Character Interview with Jade
Okay, Jade, since you’re the love interest in Dead Heat, what do you look for in a partner?
Jade: Someone hot. Kidding. I guess the biggest thing is, can I be good friends with that person? Can I talk to them and trust them? Most of my friends are all about who’s cute, then they start going out and realize they have nothing in common. If someone had told me I’d end up with a guy who’d been abused all his life and didn’t know how to read, I never would have guessed it. But Alex is kind, gentle, and smart. I think he’d willingly die for anyone he cared about. But he believes that how he lives is who he is. It’s sad that he can’t see himself the way I see him.
That is sad. It’s a good thing he has you in his life. Okay, here’s an easy one, what’s your favorite food?
Jade: Mexican. I’d juggle cats in the shower for a good chili relleno. Oh, and anything with lime. Especially key lime.
What food do you hate?
Jade: Beets, broccoli.
Where do you fall in birth order? What effect does this have?
Jade: First born, and I’m a leader. I don’t know if that’s my nature or because it was necessary.
Tell me about your siblings.
Jade: I’ve always loved Eric, my 13-year-old brother, even though he’s a real pain in the ass when he’s off his meds. He’s got ADHD. When we lived with mom, I was the only one he’d listen to. It’s hard for him to slow down. I understand that.
Describe your mother.
Jade: Mom has blond hair like me, but hers is darker because she doesn’t dye it. She’s blue-eyed and petite and can drink most guys under the table. She has a great sense of humor, but lousy taste in men. I don’t understand that, because Grandpa’s the best guy ever.
Describe your father.
Jade: I don’t know my father. He could be any one of a dozen guys. I live with my grandparents.
Okay, then describe your grandfather.
Grandpa’s 60. He’s still got all his hair, but it’s getting gray. He’s got blue eyes, like Mom, and a smile that always melts me. He works as a cook in a diner. He was in the Navy in ’Nam and that’s where he learned to cook. Fortunately, he got better at it. He’s an alcoholic, but he got control of it when mom was still a little girl. That’s why he has such a hard time with her. She won’t even admit she has a problem.
Describe your grandmother.
Jade: Grandma’s a couple of years younger than Grandpa. She works as a children’s librarian. She’s really good with the little kids and loves to read stories to them. That was the only way she could get Eric to sit still when we first came to live with her.
If you had to choose, with whom would you prefer to live?
Jade: I guess you mean with Grandma and Grandpa or with Mom? I really love my mom, but she wasn’t good for Eric and me. I’d have to say I’d stay with my grandparents. And that’s not just because I’m mad at mom right now. I was good at taking care of Eric, but I’m glad I don’t have that responsibility anymore. I like doing my own thing.
What’s your most noticeable physical attribute?
Jade: Probably my hair. It’s super pale blond at the tips, and a darker blonde the closer you get to my scalp.
What kind of distinguishing facial features do you have?
Jade: I’ve sort of got a pixie face. You know, the kind that means no one ever takes you seriously. Which is why I go to such great lengths to make people realize I’m not a ditzy cheerleader.
What’s your most marked emotional characteristic?
Jade: Unflappability. Nothing much surprises me or throws me off track.
How do you think your friends and family see you?
Jade: As Supergirl. They think I can do anything. Only Grandpa seems to sense how I feel about my mom and dad.
How would a stranger describe you?
Jade: Cute, full of energy, steady, a little snarky.
Do you have any special belief systems?
Jade: I belong to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
What do you like most about yourself?
Jade: I’m a hard-nosed realist. Not cynical, just brutally honest with myself and others. I don’t take crap from anyone. If you want something in life you, have to go after it. You can’t let anything hold you back.
Do you have a lifelong dream or aspiration?
Jade: To be a team mascot in college. Preferably the Oregon Duck. Alex said he doesn’t think they let girls be the duck, and I told him, “Yeah, well, how do you know? They never tell anybody who’s inside that costume.” Seriously, though, I want to earn a scholarship, go to law school at the University of Oregon, and become a lawyer. Mom always said I was good at arguing.
What grosses you out?
Jade: Road kill. Especially when I’m innocently walking along, thinking of some school project, and I step right in it.
What’s your deepest regret?
Jade: No regrets, baby! Okay, I guess I have lots of little ones, but I try to get things right so I don’t have to feel bad about how I messed up.
What do you look for in a friend?
Jade: Someone non-judgmental. Someone who knows how to listen.
Who is your best friend?
Jade: Stephanie. She’s the one I really talk to, but I have lots of friends. They just don’t see the real me. The weird thing is, I can talk to Alex the way I talk to Stephanie. I think it’s because he’s been through so much worse than I have. He understands that part of my life.
Who’s your worst enemy?
Jade: I don’t have one. Jenna Peterson used to rag on me for being on scholarship in sixth grade, but she ignores me now. I’m pretty good at being social, in spite of how things were for me in grade school. The secret is acting confident, pretending nothing bothers you, and twisting people’s teasing so it looks like you can laugh at yourself. You’ve gotta figure out how to steal their power and get the upper hand in a confrontation. Then people see you as cool and a leader.
If you had a secret, who would you tell it to?
Jade: Stephanie. I’ve been keeping her secret forever, so I know anything I said would be safe with her. She’s gay, but she hasn’t come out yet. That’s sort of difficult when you attend a Christian prep school.
Do you have a secret?
Jade: Not at the moment. Yeah, well, maybe. But just that I really miss my mom and wish I knew who my dad was.
What’s your biggest fear? Who have you told this to? Who would you never tell this to? Why?
Jade: Never seeing my mom again. I haven’t told anyone. I don’t want them to think I’m a wimp. Besides, people don’t understand how I can love her and forgive her. I’m also scared of losing control. I have to have all my ducks in a row.
Do you have any special interests?
Jade: I volunteer as a peer counselor. I play softball. I’m not scholarship material, but I enjoy it. It’s fun and I like being part of a team. I love camping and hiking, and one of my most favorite ways to spend a Sunday is fishing with Grandpa and Eric. I also like to play Scrabble with Grandma, but she always kicks my ass.
What are your talents and skills?
Jade: I’m smart and I know how to work hard. I’m really good at peer counseling, probably because I’ve had so much experience with Eric’s problems. I think most people just need to know that someone’s really listening and understanding them, without judgment.
Do any of these talents or skills have a down side?
Jade: I don’t think so. Sometimes Grandpa says I work too hard, but I know how to have fun.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Jade: X-ray vision. Kidding. I’ve always wished I was musical. I tried to learn guitar, but it wasn’t at all intuitive for me. I guess it reflects poorly on me that I’d give up on something just because I wasn’t naturally talented at it, but the truth is, I’m too busy to invest that much time in something that would take extra work.
Do you have an obsession?
Jade: I don’t know if it’s really an obsession, but I’m fascinated with the paranormal. It’s the one extravagance I allow myself. Everything else about me is practical and premeditated, and I know I’m the master of my own destiny, so it doesn’t really make sense that I need an escape, you know? But from the time I was little, I wanted to believe there was something more, that some kind of magic existed that would make life less depressing. I eventually figure out how to do that for myself, but I never lost my fascination with the supernatural.
What do you like most about yourself?
Jade: I’m a hard-nosed realist. Not cynical, just brutally honest with myself and others. I don’t take shit from anyone. If you want something in life, you have to go after it. You can’t let anything hold you back.
What do you like least about yourself?
Jade: Sometimes I bowl people right over. I act like I don’t care, like I’m confident and full of myself and everybody better take me as I am. But the truth is, after I get done hanging around with others, I go home and worry about what a mean, obnoxious ass I was.
Describe your bedroom.
Jade: Purple everywhere, lots of books, a laptop I cherish because I know how hard it was for Grandma and Grandpa to scrape together that much money, a quilt Grandma made me in all different shades of purple.
What’s on your bedroom floor?
Jade: A big mess. I just finished a school project, and when I get caught up in something like that, I get sort of obsessed.
What are some experiences from your childhood that have affected the sort of person you are now?
Jade: Spending ten years not knowing where my next meal was coming from, or whether mom would be drunk all night, made me realize I didn’t want to live that way all my life. A teacher told me if I worked hard at school, I could do anything. School was easy for me anyway, so it seemed like a no-brainer. I like having people make a big deal out of how smart I am.
How would you describe your childhood?
Jade: It wasn’t easy. I saw some scary stuff, and I did without a lot. But I love my mom. She has her problems, but she always let Eric and me know she cared about us, even if she wasn’t so great at providing. In some ways, I had more freedom than a lot of kids because Mom let us run wild. But in others, I had less because I had to take care of Eric and make sure we ate and had clean clothes. I guess the way I lived didn’t bug me that much. It was just my life, you know? The stuff that really bothered me, I just joke about now. If I do that enough, it makes it seem not so bad. I’ve got a sort of dark, biting sense of humor. Nothing’s sacred.
What is one strong memory that has stuck with you from childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting?
Jade: One of mom’s boyfriends, Sal, was a mean dude. He yelled and threw things and tried to smack her around. He hit me once, and it shocked me so bad I just stood there. But then he made the mistake of going after Eric. We were at the dinner table, and Eric was being so hyper he shook the table and knocked over everyone’s glasses. Sal stood up and yanked him out from behind the table. He shook Eric until I thought his head was going to fall off, then grabbed both his skinny little wrists in one hand and hauled off to slap him. I didn’t even think, I just snatched the pan of mac and cheese off the table and cold-cocked him with it. He dropped Eric and came after me, but I had a weapon, and I got right in his face. He decided the whole scene was too much hassle and beat it. That was when I realized I didn’t have to take shit from anyone.
How do you feel about discipline?
Jade: I think discipline is important. Some people just naturally have it, like me, but others need guidance. I think you’re doing your kids a disfavor if you don’t teach them how to control themselves. But sometimes discipline doesn’t work. Look at Eric. People thought he needed to be paddled or grounded, or locked in a room until he behaved. What he really needed was Ritalin. I know a lot of people get impatient with kids for cutting up, but the solution isn’t to hit first and ask questions later. I had better luck than anyone with Eric because I was patient with him and tried to understand his basic rhythms.
Are you someone who fits in with society or someone who fights it?
Jade: I fit in, but I also don’t let anyone walk all over me.
How would you spend a typical day?
Jade: I go to school where I hang out with my friends and go to classes. I’m pretty social, but I don’t let anything interfere with my grades. I’ve knocked out a lot of my requirements, so I have a free period where I do peer counseling. I also do some tutoring. After school, I play soccer in the fall and softball in the spring. When I get home, I’ll help Eric with his homework then do mine. Grandma always says she can help Eric, and sometimes I let her, but mostly I enjoy helping him and he likes me to. I might watch a little TV in the evenings or read a book, if I’ve got all my homework done. Sometimes that takes me all night, so I don’t get any free time. On Friday nights or weekends, I might go out with friends. Stephanie and I like to watch movies. She wants to be a screenwriter, so she analyzes everything. I’ve had a few dates, but no steady boyfriends.
What is the best thing that could happen to you?
Jade: My mom would come visit.
What is the worst thing that could happen to you?
Jade: Being paralyzed. It would drive me nuts not to be able to move around and do things for myself.
What music do you sing to when no one else is around?
Jade: Theme songs from TV shows. Gilligan’s Island is my favorite.
What’s your favorite movie?
Jade: I’ve seen so many it’s hard to pick just one. I like comedy, and stuff with tough girls in it.
Describe your hands.
Jade: Strong, sinuous, sexy. Ha! Actually, I do have nice hands.
Where do you have a scar or birthmark?
Jade: No scars, no birthmarks. I’m completely boring in that sense.
What is a dream (in sleep) you often have?
Jade: I’m looking for mom because Eric’s really hungry, and I don’t have any money. I’m a little kid, totally dependent on her, but I can’t find her anywhere.
How do you go to sleep, and how do you wake up? (i.e. position in bed, etc.)
Jade: I curl up around a pillow. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I miss Eric. We used to share a bedroom when we lived with mom, and he wouldn’t go to sleep unless I had my arms around him.
Tell me about the last time you cried.
Jade: On my last birthday when mom didn’t call or write. Again. I know that makes me a wuss. It’s just that I never held any of it against her. I always forgave her and loved her. I thought she loved me too.
Do you have a nervous tic or an embarrassing habit?
Jade: I used to chew on my hair, until I cut it short.
What is your favorite sound?
Jade: My feet crunching through fallen autumn leaves.
What is your favorite smell?
Jade: Bourbon. I know, crazy, huh? But I remember smelling it on mom all the time when I was really little. It always makes me think of her.
What’s your favorite season?
Jade: Spring, because everything’s brimming with potential.
How do you deal with conflict and change?
Jade: Full steam ahead.
If you could be a bird or animal what kind would you be?
Jade: A cat. I love how they move, how they can go just about anywhere, and how they have such arrogant attitudes.
Do you have a vice?
Jade: Just cocaine. Ha! You walked right into that one, didn’t you?
Are you angry? If so, why?
Jade: Nope, I’m not an angry person.
What calms you?
Jade: Grandma singing. When we first move in with my grandparents, she’d always sing Eric to sleep. I wanted her to sing to me, too, but I felt like I was too old, so I never asked. I just snuck into the hallway and listened outside Eric’s door.
What’s your greatest flaw?
Jade: Sass.
What’s your greatest asset?
Jade: Sass.
If you knew you had exactly one month to live, what would you do?
Jade: I don’t think I’d do anything differently.
And if you had to die, how would you choose to go?
Jade: Chocolate overdose.
Jade: Someone hot. Kidding. I guess the biggest thing is, can I be good friends with that person? Can I talk to them and trust them? Most of my friends are all about who’s cute, then they start going out and realize they have nothing in common. If someone had told me I’d end up with a guy who’d been abused all his life and didn’t know how to read, I never would have guessed it. But Alex is kind, gentle, and smart. I think he’d willingly die for anyone he cared about. But he believes that how he lives is who he is. It’s sad that he can’t see himself the way I see him.
That is sad. It’s a good thing he has you in his life. Okay, here’s an easy one, what’s your favorite food?
Jade: Mexican. I’d juggle cats in the shower for a good chili relleno. Oh, and anything with lime. Especially key lime.
What food do you hate?
Jade: Beets, broccoli.
Where do you fall in birth order? What effect does this have?
Jade: First born, and I’m a leader. I don’t know if that’s my nature or because it was necessary.
Tell me about your siblings.
Jade: I’ve always loved Eric, my 13-year-old brother, even though he’s a real pain in the ass when he’s off his meds. He’s got ADHD. When we lived with mom, I was the only one he’d listen to. It’s hard for him to slow down. I understand that.
Describe your mother.
Jade: Mom has blond hair like me, but hers is darker because she doesn’t dye it. She’s blue-eyed and petite and can drink most guys under the table. She has a great sense of humor, but lousy taste in men. I don’t understand that, because Grandpa’s the best guy ever.
Describe your father.
Jade: I don’t know my father. He could be any one of a dozen guys. I live with my grandparents.
Okay, then describe your grandfather.
Grandpa’s 60. He’s still got all his hair, but it’s getting gray. He’s got blue eyes, like Mom, and a smile that always melts me. He works as a cook in a diner. He was in the Navy in ’Nam and that’s where he learned to cook. Fortunately, he got better at it. He’s an alcoholic, but he got control of it when mom was still a little girl. That’s why he has such a hard time with her. She won’t even admit she has a problem.
Describe your grandmother.
Jade: Grandma’s a couple of years younger than Grandpa. She works as a children’s librarian. She’s really good with the little kids and loves to read stories to them. That was the only way she could get Eric to sit still when we first came to live with her.
If you had to choose, with whom would you prefer to live?
Jade: I guess you mean with Grandma and Grandpa or with Mom? I really love my mom, but she wasn’t good for Eric and me. I’d have to say I’d stay with my grandparents. And that’s not just because I’m mad at mom right now. I was good at taking care of Eric, but I’m glad I don’t have that responsibility anymore. I like doing my own thing.
What’s your most noticeable physical attribute?
Jade: Probably my hair. It’s super pale blond at the tips, and a darker blonde the closer you get to my scalp.
What kind of distinguishing facial features do you have?
Jade: I’ve sort of got a pixie face. You know, the kind that means no one ever takes you seriously. Which is why I go to such great lengths to make people realize I’m not a ditzy cheerleader.
What’s your most marked emotional characteristic?
Jade: Unflappability. Nothing much surprises me or throws me off track.
How do you think your friends and family see you?
Jade: As Supergirl. They think I can do anything. Only Grandpa seems to sense how I feel about my mom and dad.
How would a stranger describe you?
Jade: Cute, full of energy, steady, a little snarky.
Do you have any special belief systems?
Jade: I belong to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
What do you like most about yourself?
Jade: I’m a hard-nosed realist. Not cynical, just brutally honest with myself and others. I don’t take crap from anyone. If you want something in life you, have to go after it. You can’t let anything hold you back.
Do you have a lifelong dream or aspiration?
Jade: To be a team mascot in college. Preferably the Oregon Duck. Alex said he doesn’t think they let girls be the duck, and I told him, “Yeah, well, how do you know? They never tell anybody who’s inside that costume.” Seriously, though, I want to earn a scholarship, go to law school at the University of Oregon, and become a lawyer. Mom always said I was good at arguing.
What grosses you out?
Jade: Road kill. Especially when I’m innocently walking along, thinking of some school project, and I step right in it.
What’s your deepest regret?
Jade: No regrets, baby! Okay, I guess I have lots of little ones, but I try to get things right so I don’t have to feel bad about how I messed up.
What do you look for in a friend?
Jade: Someone non-judgmental. Someone who knows how to listen.
Who is your best friend?
Jade: Stephanie. She’s the one I really talk to, but I have lots of friends. They just don’t see the real me. The weird thing is, I can talk to Alex the way I talk to Stephanie. I think it’s because he’s been through so much worse than I have. He understands that part of my life.
Who’s your worst enemy?
Jade: I don’t have one. Jenna Peterson used to rag on me for being on scholarship in sixth grade, but she ignores me now. I’m pretty good at being social, in spite of how things were for me in grade school. The secret is acting confident, pretending nothing bothers you, and twisting people’s teasing so it looks like you can laugh at yourself. You’ve gotta figure out how to steal their power and get the upper hand in a confrontation. Then people see you as cool and a leader.
If you had a secret, who would you tell it to?
Jade: Stephanie. I’ve been keeping her secret forever, so I know anything I said would be safe with her. She’s gay, but she hasn’t come out yet. That’s sort of difficult when you attend a Christian prep school.
Do you have a secret?
Jade: Not at the moment. Yeah, well, maybe. But just that I really miss my mom and wish I knew who my dad was.
What’s your biggest fear? Who have you told this to? Who would you never tell this to? Why?
Jade: Never seeing my mom again. I haven’t told anyone. I don’t want them to think I’m a wimp. Besides, people don’t understand how I can love her and forgive her. I’m also scared of losing control. I have to have all my ducks in a row.
Do you have any special interests?
Jade: I volunteer as a peer counselor. I play softball. I’m not scholarship material, but I enjoy it. It’s fun and I like being part of a team. I love camping and hiking, and one of my most favorite ways to spend a Sunday is fishing with Grandpa and Eric. I also like to play Scrabble with Grandma, but she always kicks my ass.
What are your talents and skills?
Jade: I’m smart and I know how to work hard. I’m really good at peer counseling, probably because I’ve had so much experience with Eric’s problems. I think most people just need to know that someone’s really listening and understanding them, without judgment.
Do any of these talents or skills have a down side?
Jade: I don’t think so. Sometimes Grandpa says I work too hard, but I know how to have fun.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Jade: X-ray vision. Kidding. I’ve always wished I was musical. I tried to learn guitar, but it wasn’t at all intuitive for me. I guess it reflects poorly on me that I’d give up on something just because I wasn’t naturally talented at it, but the truth is, I’m too busy to invest that much time in something that would take extra work.
Do you have an obsession?
Jade: I don’t know if it’s really an obsession, but I’m fascinated with the paranormal. It’s the one extravagance I allow myself. Everything else about me is practical and premeditated, and I know I’m the master of my own destiny, so it doesn’t really make sense that I need an escape, you know? But from the time I was little, I wanted to believe there was something more, that some kind of magic existed that would make life less depressing. I eventually figure out how to do that for myself, but I never lost my fascination with the supernatural.
What do you like most about yourself?
Jade: I’m a hard-nosed realist. Not cynical, just brutally honest with myself and others. I don’t take shit from anyone. If you want something in life, you have to go after it. You can’t let anything hold you back.
What do you like least about yourself?
Jade: Sometimes I bowl people right over. I act like I don’t care, like I’m confident and full of myself and everybody better take me as I am. But the truth is, after I get done hanging around with others, I go home and worry about what a mean, obnoxious ass I was.
Describe your bedroom.
Jade: Purple everywhere, lots of books, a laptop I cherish because I know how hard it was for Grandma and Grandpa to scrape together that much money, a quilt Grandma made me in all different shades of purple.
What’s on your bedroom floor?
Jade: A big mess. I just finished a school project, and when I get caught up in something like that, I get sort of obsessed.
What are some experiences from your childhood that have affected the sort of person you are now?
Jade: Spending ten years not knowing where my next meal was coming from, or whether mom would be drunk all night, made me realize I didn’t want to live that way all my life. A teacher told me if I worked hard at school, I could do anything. School was easy for me anyway, so it seemed like a no-brainer. I like having people make a big deal out of how smart I am.
How would you describe your childhood?
Jade: It wasn’t easy. I saw some scary stuff, and I did without a lot. But I love my mom. She has her problems, but she always let Eric and me know she cared about us, even if she wasn’t so great at providing. In some ways, I had more freedom than a lot of kids because Mom let us run wild. But in others, I had less because I had to take care of Eric and make sure we ate and had clean clothes. I guess the way I lived didn’t bug me that much. It was just my life, you know? The stuff that really bothered me, I just joke about now. If I do that enough, it makes it seem not so bad. I’ve got a sort of dark, biting sense of humor. Nothing’s sacred.
What is one strong memory that has stuck with you from childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting?
Jade: One of mom’s boyfriends, Sal, was a mean dude. He yelled and threw things and tried to smack her around. He hit me once, and it shocked me so bad I just stood there. But then he made the mistake of going after Eric. We were at the dinner table, and Eric was being so hyper he shook the table and knocked over everyone’s glasses. Sal stood up and yanked him out from behind the table. He shook Eric until I thought his head was going to fall off, then grabbed both his skinny little wrists in one hand and hauled off to slap him. I didn’t even think, I just snatched the pan of mac and cheese off the table and cold-cocked him with it. He dropped Eric and came after me, but I had a weapon, and I got right in his face. He decided the whole scene was too much hassle and beat it. That was when I realized I didn’t have to take shit from anyone.
How do you feel about discipline?
Jade: I think discipline is important. Some people just naturally have it, like me, but others need guidance. I think you’re doing your kids a disfavor if you don’t teach them how to control themselves. But sometimes discipline doesn’t work. Look at Eric. People thought he needed to be paddled or grounded, or locked in a room until he behaved. What he really needed was Ritalin. I know a lot of people get impatient with kids for cutting up, but the solution isn’t to hit first and ask questions later. I had better luck than anyone with Eric because I was patient with him and tried to understand his basic rhythms.
Are you someone who fits in with society or someone who fights it?
Jade: I fit in, but I also don’t let anyone walk all over me.
How would you spend a typical day?
Jade: I go to school where I hang out with my friends and go to classes. I’m pretty social, but I don’t let anything interfere with my grades. I’ve knocked out a lot of my requirements, so I have a free period where I do peer counseling. I also do some tutoring. After school, I play soccer in the fall and softball in the spring. When I get home, I’ll help Eric with his homework then do mine. Grandma always says she can help Eric, and sometimes I let her, but mostly I enjoy helping him and he likes me to. I might watch a little TV in the evenings or read a book, if I’ve got all my homework done. Sometimes that takes me all night, so I don’t get any free time. On Friday nights or weekends, I might go out with friends. Stephanie and I like to watch movies. She wants to be a screenwriter, so she analyzes everything. I’ve had a few dates, but no steady boyfriends.
What is the best thing that could happen to you?
Jade: My mom would come visit.
What is the worst thing that could happen to you?
Jade: Being paralyzed. It would drive me nuts not to be able to move around and do things for myself.
What music do you sing to when no one else is around?
Jade: Theme songs from TV shows. Gilligan’s Island is my favorite.
What’s your favorite movie?
Jade: I’ve seen so many it’s hard to pick just one. I like comedy, and stuff with tough girls in it.
Describe your hands.
Jade: Strong, sinuous, sexy. Ha! Actually, I do have nice hands.
Where do you have a scar or birthmark?
Jade: No scars, no birthmarks. I’m completely boring in that sense.
What is a dream (in sleep) you often have?
Jade: I’m looking for mom because Eric’s really hungry, and I don’t have any money. I’m a little kid, totally dependent on her, but I can’t find her anywhere.
How do you go to sleep, and how do you wake up? (i.e. position in bed, etc.)
Jade: I curl up around a pillow. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I miss Eric. We used to share a bedroom when we lived with mom, and he wouldn’t go to sleep unless I had my arms around him.
Tell me about the last time you cried.
Jade: On my last birthday when mom didn’t call or write. Again. I know that makes me a wuss. It’s just that I never held any of it against her. I always forgave her and loved her. I thought she loved me too.
Do you have a nervous tic or an embarrassing habit?
Jade: I used to chew on my hair, until I cut it short.
What is your favorite sound?
Jade: My feet crunching through fallen autumn leaves.
What is your favorite smell?
Jade: Bourbon. I know, crazy, huh? But I remember smelling it on mom all the time when I was really little. It always makes me think of her.
What’s your favorite season?
Jade: Spring, because everything’s brimming with potential.
How do you deal with conflict and change?
Jade: Full steam ahead.
If you could be a bird or animal what kind would you be?
Jade: A cat. I love how they move, how they can go just about anywhere, and how they have such arrogant attitudes.
Do you have a vice?
Jade: Just cocaine. Ha! You walked right into that one, didn’t you?
Are you angry? If so, why?
Jade: Nope, I’m not an angry person.
What calms you?
Jade: Grandma singing. When we first move in with my grandparents, she’d always sing Eric to sleep. I wanted her to sing to me, too, but I felt like I was too old, so I never asked. I just snuck into the hallway and listened outside Eric’s door.
What’s your greatest flaw?
Jade: Sass.
What’s your greatest asset?
Jade: Sass.
If you knew you had exactly one month to live, what would you do?
Jade: I don’t think I’d do anything differently.
And if you had to die, how would you choose to go?
Jade: Chocolate overdose.
