Jehovah Nissi

"On a huge hearth a great fire was burning, and the fire was a huge heap of roses, and yet it was fire. The smell of the roses filled the air, and the heat of the flames of them glowed upon his face." – George MacDonald, The Princess and Curdie

MY SHORT STORIES ARE SEPARATE STORIES, BUT THEY ARE A SERIES. THEY ARE NOT CHAPTERS UPLOADED IN FRAGMENTS, SO PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THE WORLD, DO NOT DELETE THEM IN THE NAME OF SEPARATELY UPLOADED CHAPTERS IN THE SAME STORY. THEY ARE DISTINCT STORIES. I WOULD HAVE SET THEM UP AS CHAPTERS IN ONE NOVEL JUST-IN-CASE, BUT I'M WRITING THEM WAY OUT OF ORDER. Thank you!

My main characters at the moment are an Irish family with seven boys. Summaries of each of their lives will be posted below. I am writing a series of short stories about each of their lives as they grow up and am struggling to be culturally accurate. Any challenges or comments you have will be greatly appreciated. I should warn that they will, in fact, we out of order. But I will post the month and year in which each story takes place within the title so that, if you wish, you can read them in order. They begin in 2008.

Callum is a perfect gentleman, and attractive. He has a sort of paternal role in the lives of his brothers in that he is the one who helps bail them out of their problems, or moderates disputes between them and their elders. He is shy and often socially awkward, but a sweet man nonetheless. Sharp and critical Aunt Darcy sees him as the only hope in maintaining a respectable family name. When the father of his childhood friend dies, he leaves Callum two successful businesses and his daughter with self-harming tendancies. Can Callum manage to help heal the damaged girl and maintain her livelihood? Six feet tall with dark hair at his forehead and pale blue eyes. Smooth features. Born on March 10th, 1987.

Eagan was born betweeen two brothers of admirable character, and expectations were high for him. Temperamental and rambunctious by nature, he rebelled against the structure his family attempted to impose on him. Craving approval, but accepting any form of attention, Eagan often drinks with a rough crowd. They accept him because of his fire and his strength. Unfortunately, his drinking and rowdying often put himself and his family, the only people he aims to protect, in compromising positions. But a night stabbing and a small girl who comes to depend on him change his life radically. Five feet, eleven inches tall. Strawberry blond hair in shaggy short layers at the back and at his forehead in the front. Large brown eyes, strong medium build. Born on February 15th, 1989.

Calder sees the world through logic and reason. A self-proclaimed loner and scholar, he often disassociates himself from his family-- especially when it comes to rebellious Eagan and superstitious Liam. He aims to earn a prestigious education and lecture in math and physics at a university, while also sketching criminals for the police. His serious and cool demeanor mask a temper, causing Liam to refer to him as "volcanic." But one cannot avoid his family always, and when tragedy strikes, he will be torn between his simple country family and the dream he craves to live. Dark hair cut nicely at his forehead, complete heterochromia in his eyes -- the left is dark blue, and the right is brown. Six feet, one inch tall, and very lean. Born on January 1st, 1990.

Rearden is smart and resourceful, often using his wit and skill at pranks for his own amusement. He is bold and a leader so that while he knows where the line is, he is not afraid to stand right up against it. With a love for classic literature and horses, Rearden is a man brimming with personality, character, and a sense of adventure. He also knows how to attract a woman, and seems to have relationships with several each year. But there is only one he truly wants, she she wants someone else. Big brown eyes, cinnamon hair in shaggy short layers at the back and to his forehead in the front, medium build, five feet, eleven inches tall. Born on May 6th, 1991.

Liam is often the Robin to Rearden's Batman. His ability to produce a convincing lie in almost no time makes him invaluable to Rearden and his plans. He is artistic in every field, often spending his time painting, playing music, or creating something entirely different from whatever material he can find. As a sensitive person with a strong conviction of traditional Irish superstitions, Liam is generally the kid to get beaten up at school. Stricken with severe anxiety in his youth, Liam often struggles to function in everyday life. And when the girl he loves is sent away from him, he can either let himself be destroyed or seek deliverance. Five feet, nine inches tall with emerald green eyes and golden blond hair in shaggy short layers at the back, to his forehead at the front. Born on May 29th, 1992.

Gavin is a practical farmer with affection for common sense. He is not overly emotional or complicated-- he simply loves animals and appreciates the value of hard work. Sometimes, however, he craves a taste of adventure and assists Rearden and Liam with schemes-- often getting himself into trouble, and vowing to never help again. When his wife of one year leaves him, he has no idea she is pregnant with twins -- until she calls him eight years later and says her kidneys are failing. She needed him to take the children. But when they arrive, life in a new country with a man they've never met prove to be more tumultuous than any of them imagined. Light brown hair at his forehead, sky blue eyes, lean but strong build. Five feet, ten inches. Born on April 2nd, 1993.

Alasdair is a kid with many friends and a love for adrenaline. He plans to become a stunt man someday, with the second plan of becoming a childrens' physician. He chooses to marry young, if he can help it. As the baby of the family, his mother seems intent on preventing him from growing up too soon. But circumstances say differently. His girlfriend becomes pregnant, and he gets a choice -- grow into the role of fatherhood, or run and hide? Left handed. Five feet, eleven inches tall. Short, almost spiked light brown hair, aqua eyes, lanky build. Sharp features. Born on July 12th, 1994.