Jephthah Dyre

[joe_mulcahy]

A wounded Jephthah makes his way into the Downtown area of Strangetown.

Name: Jephthah Dyre
Age: Late Teens-early Twenties, his age is unclear as it is against the religion of their parents to celebrate anything other than religious holidays or days declared Holy by their spiritual leader, Goth Billard.  Jephthah and his siblings are likely developmentally, emotionally and physically stunted due to poor nutrition/nurturing.  He could be as young as 16 or as old as 25
Birthplace: Strangeviewtopia, Strangetown, SimNation
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 165 cm (just slightly over 5'4)
Weight: 54 kg (119 pounds?)
Zodiac Sign:Unknown, but his mother reports giving birth to him unassisted during a snowstorm in a house in which the power had been shut down

Credit Goes to Mary "Liz" Gallo for giving Jephthah his form, and thereby bringing this character truly to life.


A Very special thanks to Elza Yamashiro (Avatar Arkmage) who got on me about this project, and helped me as co-author to transform Jephthah Dyre into a very deep, multi-dimensional character.

Biography: Jephthah Dyre is the second born of fourteen children, and oldest son of James and Chastity Dyre.  Raised in a strict, and often militant fundamentalist home, and virtually cut off from the outside world, Jephthah spent most of his days helping to raise his siblings, tending the crops and studying his wisdom booklets.  

From a very early age, Jephthah had been subjected to physical punishment, often several times a day.  James Dyre  is a  firm supporter of  the disciplinary methods of Michael Pearl and  Roy Lessin, and even wears a plumbing supply line around his neck at all times so he can quickly "correct" any of his children for even the slightest infraction of the rules, or for any perceived "willfulness." As a result, Jephthah, like his siblings, lives in fear of offending his father, and suffers from frequent nightmares and flashbacks of his most severe punishments.  Jephthah's ankles and feet bear numerous scars, as he was mildly dyslexic and had difficulty remembering his right from his left, so James's way of teaching him effectively was to beat Jephthah's ankles and/or feet for putting his shoes on the wrong foot.  

One day, after seeing his older sister nearly collapse from exhaustion, he offered to finish scrubbing the washrooms and tend the four siblings she had been charged with the care of.   Jephthah's father arrived home early, and caught him at scrubbing the bathtub as his four younger siblings overturned trashcans and bottles of shampoo.  Angered, James dragged Jephthah out of the washroom and "corrected" him soundly for doing "woman's work," and also beat Jephthah's sister for being a sluggard.

Whilst James was thrashing Jephthah in the cramped boys' room in full view of  Jephthah's brothers, James noticed magazine pages sticking out from a Bible on the shelf.  James anger flared anew when he saw that it was an article featuring the work of physicist Michio Kaku.   It was bad enough to James that Michio Kaku was a man of science, and taught things that ran fully against the wisdom booklets from which James educated his children, but Michio also had long hair, which, as far as James was concerned, was suited only for women and gay men.  James was about to beat all the boys for possessing such a sinful thing, but also the girls for not noticing it in the boys' room when they were cleaning it.  Jephthah claimed ownership of the article, and even went on about how he had nicked the article out of a magazine that he had found in the garbage bin outside of a neighbour's home church.  James still beat all of his children for Jephthah's "transgression," but beat Jephthah so severely that he went into shock, calling him a homosexual and a sinner throughout.

When Jephthah recovered, he was quickly sent  to a "retraining camp" for being a willful homosexual.  



Weakened by his wounds, stress and dehydration, Jephthah collapses into the arms of Sasuke.  Sasuke, who does not know what to do, looks toward his Aunty Ann for guidance.

[joe_mulcahy]

A Very special thanks to Elza Yamashiro (Avatar Arkmage) who got on me about this project, and helped me as co-author to transform Jephthah Dyre into a very deep, multi-dimensional character.

Notes:

-Liz designed everything about this Jephthah's appearance, save for the hair, which was altered to reflect the close cropped/ears fully showing hairstyles favoured by boys and men in the movement.

-The surname "Dyre" was chosen because of its double meaning.  In English, when you say the name, you hear the word "DIRE" which certainly describes Jephthah's situation, however, the name Dyre is Scandinavian in origin, and can be translated to mean "Dear Heart" which also describes him and his siblings.

-Jephthah would usually be shown smiling, and that is because of the commandment that Jephthah, his mum and siblings MUST "keep sweet."  He also smiles to hopefully avoid being accused of having the "wrong attitude" by his father.  Although he is still often beaten for having the "wrong attitude" anyway, Jephthah believes he would been whipped more often if he hadn't been smiling.

-Boys in the Dyre house must wear trousers and a collared shirt at all times, often with a necktie if going out in public.  The girls must dress in "modest" dresses at all times(either Prairie dresses, or collared shirts with ankle length skirts, or high collared dresses with pinafores), even in he middle of summer.  The boys  must have their hair cut very short with their ears showing, while the girls are not allowed to cut their hair, ever, and cannot wear their hair up, no matter how hot the weather.

-Because the family is so large, and since only the father is allowed to work outside the home (which he does by publishing books which don't sell much), the Dyres have very little money for even basic necessities. As a result, Jephthah must use a razor until it literally makes cuts on his face before his father will issue him another razor.  Jephthah's mum and sisters aren't allowed to shave at all.  "God puts hair on your bodies for a reason," James Dyre says to his family, but no one dares ask why the men and boys are allowed to shave their faces.

-Chastity Dyre has either been pregnant or nursing for nearly all  of her adult life, and as a result is always weak, exhausted, and cannot walk without every step causing her great pain.   She has been ordered by James to track her menstrual cycle on the calendar in the kitchen, so that he can know her most fertile days and impregnate her as soon as her previous child is forcibly weaned (usually at 4-6 months).

-The oldest Dyre girls are usually handed the children to raise when the previous child is between 4-6 months old,  so that Chastity can concentrate on her next pregnancy.  Unbeknownst to the parents, the boys often help their weary sisters, but only when they are sure not to be caught by James at it.

-The Dyre children are given no more than five minutes to dress themselves, and are not allowed even a shower without a chaperone (usually one of their same-sex siblings) in the room.  When Jephthah showers at Ann's house, he will mention needing a chaperone, which will confuse everyone there.

-If any of the Dyre children take too long to dress or are accused of touching themselves improperly in the shower or in bed at night, they will be beaten by James in short order(masturbation is strictly forbidden in these circles, and even babies and toddlers are whipped for attempting to "touch themselves inappropriately")  So as a result, Jephthah has never masturbated, nor would he dare to.

** More notes will be posted later**

[Curlysimmer]

I like this story.  Considering how Jephthah was raised I'm guessing he never saw labor saving devices and that would be an interesting angle for his apparent relationship possibility with Sasuke. Sasuke will learn a lot about himself as well as Jephthah as he helps his new friend understand the 'dangers' that lurk in the homes of the 'damned'. (tongue in cheek)

[joe_mulcahy]

I like this story.  Considering how Jephthah was raised I'm guessing he never saw labor saving devices and that would be an interesting angle for his apparent relationship possibility with Sasuke. Sasuke will learn a lot about himself as well as Jephthah as he helps his new friend understand the 'dangers' that lurk in the homes of the 'damned'. (tongue in cheek)

Yes you're right, they've got no television, telephone, and no power tools for their garden.  One of the only labour saving device the Dyres own is a secondhand Easy Washer Model M electric washing machine, but because James goes so ballistic over the electricity required to run the machine, the girls can only run it once or twice a week, and must do the laundry with a steel utility tub and a wooden washboard the other five days (well a family of 16 generates a lot of laundry, especially since several family members are babies, toddlers and small children)

More Notes:

A Very special thanks to Elza Yamashiro (Avatar Arkmage) who got on me about this project, and helped me as co-author to transform Jephthah Dyre into a very deep, multi-dimensional character.

-The Dyres are only allowed to flush the toilet once a day to save on the water bill, and that will disturb Ann and the others since Jephthah will never flush the toilet after using it

-The Dyres diet consists of whatever can be grown in their garden, and anything that can be purchased very cheaply (damaged goods, feed corn, and even bulk dogfood during a time when booksales were down).  The portions are usually very small since the food must be divided sixteen ways.  Jephthah will therefore view the way Ann and her asinine Scottish nephew Fhearhgais/Fergus/Feargus (a composite character[I haven't decided on how to spell his name exactly] created since Sim Joe is just too boring to appear as himself in a film) cook as indulgent and overly decadent.  Jephthah will also feel very uncomfortable when allowed to eat his fill, but does so because he doesn't want to commit the sin of wasting food, and Ann and Fearhgais serve everyone a lot of food.

-Jephthah tries to never look at Ann, Malla, or Liz directly, as they dress in outfits that are very immodest according to his worldview.  His first glimpse of Liz itself was very traumatic, as her top showed revealed her collarbones, which are to remain covered at all times.  He also will not look below Fhearhgais's waist, as he wears unmanly attire (a kilt).  The only female Jephthah can bear to look at is Monique as she wears traditional Celtic clothing, which covers the body more out of necessity(Ireland and Scotland are cold places) than modesty.

-The Dyres have never been allowed to associate with anyone who believes anything outside of their belief system.  James Dyre, as spiritual leader of the household went so far as to deem anyone outside of their community to be heathens and inherently evil.  Jepthah is therefore very afraid, and plans to leave Ann's house as soon as he is well enough, but is confused by their acts of kindness toward him. Are they just trying to tempt him, or are heathens capable of acts of kindness?

- Because Jephthah has never been allowed  to think anything other than the purest of thoughts, he has not pondered anything relating to sexuality yet, including his orientation, which makes him even more perplexed at the uncomfortable feelings he has around males outside of his family, particularly Sasuke.

***There's still more to write!  Watch for future posts!****