Lessons From the SoulsBourne Games

Soulsbourne is the term we players use to describe the From Software games that include Demon Souls, all Dark Souls games, and Bloodbourne. 

The first SoulsBourne game I ever played was Demon Souls. This was a long time ago and I did not like that game. It made no sense to me. The story was vague and confusing and the enemies were erratic. Being killed repeatedly by the first enemy in a game can be demoralizing but I kept going for a while. Every step was wrong and led to frustration. I didn't get very far and quit before I felt any accomplishment. I moved on.

Years later I played Dark Souls 2. This was when my appreciation for the game blossomed. Many believe that Dark Souls 1 is the best game in the series but that is probably because they started with it but I started with Dark Souls 2. While it is insanely difficult for a person unaccustomed to the unforgiving gauntlet that these games offer it was not as bad as Demon Souls and I think that Dark Souls 2 was a good game for me to dip my toes into. I dipped my toes hard!

Dark Souls 2 is like Dark Souls 1 but with the familiar level design of a more common style of third-person RPG. One can more easily wrap their head around the environment and there was plenty of space to run back, forward, or around. The maps are more expansive and linear making the experience more about the travel than the maze that the previous games were designed around.

I remember spending hours getting high and smoking cigarettes playing Dark Souls 2. I had the collector's edition guide book and bought all the add on downloadable content (DLC). It was the first game I spent more time playing than the Elder Scroll's games. I can still remember some of the areas and I could probably make my way through it pretty easily nowadays. Dark Souls 2 popped my cherry and in a big way. I remember when I got to the point that I could easily kill the Pursuer boss at the beginning of the game which made me feel that I had overcome a great challenge. I probably died hundreds of times to that son of a bitch and I finally learned that the key was to watch and learn its moves. To learn the precursor signs to each move and see it coming. Mostly it was about staying on the right side, moving forward when it attacked and hitting it in the back once and repeating the dance many more times.

Then Bloodborne came out and it was such a beautiful adaptation of the idea and it was when I started to appreciate the Miyazaki touch. The level design in Bloodbourne is not like Dark Souls 2. It takes place in a decrepit Victorian era nightmare with urban landscapes. The monsters come from the perversion of human blood, of course, and the levels are intricate and three dimensional. The player weaves their way around vertical and interlocking city streets and sewers. Areas are connected by long ladders and locked doors, which is just like Dark Souls 1 but I didn't know it at the time. The look was so polished and creative compared to Dark Souls 2. The graphics and frame rate were better as well making it a faster and smoother experience. The DLC was amazing and it was not hard to get completely wrapped up in it.

Dark Souls 3 was also an amazing entry in the series. All the benefits of the original director, Miyazaki, along with all the benefits of a higher budget, better software, and better hardware. It brought back a lot of what people liked in both Dark Souls 1 and 2 and added a ton of lore and new challenges. The customization and variety of items to manipulate was nearly perfect and it took a long time to become bored with it and even later I have come back to it a few times to find that it steals my attention every time.

Sekiro was not a disappointment but it also didn't hold my attention. The art and general gameplay are great but it was underdeveloped in my opinion. It needed more variety of character-driven accouterment. More customization. More diversity in animations for stealth actions. More clothes, weapons, armor, and larger environments. I think that the inevitable sequel will be amazing. Hopefully, it will take advantage of the fast-paced actions and vertically driven movement in a way that doesn't feel so cramped and forced. Maybe open the world up a little more. Also, if you are going to make a game about a specific character then the story has to be awesome. Traditionally the SoulsBourne games have had vague stories where the backstory of the player was inconsequential. You are a nameless adventurer out for treasure and power but in Sekiro you're a named ninja fucking up the status quo but the story just wasn't there for me.

 After playing Dark Souls 3 again and being of a more mature mindset I realized that the game offers a kind of medication for me. I play it with the goal of controlling my emotions. No matter how many times I die or make a mistake I try not to care about the failures. I makeup goals for myself and try to accomplish them. I try to enjoy the game without becoming obsessed with it. I have put enough hours into it that I know the system pretty well. Well enough to know how to get where I'm going and do what I want. Dark Souls 3 offers a brutal world and in so doing it offers an opportunity to learn. To adapt. To challenge the mind and body to work together. Through repetition and knowledge, the game hones you. You either adapt or quit, there is no in-between.

The following is an enumeration of some of the personal, cognitive, and philosophical lessons I have learned from playing the SoulsBourne games.

Patience

The Soulsbourne games do not force you to be patient or to rush in. You can stand in one spot for all eternity as far as the game is concerned or you can try to run your way through the level. A young man is like a young character in the game. A young man might be so eager and self-assured as to rush into a dangerous situation and unwittingly pay a heavy price. This is why patience becomes a virtue. As in the games and in life the universe is not designed to accommodate one style. There are certain parts where patience is the best tactic and if you can truly master the balance between patience and action you will stop being surprised by your own failures.

Learning takes time. This is a lesson I am applying to my new love of music. In the past two years, I have started learning how to read, play, and make music. It has been a slow process and I am not good at any of the instruments I attempt to play, but the advancements and rewards are far beyond what a video game can offer. If you think Dark Souls is hard try playing the violin. It is very difficult and I have been very frustrated with it but I know that accomplishing something difficult takes time and practice. Patience is key.

Awareness

Whether it's getting hit by an arrow you didn't see coming or finding yourself falling off a cliff into an endless abyss, you need to pay attention. The environment is not there to keep you safe. It is designed to kill you. It is designed to make you think twice about whether you can jump to that other ledge or jump down thirty feet to the shiny object you desire. Nearly every treasure's bounty is tempered by potential danger and traps lay everywhere.  Check your six, check your corners, and sometimes running back is the best way to keep moving forward. Or you can try to run past all the enemies and seek shelter somewhere.

Running past enemies in Dark Souls is like ignoring negative people in life. This can be a good strategy as they will only waste your time so not giving them your attention is just a step closer to doing something you enjoy or that will make you better. Sometimes dysfunctional people are hard to ignore, especially if they are in your family. Not that you can simply ignore everyone around you such as family or coworkers. Sometimes you just have to tolerate them and try not to get sucked up into their negativity. It's like watching a cutscene in SoulsBourne games except in life the only way to skip the monologue is by being rude or being perceived as rude by the boring-ass or negative person.

Fighting enemies one by one in Dark Souls is like facing what gets in your own way. Dysfunctional people and internal demons are the enemies to success in life and if you can face them it is risky and you might lose something but afterward, they are no longer a threat to your continuing pursuits. You can move toward the rewards that await beyond the things that get in your way. Whether you decide to ignore the haters or face the demons pay attention to your environment and yourself.

Personal Limits

Learning takes time and it often feels like you're not ready for the challenge ahead. Remember that failure is an opportunity to evaluate your situation and take steps to overcome the challenge. This is a good time to seek guidance from those that have gone before you. It is also a good time to slow down and look for new routes. There might be an opportunity you have missed that will make your journey easier. Look inward to find the source of the failure. I find that it mostly comes down to two factors: ignorance and emotional imbalance. Not knowing enough about the problem is solvable through analysis and experimentation and emotional imbalance is solved through self-reflection and discipline. Putting your ego aside for a moment and being honest about your limitations can help clarify the problems you face and allow you to take steps to solve them.

Also, sometimes you're just tired and can't think straight and you just need to sleep and try again tomorrow.  

Competition

The multiplayer style in Soulsbourne games is unique in that game worlds are invaded by other real players who can hunt you down and kill you. There are people who just do this. They play the game long enough to create a character that is optimized for a certain playstyle and then they just invade games in hopes of killing other players that are trying to make their way through treacherous environments. This offers a challenge that mirrors the chaos of the real world. Sometimes challenges don't have rewards other than to overcome them. The reward is in the struggle. It hones your skills and humbles you. It can be frustrating but it is the cost of engaging with the world.

In life as in SoulsBourne games, there are enemies and they may be smarter than you, they may be stronger than you and you may not be able to run away. Enemies in the games can be like demons chasing you down just for the pleasure of ruining your day just like the demons that chase you and follow you in your mind. You can choose to ignore your problems by running away and hiding or you can face your demons before they manipulate you and take away your freedom. Like when you die and lose all your souls or you were about to get to the boss and you fall off a ledge trying to run away from a gank squad. Or in life when you realize that many people in your life use you as a dumping ground for their negative emotions and hostility; and now you have to tell some of them to fuck off. It's a competition of wills. Like when a boss asks you to do an impossible thing just to see you fail. Although, I suppose they do this is the military to test how someone acts in a desperate situation. So, if the boss does this for purely experimental reasons and makes that clear to the team ahead of time then I suppose that would be potentially acceptable in a non-military setting. But I digress...

To utilize a cliche, the real enemy is yourself and the real competition is against your own ignorance and fear. You fear that your ego will be shattered when others discover your ineptitude and you will be shamed when the truth comes out. Don't be afraid of the truth and fuck your ego. 

Cooperation

While there are some challenges you must face alone there are also friends all around you that want to help where they can. All you have to do is ask. Reach out to others and they will be there. The world might be lonely and terrifying but you aren't the first to face it and there are resources to help you on your journey. Seeking the wisdom of others can be the key to moving forward and sometimes you just need to even out the odds with a partner. No one can do it for you but your friends can help you along the way.

Reward 

Around every corner, there is the potential to acquire the resources you need to make your journey more agreeable. Souls and Blood Echoes are the currency in these games and allow you to upgrade your character, upgrade your weapons, and buy needed materials. If you are patient you can get enough of these items easily enough. You can grind by killing the same lower-level bad guys over and over again or you can take on harder enemies to get more resources but with a higher risk level. It is all about risk management. The lower the risk the lower the reward. Just like life, typically at least. If you want to get the highest rewards and really feel an achievement you have to progress through the levels and make your way to the hardest challenges.

It is only with perseverance, discipline, and creativity that you will acquire the most valuable treasures. It will not be easy but it will be worth it. There is nothing more exciting than finally defeating a difficult boss after making 30 attempts in a Soulsbourne game. With each attempt, you learn something new about your foe and get closer to winning. It can break you if you let it or you can check your ego at the fog gate and continue adapting. More than just the financial reward is the reward of the continuation of the journey. Enemies get in your way and only through their defeat can you make your way to the next challenge and the next reward. The story can either continue or you can quit.

In Conclusion:

The real lesson I have learned from playing these games is that the real enemy is within myself. It is my own ignorance, egotism, and emotional imbalance that become hindrances to my success.  In the process of learning something new, the ego is challenged by the reality of my own incompetence but there are rewards on the other side of the discomfort. Pushing through the frustration of attempting something new has allowed me to learn new skills in my life such as learning to be a better employee, playing pool, shooting guns, exercising, writing, photography, and recently learning to play music. These things require self-discipline and self-awareness and while the learning never ends the process is what matters. I don't want to get to the end of the story I just want to continue on a path I can be proud of.

Success requires a certain mastery over emotional extremes that can get in the way of seeing a situation clearly and working past the negativity and fear. The Soulsbourne games offer an opportunity to detach from emotions and work rationally. Working toward detaching from the egotistical desire to be perfect is an important exercise in controlling consciousness. If the goal is to reach a reward that requires rational cognitive resources then emotional distractions are an impediment. The time for emotions is in celebrating success, not ruminating on failures.

Mosquitoes and Pride

Zen and the Art of Mosquitoes

We had been seriously planning the trip for a couple of weeks and the anticipation and excitement grew as the day came closer. By Thursday, the day before the big trip, My brother, his wife, their son and I were all ready to backpack and camp at Waldo Lake. I bought a new hatchet, sleeping pad, pillow, buff and my brother had given me a new sleeping bag and I do enjoy new gear. (Side note: I continue to confuse the word sleeping bag with the word backpack. They are related but distinct items and yet they are inexorably connected in my mind.) Josh and I had been there before and it was amazing. My brother, his friend Martin and I arrived at the boat launch at dusk, traveled by boat in the pitch black, slept on a peninsula, found a beach the next day, canoed around the crystal clear lake and went on an epic day hike. It was an amazing trip and one that I was not hesitant to duplicate in any way.

We drove for four hours and at the end of an extremely long and rock strewn road we stopped at the Koch Mountain Trailhead in the Willamette National Forest. (Side note: A mid sized black bear crossed in front of us on the way up and I will never forgive myself for not catching it on film. I had the camera right there, plenty of battery and tons of storage. I guess you never know what will happen out in the Pacific Northwest Wilderness.) If I had the predilection for being loyal to a particular plot of land it would be to the PNW even though it can be a scary and unpredictable place. 

At the beginning of the trailhead we noticed a few mosquitoes buzzing around so we quickly sprayed and lotioned ourselves and each other with repellent and made our way down the trail. It was about a mile and a half to our prospective campsite, which was a site to behold, with it's easy access to swimming, hiking trails and it's wide open floor plan with ample enough space for a tent or two, a hefty fire pit and what not. Or at least it would have been if we had a moment to enjoy it. 

An hour in and the group's enthusiasm was still intact and when we made it to the site we looked at the beautiful lake, made camp and then jumped in the freezing water to cool off. I'd be willing to guess that this particular lake was the remnant of a long dead glacier and I'm certain it is about 5,500 feet above sea level, so it was cold as fuck. Also, it was barely summer so it hadn't had any time to warm up from the previous season. 

Back at camp we made fire and food and quickly realized the fire was not enough to ward off the thousands and thousands of mosquitoes that were frantically attempting to suck our blood. While smacking and slapping ourselves crazy we decided to wait them out in the tent, assuming that these things probably had a bedtime. Later in the evening we found out they don't really give a fuck about anything other than eating you.  Other then to make one mad dash to get supplies, put the food in a tree, stoke the fire and try to pee while persistent buzzing and whirring beasts pecked at every part of you, we stayed in the tent all night. Our only hope was that they would lessen in the morning.

View From Waldo Lake

They did not. The morning was no better and I would have sworn that these mosquitoes were freshly born and doubly motivated. So we planned our escape. My brother and I packed everything outside the tent while the other two packed everything inside the tent. We did have some effective deet repellent which made it more bearable but it was still a frenzied race against the hordes. We worked as a team and packed up in record time. The trail back to the safety of the car was mostly uphill so we had to take a couple of quick breaks before we made it to our sanctuary. Tired and weary we drove back in solemn relief. That first coffee was delicious. 

Back at home we compared bites and looked up remedies online. It became a disciplined practice to refrain from scratching all the red pestering bumps and I found myself trying to find anything to distract myself from the desire to scratch. We looked at pictures and video from the trip and generally chilled out. It was an arduous adventure and it was too bad that the mosquitoes won the day but we all learned something about camping at Waldo Lake in the early summer. 

Creeks and Pride

The next day my brother and I decided to make the most of the sun and day off so we got our swimming gear together and made our way to Sandy River. After searching for the perfect spot we ended up finding something very off the beaten path. We parked by a trail off the road, away from the masses of summer enthusiasts and found a creek flowing toward the main river. We followed the creek a ways until we found a spot that was just deep enough to shallow dive and keep cool. I have always enjoyed diving into rivers and lakes and to me there are few activities I enjoy more. I remember when I was a teen my friend Anthony and I would spend hours on the extremely dark and deep river that flows alongside the small, rural town of Elkton, where he lived. The idea of just laying in shallow water seems mostly pointless so I was very excited that we could find such a cool spot and the fact that not many others knew about it was even better.

The water was somewhat murky and dark but not too deep. Maybe a little over four feet but a shallow dive was all I wanted. As we began to swim my brother divulged his trepidation and anxiety induced by the potential dangers of swimming in such an environment. He was worried that there might be something "down there" that might cause harm which was something that I almost didn't think of at all. All I wanted to do was make sure I wouldn't hit my head on a rock and other than that I was ready to go. I suppose I was surprised to find out that there was something that I was not anxious about but that my brother was. He was always the brave one, the risk taker and certainly someone I look at as being capable of anything. For most of my life I've felt nervous, anxious and awkward so finding out that I contained a superior amount of chutzpah in regards to a something gave me just a tinge of pride. 

Overall I really enjoyed the entire weekend, mosquitoes and all. There is something about self inflicted adversity coupled with the pride of overcoming that adversity that helps redefine what is possible and how strong you can be.  Consciously attempting to maintain a positive attitude when things don't go as planned is a worthwhile endeavor and something I want to discipline myself more to do. As I sit and look at all the red bumps all over my body I can look at them with pride and know that they are just another example of how I can work harder to develop myself as a strong and capable person. What doesn't kill you can make you weaker, it can make you stronger or it can make you the same, because those are the options. Or it can make you weaker in one area and stronger in another, maybe? Maybe it was just the boost in vitamin D that influenced my positive outlook over that weekend. No one will ever know.

Media Supplements:
My first trip to Waldo Lake:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1Az1t31H8s

This year's trip video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xotcZE08oFo&t=2s

Waldo Lake

Creek Trail

30 Days of Fiction: 15

Friday was his 12th birthday and Joey was scurrying around the house frantically searching for his Nerf Auto-Blaster 3000. He looked under his bed, in the closet, in the living room closet, downstairs but it was no where to be found. His mother, June, was in the kitchen complaining to no one in particular that the dishes should have been done the night before and that it was Jemma's turn to do them but she was doing them anyway. Jemma was Joey's older sister and while his mother was quietly rebuking her Jemma was in her room talking to Stan Jones. All the while Jordan, Joey's stepfather was at work. He had promised Joey that he would make it to the birthday party at five but no one really thought he'd show up except Joey. Joey knew he would. Why would he say he would and then not, Joey thought.

Joey turned over another couch cushion and cursed, "Shit," when he saw no signs of Nerf activity.

"Watch your mouth Joey," his mother yelled from around the corner. "It might be your birthday but this is still my house," she said, but Joey could tell she wasn't really mad. She was always saying things like that. "Stay off the roof," she'd say, or, "Don't eat candy before dinner." But he knew she wasn't serious because even if she saw him disobey she'd just give him a look.

He sat on the couch and turned the TV on and flipped between channels but nothing looked interesting so he turned it off after about 30 clicks of the remote. What to do, he thought and then he remembered. He'd been wanting to climb the biggest tree in the neighborhood ever since Robert Claiborne had bragged about doing it last month in the cafeteria. When Joey had called him a liar, that day, Marcus Leonard backed up the story and threatened to punch Joey in the chin if he called Robert a liar again, so Joey knew it must be true. Since then, Joey thought that climbing the monster tree was not only possible but that if it could be climbed by Robert, a boy a year a year younger than he was, he had to try it.

Joey stood up from the couch and walked with purpose into his room to prepare. He changed into his climbing jeans, that were just his normal jeans but not the nice jeans he wore to church, these were the ones he wore after church. Then he put on his lucky blue belt, his green Hulk shirt and tied up his generic running shoes tightly. Then, his folding knife and two cards were put into his pockets and he was ready to go.

He opened the front door and yelled toward the kitchen, "I'm going outside to play!" His mom mumbled something about being back in time or something and he mumbled something back about doing what she'd said. When he opened the door he quickly turned his head from the bright light emanating from the sky and grabbed the pair of glasses on the stand to his left. They were his sister's but she never left her room anyway so why would she care, he thought. He put the red glasses on and marched out into the sun.

Joey was only a few feet down the road when, Peter Baker, a fifth grader with a speech impediment, rolled up next to him on his Schwinn bike and asked,"What ahwr you doing?"

Joey responded with,"I'm going to climb the tree," and puffed his chest out a little and marched forward.

"Well, that's stupid," Peter said incredulous of the claim. "You'wr gunna fall just like Wobewrt did."

"You're saying Robert's a liar," Joey asked not believing Peter for a second. What would a fifth grader know anyway, Joey thought.

"I saw it," Peter said and then added, "and Wobert only got up like five feet and slipped all the way down and cwied like a baby." Peter smiled remembering the scene.

"Bullshit, what do you know," Joey said as he continued to march down the sidewalk.

Peter said, "whatevewr," and rolled away up the street.

Joey continued his walk  until he reached the crest of the hill and at the top he stopped, pulled his sunglasses off and stared at it. The tree sat at the bottom of the hill nestled to the side of the road in an abandoned field standing in stark contrast to the otherwise desolate lot. It's lush green branches stretched up to the sky beckoning the sun and rain to nourish it's expansion and it called to Joey. To climb it's heights was to tame an ancient creature and have your name live on in infamy. Joey put his glasses back on and continued down the street.

Halfway down the hill another neighborhood child saw Joey walking down the road, in his resolute form, and became curious. Brad Pendleton was 11 and Brad liked an adventure. He rushed out of the the house and in no time was following Joey grilling him about what he was doing and why.

Brad jumped up and down along the sidewalk and asked, "Whatcha doing? Are ya goin to play in the lot? You're not goin to climb the tree are ya?" At this, Joey turned his head indicating that he was indeed going to climb the tree but he had no time to talk about it. Brad started to leap higher and higher and rubbed his hands together and said, "Oh, yeah! That's awesome. I wanna see this." Brad narrowly missed a mail box and continued, "You can do it, Joey. I know you can. Awesome."

The two boys continued down the street toward the vacant lot and as they stepped off the sidewalk and into the sandy lot they slowed to watch their steps. The lot was surrounded by chain link fences and trash was strewn about the area holding unknown dangers. One kid from school said the lot was covered in needles and broken glass but from Joey's perspective it was just kinda gross. Both boys still watched their steps and as they approached the base of the massive tree a boy and girl came from behind it with sticks and stones.

"What do you think you're doing," the boy said hitting his stick against his hand. He was Billy Conley, an eighth grader, and the girl was his younger, but meaner, sister, Brenda. She threw a rock at Brad who quickly dodged it and bounced behind Joey.

"I'm gunna climb the tree," Joey said trying his best not to look scared even though he was. The Conley's were bad people, his mom always said but he was determined to climb the tree.

"Bullshit, you are. Not without payin the toll," Brenda said stepping toward Joey and holding her hand out. She looked at Brad and spit in his direction and then reiterated, "money, dumbshit," looking at Joey.

"No," Joey said, but immediately regretted it when Brenda punched him in the gut.

"Not how it works," she said smiling.

"OK, OK," Joey said and pulled out the two cards from his pocket. He handed them to the girl who took them over to Billy. The two siblings looked at the cards, looked at Joey, looked back at the cards and then walked up to Joey together. Joey took a step back but stopped when he bumped into Brad who was standing too close.

"Where did you get these," Billy asked Joey, holding up the limited edition Mew Star Delta Series and Weezing Pokemon cards.

"None of your business," Joey responded hoping that would nullify the bullies.

"Alright, go ahead. Fall from the tree. See if we care," Brenda said and they parted ways to let the boys pass.

Joey and Brad stepped a few feet forward until they were a foot away from the tree and they both looked up.

"Doesn't look so bad," Brad said encouraging Joey, even though he knew he would certainly not attempt it himself.

Joey looked at Brad, nodded and then began his trek up the tree. He wedged his left foot into a crevice and raised himself up onto the first set of branches, pressing himself snugly to the trunk. He looked straight up and stepped up onto another branch and continued to pull himself up always looking at the next branch above. The higher he climbed the more he began the feel the tree sway back and forth causing him to take more time with each decision. Before long he was ten, fifteen and then finally he was twenty feet up the tree near the top. He stopped when the branches began so thin that moving up farther would be impossible and he looked out at the world from his perch.

Ahead he could see the expansiveness of his neighborhood and beyond were more sprawling endless neighborhoods stretching toward the haze of the city in the distance. All around the pavement continued and the houses never stopped. He could see the pools, play-sets and barbecues in the backyards. He could see people washing their cars and arguing with each other three blocks away but when he turned around he couldn't see his house. All he could see was an ever expanding landscape of hills, houses and patches of dessert.

Only when he looked down did the full weight of his actions hit him. He began to see the branches below spinning around the trunk as the tree itself began to twist and turn. With closed eyes he held tightly to the tree and when he opened them he could see a boy, on a bike, watching from up the block. It was Peter Baker looking up into the tree with awe and when he saw Joey looking his way he waved and then rode off down the street. Joey pulled out his knife and began to carve into the tree. He gingerly scraped out "JDG" on the side of the old bark and just as he was trying to fold the blade back it slipped from his hand and fell straight toward the earth.

Joey looked down and was shocked to see Brenda and Billy sitting on the lowest tree limbs right below him. He closed his eyes in terror and when he opened them he was relieved to see the knife sticking up in a tree limb just a foot above the girl's head. Then he made his way down the tree, gingerly feeling around with his foot as it dangled to find each new branch. Halfway down Brad and the others looked up to see Joey holding on with only his two hands, his feet kicking against the trunk but before he slipped they watched as Joey's foot found a branch and he was safe again. Soon enough he hung from a low branch a few feet off the ground and heaved himself off, landing on the dry dirt with what Joey could only imagine was a flourish befitting a gymnast.

On the ground he was greeted by Brad's praises and the two siblings looking at him in a way that indicated a reluctant but genuine respect. Joey walked home that day with Brad bouncing behind him and Peter following along side. They talked about how epic it all was and how he would be famous at school. Joey was filled with a sense of accomplishment and poise and had a smile as vast as the sprawling landscape he saw from atop the tree. The three parted ways one by one until Joey was at his door and when he opened the door to his house he was greeted by his mom sitting on the couch looking over at him with a concerned look.

"Jordan can't make it tonight," she said. "He has to work late and he said he's really sorry," she continued and stood up to comfort Joey. She hugged him and said, "I'm sorry Joey. I know you were looking forward to Jordan coming to your birthday but he has important work to do."

Joey pushed her away and ran to his room slamming the door as he entered. He fell on his bed and lay there for a few minutes thinking about what kind of a jerk says they will be at your party and doesn't show up. Why didn't Jordan want to come to his party, he thought. Joey wanted to tell him about the tree and how he climbed all the way to the top. He wanted to tell him about the knife, because Jordan wouldn't be mad or tell his mom about the knife and about the beautiful sight from the very top. Joey was mad but as he remembered his climb he remembered how he felt before he had walked in the door and he sat up in his bed. He was beginning to feel better and in the corner of the room he noticed the orange tip of his Nerf Auto-Blaster 3000.

Joey jumped off the bed and pulled the gun away from the mess of clothes and toys and examined it. On his dresser were a few Nerf bullets and he loaded the gun and looked around mischievously. He opened the door slowly and crouched down as he entered the hallway surveying the area for hostiles. His ears pricked up when he heard his sister talking of the phone in her room down the hall. He slowly made his way to her open doorway and looked inside. She didn't notice him until the Nerf bullet hit her in the side of the cheek.

"Oh my god," she screamed. "It's my stupid brother, just a second", she said and threw the phone on the bed. She turned and ran at Joey who turned down the hall running and calling for his mother. In the living room Jemma found Joey hiding behind his mom who was protecting him from her wrath.

"It's his birthday Jemma, leave him alone," June said sternly.

"Fine," Jemma said. "But I'll get you," she added and then smiled. Joey came around from behind his mom, with his head down, dropped the gun on the floor and gave Jemma a long hug.

Joey looked up at Jemma and asked, "Can I tell you about the tree?"

"Of course," she said.

"Oh, I wanna hear about the tree too," June said with enthusiasm.

June and Jemma sat on the couch and listened intently as Joey recounted his adventure taming the giant tree.