Chance Ramirez

My name is Dr. Adam Pallandino. I am the psychologist at Heller’s House Children’s Home. I will be providing supplemental information due to Chance’s propensity to exclude certain details.

Resident Full Name: Chance Javier Diego Ramirez
Resident Date of Birth: 14 August 1995
Resident Age: 16
Resident Gender: Male
Current Address: 124 Norwood Road
City/Town: Southall
County/State: London
Country: England

Resident Hair Colour: Brown
Resident Eye Colour: Brown
Resident Height: 5’10”
Resident Weight: 145lbs
Distinguishing Marks: I have many scars. El Jefe took discipline a little too seriously. Most of them are on my back from anything whip-like he could get his hands on. I have four cigar burn scars in a neat little circle on my left shoulder because he couldn’t be bothered to find an ashtray but wanted to be creative.

For clarification: “El Jefe” is what Chance calls his father. It literally means “The Boss.”

Do you have any ongoing medical conditions for which you require long-term treatment or medications?

No.

Are you aware of any allergies you may have to foods, medications or environmental elements? If so, please list them below along with age of onset.

I’m violently allergic to bullshit.

No.

Do you take any other medications or drugs not prescribed to you, or participate in the consumption of alcohol or tobacco?

I do. I smoke the marijuana, I drink the alcohol and I snort the cocaine.



Where were you born and where did you grow up? What was it like there?

I was born in London. When I was seven years old, El Jefe moved us to live in Santiago de Cali in Colombia. Living in Cali wasn’t great. El Jefe was in the cocaine and prostitution business. He kept us on a short leash like dogs or slaves. I was his punching bag, and personal ashtray, and my mother and four sisters were his whores. After my mother died, we moved back to London. Things got worse after that. He got meaner and even more “discipline” happy. Everything changed, for the better, when the bastard died. A few days after my fifteenth birthday, I came home from school and found him. Somebody shot him in the head. The police said it looked like a home invasion gone bad. I took off on my own after his funeral.

Please describe your relationships with your biological family, including parents, and siblings if applicable.

El Jefe was the boss. He wasn’t the kind of father that you see on television. You did what he told you to do, exactly how he told you to do it, or painful things happened. I hated him. When he died, I didn’t cry for him. He was a devil bastard who snorted more of his own product than he sold. He treated us like garbage. We weren’t his family. We were his property. If you looked at him wrong, he’d do everything he could to make you hurt. He never messed up your face, though. My sisters and mother had to be pretty for the customers. And I had to be presentable for school. That didn’t mean he didn’t leave scars, though. I hated him. I’m glad that he’s dead.

My mother was an alcoholic, whore. If she was ever a good woman, El Jefe ruined her. Once, during one of her rare sober moments, she told me that when I was born she had hoped that because I was a boy there was a chance that things would get better for our family. And that’s why she named me Chance. She actually thought that El Jefe would change because of me. I laughed at her and she slapped me in the face. It’s one of the nicer memories I have of my mother. When I was little, she would try to stop El Jefe from kicking me around. He’d just lock me in the closet for awhile and beat her instead. And then come back and beat me too. She stopped helping after awhile. She died when I was eleven years old. She fell down the stairs and broke her neck. The police said it was an accident, I know better. She killed herself to get away from El Jefe.

I had four older sisters. Only three of them are still alive. Eva, the oldest, would have been twenty four, now. She tried to run away after our mother died. El Jefe tracked her down and beat her to we never saw her again. The twins, Maria and Isabella, are twenty-two. I haven’t seen them since the funeral. My other sister, Carmen, is nineteen. Carmen came to visit me at the group home, a few times. I was only ever really close with Carmen. The others were too busy trying to stay on El Jefe’s good side to worry about me. I don’t blame them.

At the age of eleven, right after his mother’s death, Chance witnessed his father, Juan Diego Ramirez, murder his older sister, Eva.

How were/are you in school? How are your grades? Do you enjoy school?

I was never any good in school. I was always missing a lot of days from school, so my grades sucked. After El Jefe died, I stopped going. The foster home people made me go back to school. Nothing changed. My grades were still low. I couldn't focus in class. They tried to put me in a class for stupid kids. I got into a lot of fights because of it. I didn't want any of the other kids picking on me, so I got to them first. I skipped out on class, a lot too. The time that I did spend in school, I was buying, selling or trading, whatever I could, with the other kids for whatever drugs we had.

According to his teachers, when he actually attended classes, Chance seemed distracted and preoccupied with everything and everyone around him as opposed to his classwork. One of his teachers reported that Chance started a confrontation with another student when the student wouldn't let him sit near the door. When asked about the incident, Chance's only response was that he needed to be able to get out.


Do you participate in any extracurricular activities or belong to any after-school clubs?

I wasn’t really allowed to do any school related stuff after school. That time was reserved for doing El Jefe’s work. I was a delivery boy. The Porters tried to set me up on their son’s football team, but I got kicked off for fighting in school. And whenever I did show up, I was high out of my mind.

If you no longer reside with your biological family, please describe any previous homes as well as your current situation.

After my parents died, I didn’t really live anywhere for a few months. A couple of girls I knew let me sleep at their houses, at night. I was on my own during the day, though. I hung around with some of the older guys I met when I used to make deliveries for El Jefe. It was a decent set up until this one girl’s parents caught me in her bed. That didn’t end very well. They called the police and made me sit there and wait to get arrested. When they found out that I was pretty much homeless, they sent me to the first group home. I was placed with the first foster family, the Astburys, not too long after that. They tried to get me to help them in their garden. I took off from that place after two months. I stayed with a guy named Charlie for about a month after I ran away. He looked out for me until I got tossed back into another foster home. The Porters were the lucky family, this time. They have a son named Lucas. We didn’t get along. They made me go to rehab for about a month, once. After I got out, I got into a fight with Lucas and broke his nose and his arm. He deserved it. But that got me sent to Hell House Heller’s House Children’s Home, where I am now.

Do you have many/any friends? If so, please describe them.

I was always kind of close with my sister, Carmen. For awhile, she was the closest thing to a friend that I had. But I don’t expect her to stick around too much longer. There’s Charlie, too. He used to do business with El Jefe and I used to deliver stuff to him all the time. He looked out for me when I ran away from the first foster place. He would always hook me up with whatever drugs I wanted as long as I did odd jobs for him. It wasn’t a bad deal. I still hang out with him every chance I get. There were some kids from school that I was ok with, but they weren’t really friends. Most of them were kids I got high with or girls I slept with.

Since his arrival at Heller’s House, Chance has displayed superficial social skills. He runs with a small group of rough boys in the group home. However, he avoids making any below the surface friendships with anyone.

Are you sexually active? Are you aware of any gender preference, or preferences in intimate practices, activities or situations?

Yes. I like girls.

Have you ever knowingly committed a crime? Were you caught and convicted? If convicted, what was your sentencing?

I’ve done some illegal stuff. Mostly theft, drug-related stuff, and fighting but I’ve never been caught or convicted of any of it.


Have you ever been diagnosed with any psychiatric ailments by a medical or psychiatric professional? If yes, please explain below.

The Heller’s House shrink tried to tell me that have some kind of complex about posting trauma disorders or something like that. He’s boring,so I don’t listen most of the time. I think he thinks that the reason that I do drugs and drink and fight is because I’m messed up in the head about the way I grew up.

Chance was originally diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder when he was admitted into his first group home based on his rebellious behavior and penchant for fighting. However, I am quite sure that he suffers from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. I believe it is caused by the physical abuse he received at the hands of his father. He also displays some signs of claustrophobia and his substance abuse is obvious. However, I believe these are just symptoms of the larger PTSD problem.


Please describe any incidents associated with these ailments, such as antisocial behaviours, social or environmental difficulties, incidents of self harming, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, substance abuse, etc.

I did cocaine for the first time when I was thirteen. I was around the stuff a lot, so it was easy to get. It’s my favorite past time. I started drinking and smoking marijuana when I was fifteen. I wouldn’t call myself antisocial. I don't mind people, in small groups. Too many people in one place, at one time makes me a little nervous. Other than that I like people just fine. Until they say or do something that I don’t like. Then I usually get into fights. That’s what happened with Lucas. He started in on me about rehab and that I was in a class for dummies. I told him to shut up and leave me alone. But he wouldn't stop. He pushed me. I didn’t like it, so I punched him in the face. It’s his fault that his arm got broken. He tackled me and we both fell down the stairs. I’ve stolen stuff, money and electronics and stuff like that, to pay for drugs. I got into a lot of trouble recently, at the group home. The staff caught me with a girl in my room. I met her at a party that I snuck out to go to. Charlie invited me. I didn't stay long. I probably shouldn’t have brought her back to the group home with me, but it seemed like as good idea, at the time. The staff caught me doing a line off the girl’s stomach. I saw something like that in a movie once. It seemed like a good idea, at the time.

According to a statement made by Chance’s sister, Carmen, their father would regularly lock Chance into a small, dark closet after physically “disciplining” him. Juan Diego would leave Chance in the closet for hours at a time and beat him if he lost control of his bladder during his imprisonment. I have made several attempts to approach this topic with Chance, however he has repeatedly refused to engage in the discussion. He usually reacts in one of several ways; he will attempt to change the topic or he will become visibly agitated and anxious and either curse at me in Spanish or stop talking altogether. Although he has yet to confirm his sister’s statement, Chance has displayed a fear of small or enclosed spaces. Reports from both foster homes state that he would adamantly refuse to go anywhere near an open closet. And when he was given his own room, he would push furniture in front of the closet door, blocking it completely.

It was recently discovered that Chance also has an aversion to roses. The sight and, particularly, the smell of roses triggers, what I believe to be, a flash-back induced anxiety attack. The initial incident occurred when Chance was placed with the Astbury family. Mrs. Astbury was particularly fond of growing roses. I believe that the roses are the reason that Chance ran away from that particular placement. Whenever I ask him about the roses, he only tells me that his sister, Eva, smelled like roses. I believe that this relates to Chance witnessing his sister’s death.

Have you ever seen a licensed psychiatric professional, psychologist, or counsellor for these ailments? If yes, please list doctor(s) or counsellor(s) below:

There was a counsellor at the rehab place that the Porters sent me to. Her name was Dr. Davis, or something. She was an idiot. There’s a shrink at the group home, where I am. Dr. Pallandino. He asks too many questions.

Do you take any medications for any diagnosed psychiatric ailments? If yes, please list medication, dosage, and frequency of dosage below:

Nope.

Have you ever been admitted to a short or long-term psychiatric facility as a result of these ailments or associated incidents?

The Porters sent me to rehab once. I was there from July to August of last year.

How do you feel these ailments affect your quality of life or your situation in life?

Dr. Pallandino is always trying to get me to talk about how I feel about when I was growing up. I don't like to talk about it. It's bad enough that I have nightmares whenever I do sleep and freak out have nightmares when I'm awake. I guess, if I wasn't so agitated or jumpy about stuff I wouldn't start fights as much. I don’t know. What I do know is that the cocaine, the alcohol and the marijuana make everything easier. I don’t have to remember things that I don’t want to remember. The drugs help keep me numb. When I'm high, I'm not afraid I feel better.

If you could be cured of your ailments, what would your goals in life be?

I don't think people like me get "cured." And I don’t have any goaI want to be a photographer. But that’ll never happen.

How do you feel these goals would be best attained?

I guess I need to buy a camera. Maybe go to school for art. But like I said before; that’ll never happen for me. There’s no point in thinking about that kind of thing.

Why do you feel you are being referred to Highgrove, and by whom?

The staff at the group home want to get rid of me because I’m too much for them to handle. I heard Dr. Pallandino say that between my drug-use and the fighting, they’re at their wits’ end with me. They can't handle what's wrong with me so they're giving up and tossing me onto someone else. Go figure.


Hello, and thank you for meeting with me today. Our interview today will be recorded for review later. I'm going to ask you a series of questions, and I'd like for you to answer as fully as you are able. I'd like to start by asking you how you're feeling today.

“Hola…I’d be better if I wasn’t here, y’know.”

Patient Observation: Patient offers a half smile as he slouches in the chair with his right arm draped over the back of it. His right leg bounces slightly and his left hand drums lightly on the table, as if he is nervous or anxious. He looks at the door frequently.

Okay. And how are you feeling about this opportunity to join our family at Highgrove?

Patient Observation: Patient stops all nervous movement and makes eye contact. He laughs.

“La verdad? I don’t want this. I know all about families and I don’t need another one, ok? So you can take your family and metetelo por el culo.”

Patient Observation: Patient crosses his arms across his chest and leans back in the chair and stares forward in defiance.

If you could alter one event in your life, what event do you think you would change or remove, and why?

Patient Observation: Patient breaks eyes contact and looks down at the table and the leg bouncing resumes. He mumbles something in Spanish incoherently. The question is repeated.

“My whole life. Is that an option? No? If I could change something, I’d change--”

Patient Observation: Patient pauses and continues to stare at the table. He has to be prompted to answer the question, again.

“Mi hermana, Eva. My sister. She’s dead…tried to run away. El Jefe made sure that she never do anything…ever again. He made…he made me watch. He said…he was screaming at her…at me too. He said...you leave when I say you can leave. Your ass belongs to me. I own you. Then he…”

Patient Observation: Patient visibly flinches as he trails off at the end of his last sentence. He has his arms wrapped around himself and refuses to make eye contact or speak. A few minutes pass before he is responsive.

If you had to describe yourself in only three words, what words would you choose and why?

“One…angry…Colombian. This is a stupid question. I dunno…

How do you feel currently about your life so far, and anything you may have done?

“I didn’t have a life until El Jefe got what he deserved. Everything was...just...I don't wanna talk about that, anymore. I was out there having a good time, after he was dead. And before this...yeah, I got caught doing something stupid, but I regret nothing! Y’know, if I wasn’t here I could be living my life right now. But no…I’m stuck here with you pendejos, answering all of these estupido questions. I just want to get out of here!”

Patient Observation: Patient’s voice has increased in volume and he eyes the door and the nearby window as if looking for a way out. Clearly agitated.

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel. That what you wanted to hear? I can’t sleep most of the time…and when I do it’s the same nightmares over and over and over. I can’t go one day without…something reminding me. Without that...feeling in my gut and that drumming in my chest. El pasado está siempre presente en mi vida.

Patient Observation: Patient is asked to repeat his last sentence in English.

“The past is always present in my life...learn some Spanish, pendejo.”


What would you do if you found a stranger being attacked by another stranger, and why?

“I wouldn’t do anything. I learned the hard way not to stand up for nobody. Because when you stand up, you’re the one who’s gonna get beat down. Or worse...wait...is the stranger getting attacked a girl? Cuz girls are different, y’know. Unless they’re hookers...then I wouldn’t do anything. Never get between a pimp and his meal ticket.”

What would you do if you were being threatened by a stranger, and why?

“I’d take them out. I don’t mean kill them, no. But I would do whatever I had to do to make them never try it again. You can't trust people not to do stuff, y'know...so you gotta hit them before they hit you. I don’t like being picked on.”

Have you ever deliberately harmed yourself, another, or animals in the past? If so, why do you think that was?

“I never hurt myself, that’s just crazy, y’know? I hurt other people, before, yeah. I mean, it hurts when someone’s fist hits you in the face. But that’s what happens when you get into a fight…fists hit faces.”

And lastly, what do you hope to find at Highgrove, and how do you think this will help you to learn and grow?

“If I’m lucky, I’ll find a car with the keys still in it so I can drive back to my life. I don’t need more shrinks and stuff trying to fix me. Unless they got a time machine, they can’t do anything for me. I get all the help I need on my own.”

This concludes our interview for today. Thank you for filling out our application and speaking with me. We will contact you or your guardian shortly with our decision or recommendations. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your day. Goodbye.


Is there anything your character is not telling us? Do they have any dirty or dark little secrets they're omitting from their application? Please explain below.

What Chance is not telling anyone is that his father’s death was not the result of a home invasion gone wrong. Juan Diego had gotten himself into heavy debt with some of his Colombian business partners. He moved his family, and his business, to London in order to hide and give himself more time to pay his debts. One afternoon, while he was making a drug delivery for his father, Chance was stopped by a man, with a gun, who asked where could Juan Diego could be found. Blaming his father for his mother’s death, Chance gave up his father’s location with no hesitation. So it was no surprise to him when he came home the next day and found his father dead. Another thing that Chance is leaving out is that some of the “odd jobs” that his dealer-friend Charlie made him do, for drugs, consisted of sexual favors.

Player Nickname:Cyke
Player Chatango Name:CykeRed
Character Playby: Corbin Bleu

But don't fret! Just follow the steps given to you below and edit your application appropriately. When you're done, please reply to this thread to let us know that the application has been edited, and we will review it again.

• This is the tiniest pend ever! Chance is so close to being ready but one thing needs a tweak. It says he has PTSD but he's not showing the symptoms or they're not clearly written out. I can easily see where he'd get it so that isn't the issue. Just give us some details on the triggers, the flash backs, etc. and he'll be good to go!
  

Changes made...finally. Added a few things and a shrink's voice, too.

Resident Full Name: Chance Javier Diego Ramirez
Resident Age: Sixteen
Resident Gender: Male
Known Diagnoses: PTSD, Substance Abuse

Dormitory Number: 1
Bunk Number: 3 Bottom
Assigned Chores Group: Livestock Chores
Assigned Therapist: Dr. Maxwell Rose

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Resident Name: Chance Ramirez
Therapist Name: Dr. Maxwell Rose
Patient Observations: Chance was the only resident to greet the group when he entered. He spoke when spoken to, not speaking out of turn until the discussion at the end, but there was attitude in almost everything he said. He was obviously uncomfortable with the topic, given the way he was sitting and reaction to the answers of the other residents. He was dismissed at the end of the session.
Therapy Report: The topic today was family and while I had not concrete plan, I was interested in the reactions of the residents to the subject. It was a sensitive subject for them all. Chance was asked to define family and he stated that quote: "Family are those people that you're related to." I asked later on if he considered his parents to be family and he said yes because they were related. I then asked how he felt about them and if the word family meant anything to him emotionally. He responded that both his parents are dead and that family meant nothing to him. He went on to say that it didn't mean anything to anyone.

As I came around to the end of questioning the topic turned to why the kids were there. I asked by show of hands which would prefer to go back to their old life or stay at Highgrove. Chance said he'd rather go back to how things were before he came to Highgrove. He said that the worst of it was over when El Jefe, what he calls his father, was found dead. He added that if people had left him alone things would have been fine.
Notes: I have not met with Chance for a session yet but I will be setting up one with him soon.

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