memories.

[hannie]

What is the exact age of your character? - years, months, days?

15 years, 0 months, 6 days

A place where your character is living or visiting begins to burn. The character has a few moments to escape. What does she grab – save? – before getting out of the fire? Why?

Pictures of my parents... it's all I have left of them.
My blankie my Dad gave me when I was born... cause I love it.
My laptop... cause it has my entire life inside of it.

The character enters the room in which you’re sitting. Sits down near you, places his left-hand on a table or desk near you. Look at that hand. Describe it in as much detail as you can. Quickly. Go.

Chubby little fingers, the ring finger has a claddagh ring on it--heart facing outwards. There's a little bump on the ring finger too, from writing too much and not holding my pencil the right way.

Your character has left his/her wallet/purse on a table. What does it look like? What’s inside of it?

Impossible... everything I need had better fit in my pockets, cause I don't trust myself with a purse.

Your character is napping. Without feeling too weird about it… lean in and sniff his/her neck. What does it smell like?

Coconut milk and orchid shampoo... lavender body lotion... Chanel 'Chance' perfume on special occassions.

Describe your characters favorite meal.

Homemade chicken and rice soup and grilled cheese sandwiches... but only if it's raining outside.

Describe a scar and how it was acquired.

One perfect dot in the exact middle of my forehead... which used to be a chicken pock until my brother pulled the scab off.

Character laughs at something. What is it? Why does he think it’s funny?

Probably a lot of things... I laugh when people fall--that's probably my favorite... or when people hurt themselves (after I make sure it's not serious, of course). I laugh when things are ironic, but just inside my head so no one else catches on.

You are invisible; your presence is unknown by your character. You are observing your character looking into a mirror. Describe your observations.

I try very hard not to look in mirrors too often... as long as my hair and teeth are brushed I figure it's good enough.

“France.” Your character hears that word. What, if anything, comes to your character’s mind. Be as specific as you can.

France? I guess I think of the little cottage in Marseilles we lived in one summer when I was very young. My father was back and forth from there to Paris on business a lot that summer, so my mother had packed us up and moved us to the shore of the Mediterranean. While we were there they were filming "Marius et Jeanette" and we met Marie Darroussin who had a small role in the movie and, when she wasn't filming, she would come play in the sea with us.

“I remember…” You character says or thinks these words. Now provide a list of at least five things your character remembers.

My mom falling asleep one afternoon and me and my brothers getting hungry and making ourselves a dinner of chocolate ice cream and pickles.

Moving to the US from Ireland, even though I was only three. The best part was the pool at the new house.

Letting my brothers give me a hair cut, then spending two hours at the salon with my mother trying to fix it.

Always hiding my father's shoes, keys, wallet--ANYTHING-- so he couldn't leave on business trips. Also, trying to zip myself into his suitcase.

Going to watch "Homeward Bound" at the local park, then crying so hard when I thought the kitty drowned that we had to leave.

Describe one not-so-easily detected nervous habit of your character’s. Nothing conventional.

I pinch the end of my ear lobe. The worst part about it is that after a stressful day it looks like someone was sucking on it and gave me a hickey... then all the rude comments start.

A sound that’s especially pleasing to your character – what is it? Why is it so pleasing to the character?

I love the sound of beer cans being cracked open. No one in the family every drank beer or even soda from a can, so every time I heard that sound I knew my dad was home again.

What is your character’s middle name, and what is the brief history – if any – of that name?

My middle name is Greigh, pronounced like the color gray. It's an old family name I got stuck with, being the only girl and all.

Describe (compare/contrast) the ways in which your character sneezes in private/public.

I just let it rip... none of those dainty little sneezes for me.

Who was the first American President (or Prime Minister) of which your character was aware, and what is one image or memory your character has of this president (Prime Minister)?

Bill Clinton... I remember meeting him at the Govorner's dinner and asking my father how come his skin looked like that.

Describe a piece of jewelry your character might wear or buy for another person or admire or dislike. (It’s okay to answer all four options too.)

I wear only the pearl necklace my mother left to me, the silverb Claddagh ring that was my Grandmothers and the white gold and pink sapphire ring my father gave me.

Provide one more telling piece of information about your character.

I have a serious and devestating phobia of cottonballs.

[Laughing]

What is the exact age of your character? - years, months, days?
15 years, 3 months, 26 days (maybe...today is not a math day for me)
A place where your character is living or visiting begins to burn. The character has a few moments to escape. What does she grab – save? – before getting out of the fire? Why?
Assuming all persons and pets are out...my laptop and my purse

The character enters the room in which you’re sitting. Sits down near you, places his left-hand on a table or desk near you. Look at that hand. Describe it in as much detail as you can. Quickly. Go.
Long, skinny fingers, a little longer than average length nails, a silver ring on my middle finger and thumb, a small white scar between my thumb and first finger, small henna tattoo of a star just inside my wrist

Your character has left his/her wallet/purse on a table. What does it look like? What’s inside of it?
the purse is big and pink and black and contains Peter Pan, a Beatles CD, pens, a small notebook, Time magazine, and my wallet

Your character is napping. Without feeling too weird about it… lean in and sniff his/her neck. What does it smell like?
lavender shampoo and vanilla soap

Describe your characters favorite meal.
home made lasagna and french bread

Describe a scar and how it was acquired.
the one on my left hand was acquired in seventh grade art class when the teacher gave us a block of wood and a knife

Character laughs at something. What is it? Why does he think it’s funny?
My sister trying to glue a googly eye onto her sock...

You are invisible; your presence is unknown by your character. You are observing your character looking into a mirror. Describe your observations.
wet hair, slightly smeared eyeliner...whatever

“France.” Your character hears that word. What, if anything, comes to your character’s mind. Be as specific as you can.
Paris, the Eiffel Tower, the poster of the Eiffel Tower being struck by lightnening that I have in my room, snails

“I remember…” You character says or thinks these words. Now provide a list of at least five things your character remembers.
first time driving, first time I read The Outsiders, going to Las Vegas, going to a park at midnight with friends, the ocean

Describe one not-so-easily detected nervous habit of your character’s. Nothing conventional.
my eyes unvoluntarily dart to the ceiling....people think I'm rolling my eyes at them, but I'm not! I can't control it, honest.

A sound that’s especially pleasing to your character – what is it? Why is it so pleasing to the character?
the piano because I've always wanted to be able to play it well, and I envy and admire people who can

What is your character’s middle name, and what is the brief history – if any – of that name?
Suzanne, it's a variation of my Grandmother's name

Describe (compare/contrast) the ways in which your character sneezes in private/public.
uh...my head kind of goes down and my hand covers my nose...

Who was the first American President (or Prime Minister) of which your character was aware, and what is one image or memory your character has of this president (Prime Minister)?
Bill Clinton; his mouth always being open

Describe a piece of jewelry your character might wear or buy for another person or admire or dislike. (It’s okay to answer all four options too.)
I would buy/wear silver rings

Provide one more telling piece of information about your character.
I purposely never match my socks