A Look at the Character: Riley Blackburn

Since I've given you a little background synopsis on Abigail Blackburn, I think it's only fair if I now give you one on her younger brother, Riley.  He's a less serious type of person and more optimistic about... well everything.


Riley Gabriel Blackburn:





Age: 18-19 (around there) Four years Abby's junior
Height: 6'2
Hair color: soft brown
Eye color: cornflower blue



Personality:

Riley is a good-natured, fun-loving, happy guy to be around.  He' always optimistic and looks at the bright side of things and loves food almost as much as he loves his sister (which is A LOT).  He's a joke-ster, always trying to get his solemn sister to laugh or even smile.  And sometimes he succeeds, but most of the time he doesn't.  He's always doing things for other people, always helping them out.  He's just all around a really great guy.  The meanest thing he could ever possibly say, or the meanest insult he could ever give would be: I hope you step on a LEGO!  (Yeah, he's a softie...)


Family:

When Riley was just three years old, his father left for war, and when he was five, his father died, leaving his mom, Maria, desperate.  His mother never being there for him, Riley was raised mostly by Abby.  They grew very close together as a result.  Riley's the only one who could make Abby open up to and share her feelings with.


Background:

Riley never was a great scholar, and not very scholastic, despite his tutoring from a determined Abby.  He was more hands on as a child.  He dropped out of high school when Abby left the house and became a mechanic.  He has a hidden talent, though.  He is an artist.




Here's an excerpt from my book about him.  He is three years old during this time.

Abigail suddenly heard a loud thump from up above the second floor, and her attention was averted from her appearance to who was coming downstairs.  She jumped up, conscious not to step on her dress as she did, and hung onto the railing with one hand, waiting.  Several more thuds later and a huge bang, she saw that it wasn’t her parents coming down, only her little brother lumbering down the stairs.  She sighed, but a smile still was plastered across her ever cheerful face, and went to help her three year old brother down the huge steps. 

     “Come on, Riley,” she prodded, grabbing his chubby hand and softly tugging him down faster.  For being three, Riley was unusually small and still had the look of a baby.  A walking baby.  Once Riley had reached the bottom, with help from Abigail, she sat him down on the last step and examined him closely, looking for anything that was amiss with his appearance.  She took a step backwards and rested her chin in her hands.  “Hmm...” 

     “Wha,” the little three year old questioned, looking at Abby innocently with his round arms and shoulders lifted in a shrug. 

     She knelt in front of her younger brother and brushed his locks of soft brown hair in between her fingers, motherly like, and swept it to the side so it was neat.  She straitened his checkered blue and white shirt and rolled his cargo pants up so that he wasn’t tripping over them when he walked – more like waddled, Abigail thought.  “There,” she smiled, sitting on her knees and looking over Riley with a reproving eye.  “You look very handsome, Riley,” she nodded in satisfaction, looking into the cornflower blue eyes of her little brother.  “Just like Daddy.” 

     It looked as if someone had given the boy a huge piece of chocolate, for Riley smiled as wide as his mouth would let him, and his eyes lit up like it was his birthday.  “Really?

     Abigail nodded enthusiastically, touching his chin with the tips of her fingers.  “Yup.  I wouldn’t be surprised if you grew up to look like his twin.” 

     Riley stuck a finger up his nose, much to Abigail’s disgust, and smiled happily.  He wiggled his finger and then pulled it out, gooey green gunk dripping from his nose. 

     “Ew!  Riley,” Abigail scolded, shooting up from her sitting position.  “That is disgusting!  Don’t do that.” 

     Riley held his wet finger in the air and stuck his lower lip out.  “What do I do with it?” he asked, giving Abigail an innocent puppy face look.

     Abigail sighed, trying not to smile at the adorableness of her brother, and shook her head.  “Go get a napkin in the kitchen and wipe your nose and finger on that.”

     Riley stood up and toddled awkwardly over to the kitchen, sticking his other finger in his other nostril. 

     “And remember to throw it in the trashcan when you’re done,” Abigail called after him, staying at her post in case her father came down.  “Boys,” she thought to herself, once more seating herself patiently at the foot of the stairs.  “Cute and disgusting.”

All around, Riley is a really great guy.  Sweet, sensitive, a joker, and a loving brother.


~Angelina Zoe

Abigail Blackburn: A Look at the Character

So I have this character just like floating around in my head, and I can't get her out!  Every minute of the day I'm thinking about her characteristics, her family, her job, everything.  So I'm just going to get it out.  I will not call her a new character, however.  I will call her a "refurbished character" because she was someone I had in a book a long, long, long time ago...

So, re-introducing...


Abigail Grace Blackburn

(It is very hard to find a picture of her... so this is the one I'll throw out there)

Age: 23ish-25ish
Height: 5'6
Eye color: naturally chestnut brown, but she usually wears contacts to make them green
Hair color: naturally dark, dark brown, but colors it really blonde (white, almost) and black underneath





This is how she naturally looks, the way she was made.




Personality

Before her father died, she was the happiest girl in the world, always smiling and laughing, and always there to give an encouraging word to someone.  She was sweet, sensitive, and had a dream of becoming a doctor to help people.  But that was before her father died.  Many people would call her an unfeeling monster, and she believes it, most of the time.  But every once-in-a-while she finds that she does feel, and she doesn't like it.  When she feels emotions, she tries to shut them out and works even harder to keep them away.  That is until Bailey Forwen.  :)


Family:

Gabriel Blackburn, father: Died when Abby was nine.

Maria Davis Blackburn, mother: Mother doesn't keep in contact with her at all, could care less she even has a daughter.  Only calls Abby when she needs money.

Riley Gabriel Blackburn, younger brother: Four years younger than Abby, a mechanic and sort of a drop-out when it comes to school.  The only one of her family who loves her for being her.


Background:

When Abigail was just nine years old, her father died, leaving her mother desperate for money.  Her mother began gambling, drinking, and many other nasty habits.  It was like her mother had become a whole different person who completely ignored, unacknowledged, and almost loathed Abby.  Having to take care of Riley, Abby withdrew from any affection, save that of Riley, and put all of her hurt and sadness into karate.  When she was older, she became a CIA agent, but that didn't suit her.  She then went into an intense, special soldier training program where she became even harder and less feeling, and from there became a special agent - an assassin, if you will.  On the side she was an FBI agent.


She thinks that she is invincible and nothing could happen to her.  She pushes those that love her (which aren't many) away so that her enemies (which are many) will have nothing to threaten her with.  But her life is suddenly flipped when she is unjustly framed for a crime she didn't commit, and is then forced into hiding, having no money at all.  Then she meets an unusual biochemist named Bailey Forwen, who seemed to have no worries in life at all.  That is when her world is turned upside down by this man.


Here's an excerpt from a book I'm writing about her when she was growing up and missing her father who is off at war.

In my room
On my desk
January 15

    

     Dear Daddy,

     Hi!  How are you doing over there?  I hope there isn’t anything very horrible going on over there.  Do you still have the picture of me and Riley and Mommy that we sent you last fall?  If you do, and if you’re looking at it right now, imagine me taller, because I’ve grown a whole half inch since then!  Or at least I think a half inch.  Riley has grown the most, though.  He actually almost looks like a six year old, and not a four year old.  Mommy hasn’t changed at all, except she wears more makeup now to cover up wrinkles.  I ask her every morning now when I’ll get to wear makeup, because next picture we send I want to have it on.  Then I’ll be prettier for you!  I am eight now.  Don’t you think I should at least be wearing lipstick?

     I’m supposed to say something about school in this letter, or else Mommy will probably get mad.  So here’s what I’m saying about school.  It’s going good.  I mean well (I hope Mommy doesn’t read over this letter).  I think I know what I want to be now.  A doctor.  I want to help sick children, I think.  Isn’t that what you wanted to do?  I will make you and Mommy proud of me one day, Daddy.  I will be a famous doctor and heal many people and kids, and everyone will love me.  Even Mommy.  She doesn’t seem to be proud of me, and I don’t know why.  I think it’s maybe because my grades aren’t all A’s anymore.  What?  It isn’t like it’s second grade anymore.  Third grade is harder.  But I can do it.  I’ll make Mommy proud.

     Oh, before I forget, I have to ask you a question.  Do you believe there’s a Jesus who watches over us?  I asked Mommy that, but she said no, and she also said that people who believe in God are suckers, wimps, and cowards.  I don’t know if I believe her, though.  So I decided to ask you, cause you are always right.  If you do believe in Jesus, then I was thinking that I’m going to give it a try and pray to Him and ask Him to protect you.  I hope you answer this question soon, because I want to know if it will work or not.

     I have to go now.  Riley is whining at me, trying to get me to make him a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich.  Mommy is having some “me-time”, so I have to make him one.  I love you, Daddy.  And I am so proud of you!  I’m staying brave for you. 

     See you later, Alligator!

Love,

Your Bumblebee Abigail

  p.s.

I can’t imagine how much you miss me right now, because I’m missing you more than anything in the world! 



If you don't feel bad for Abby now, you will... if only you knew what I have in store for her.  >:}  Yes, I am evil!


~Angelina Zoe