Hey everyone! I wanted to share something with you that's a bit awkward for me, but I'm just trying to be a good daughter and, well, a good second cousin too.
You know how some people can be a bit pushy when it comes to fundraisers? Yeah, I usually roll my eyes at those situations. But this time, my Dad asked me to help him spread the word about a GoFundMe he set up for my second cousin.
The thing is, everything in the ad is absolutely true, except we've changed his name and location to protect his family's privacy. Right now, he's living with his siblings and grandmother, who is a proud woman. She agreed to let my Dad post this as long as her family remained anonymous. He also asked me to help him write the ad, which I figured I owed him, seeing he spent almost a hundred fifty thousand dollars for my (useless) Literature degree. I created the cool graphic, too!
Now, my cousin isn't the academic type like his older brother who just started college. He's not destined for university, and he's not particularly athletic like his younger brother either. But he's got some serious skills with tools, and he loves to work. His goal in life, strangely enough, literally, is to become a 'ditchdigger'. He helped my parents with their yard work, and my Dad has taken him under his wing to help him kick-start his career. "Henry" will be graduating next year.
I attended his mother's funeral, and it was truly heart-wrenching. She was only 34 years old and passed away due to a heroin overdose. All five kids stood up during the memorial while Ed Sheeran's song "Dancing in the Dark" played, and I couldn't help but sob uncontrollably.
You know, back when I was in high school and didn't have my driver's license (as most of you know), I used to walk to my aunt's house after school and wait there until my then-boyfriend could drive me home. At that time, "Henry's" mother and father were still alive, and they were all living with my aunt. I distinctly remember one incident when "Henry" came charging down the stairs, screaming at the top of his lungs, with his mother chasing after him with a belt, murder in her eyes. Besides her addiction, she also suffered from bipolar disorder, so it must have been a real joy to be raised by her. I sat there, frozen, taking in the scene, and then I glanced over and saw the oldest brother curled up on the couch, sucking his thumb!
Honestly, I used to despise "Henry." I had the unfortunate task of trying to help out my aunt, who is "Henry's" grandmother, after his mother passed away and his father left for rehab. I ended up babysitting all five kids, and let me tell you, "Henry" was the angriest, meanest, and cruelest little monster I had ever encountered. He had so much pent-up rage (not to mention untreated ADHD) from the chaotic mess that was his family life, and he took it out on me. I remember locking myself in the bathroom while he pounded on the door, and I had to call my parents to come pick me up.
But over time, "Henry" has changed. I think he received some treatment that really helped him. He started doing odd jobs at my parents' house, and he gained a few other customers. What's horrible is, "Henry" started saving a bunch of money from his jobs for his business, but his own father STOLE it to buy drugs. But I never once heard Henry ever say a single bad word about his Dad, even after that. Blind love that kid has for his Dad, even after everything he's put that family through. But "Henry"s still a little lost and from what his brother tells me, they're getting worried, because he's slipping out of the house at night sometimes to hang out with some bad seeds. Everyone's afraid "Henry's" going to follow his father's footsteps.
That's why my Dad has taken it upon himself to help my cousin get a start.
Anyway, let me be clear—I'm not a fan of fundraisers. But I'm sharing the link to the ad and kindly asking you NOT TO DONATE directly (because that would be weird). Instead, I'm hoping you can simply share the link with a persuasive message to everyone in your social media connections. If you do, please don't share these added details, because that'll be a dead giveaway as to who Henry and his family are and that would violate Dad's promise to keep them anonymous.
So that's all you're going to hear from me on the subject.
So, for what its worth, here's the link.
https://gofund.me/6c6979bd
Now let's play on! I'm really enjoying how all the stories are picking up and am amazed at our DM's ability to create so many interesting threads.
Sheepishly,
Sara Bee
This message was last edited by the player at 00:05, Sat 10 June 2023.
