Hi guys! Theo here! I heard about this question and answer thing you all have been doing on here and wanted to participate! I don’t know if you’re interested in books or poetry or what it’s like to be the son of the Hastings Sheriff, but I’m an open book. I’m trying to be more open and upfront with people, rather than hide behind my words. Though, I guess, I’m still writing words here, but this time I’ll be signing it.
Hey everybody! Wow, thanks for all the questions - they were all so good, I’m going to try answering them all! I’m not always great at talking about myself, but writing is way easier, and a lot more fun. So let’s get to it!
That’s so hard!! There are so many great periods and movements and styles out there, so I’d probably have my favorites from each if I really sat down to think about it but…currently, my all-time favorite is the copy of The Complete Poetical Works of John Keats that I have. It was my mom’s copy when she was in college, so its a bit worn, but that makes it all the more special in my opinion. Keats wrote about love and sorrow so beautifully and died so tragically young…truly one of the greatest poets of his time.
Do you ever help your dad with police work?
My dad tries to keep his work out of home as much as he can, but he’ll definitely ask me questions sometimes - if I know something about a kid at school, their home life, who might be getting into trouble, that kind of thing. He’s never asking me to tell on anyone or anything, just looking out for anyone who might need help. But mostly we talk about other things!
I really don’t know - that’s probably a better question for Max or Ross. They’re the ones who are good at this sort of thing, and lately, they always seem to be whispering about one thing or another. I don’t know Riley all that well - not as well as Jenna or Ross know him - but he doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who would run away and not tell anyone. He seems a lot more thoughtful than that. But that only leaves all the terrifying options, so part of me hopes he ran away, or maybe just got a bit lost in the woods and is trying to find his way back. But I know my dad is going to find him.
What kind of poetry do you write? Rhyming? Free verse? Sonnets? Limericks? Haiku?
I try my hand at everything! I’m still figuring out my own personal style, but I like rhyming couplets and free verse the most. But free verse is hard! Sometimes its easier to work within the bounds of rules.
What’s your favourite subject in school, and are you in any extracurriculars?
English, definitely. History is probably my favorite second, because sometimes we read primary documents, and those can be really beautifully written. Hastings High has a small Lit Magazine - it mostly publishes writing by Juniors and Seniors, but they’re letting me help with copyediting and layout, so I’m hopeful I’ll get to publish in it one year! I’m also in band, which is more of a class than an extracurricular I guess - I play the clarinet.
How do you and your father get along? Being the sheriff’s kid must be hard sometimes. You ever get in trouble?
We get along great! It’s only really hard when something’s going on and my dad has to stay late or work weekends, but thankfully that doesn’t happen very much. I don’t think I’ve ever been in trouble with him and I can’t imagine ever getting in trouble with him - there’s not really anything I’d want to do that I think he’d disapprove of.
(okay, okay, I sort of lied - last summer, my dad caught me in the backyard smoking. I was reading a lot of the beat poets and it seemed like the thing to do! But I hated it so much that my dad just ended up laughing at how much I was coughing before taking it away and telling me never to do it again. But I think he maybe finished the cigarette, so he couldn’t be too hard on me)
Do you have any poets you look to for inspiration for ideas or style? Follow up, what’s your favorite style to write your poems in? Rhyming every line? Every other line?
I already talked a little bit about my style, and Keats is a huge inspiration obviously - really all those Romantic poets. Byron, Yeats…I love all of it. But I’ve been trying to get into more modern poetry too - the beats, of course, but also Mary Oliver and Maya Angelou and Bukowski and the like.
Hey Theo, how are you dealing with the stress of all this with your dad being the Sheriff? It’s just the two of you and he must be extra busy right now, on top of the fact this has gotta be scary for everyone in Hastings. You doing ok?
Thanks so much for asking! I’m doing alright - I hate seeing my dad this stressed out, but I know there’s not really any other option. He has to work this hard, obviously, and I’m really grateful he is. I’ve always admired my dad for how much he cares. I’ve been trying to help out more - making dinner and making sure the house is clean and stuff like that, being better about my chores. But on top of the workload of Freshman year, it’s proving to be a lot, so I think we’re both pretty tired.
Also, your dad and Max’s have apparently been good friends for a long time, but would I be wrong in saying going round to their house for dinner was unusual?
Yeah, it was definitely a bit out of the blue! We’ll all do stuff from time to time - me and my dad and the Miles and the Tellers and the Ambroses and all that - but this was the first time we’d gone over to the Miles’ house, just the two of us. But my dad and Mr. Miles - Joe, I guess, I’m supposed to call him - play poker every weekend, and we often host that, so I see him a lot. The dinner was good too - Joe’s a good cook - so I hope we get to do it again!
Final question: do you know anything about Mr Beatty’s family?
Not at all! I’ve only met Mr. Beatty a handful of times - if he even has a family, this is the first time I’m hearing about it.
From @nocluewhatshappening:
Hi Theo! What would you do if someone told you they have a crush on you?
Oh gosh, I don’t know. Why? Did someone say something to you? I think, as long as it was someone nice, I’d go on a date with them. I’ve never been on a date, but it seems like a nice way to spend time with someone and get to know them. Love can come in so many different forms, from so many surprising places, that I think it’d be worth spending time with anyone who liked me that way!
If this question isn’t too personal/hard to answer… What is it like without your mom around? Like being raised by a single parent?
It’s hard. Sorry, not hard to answer - it’s hard not having my mom around. I loved her so much - I still do, of course - but I was pretty little at the time, that sometimes it feels like it’s only ever been me and my dad. I love him a lot too, so even though I know he gets really sad and lonely sometimes, I think we’ve managed okay on our own. And, before this whole Riley thing, he was seeming a lot happier, so I hope that comes back once he finds Riley!
P.S.: your poetry is amazing keep up the good work! (Also I hope you find a new muse soon)
Wow, thank you so much! I hope I do too :)
And from some mysterious secret admirers of my own!
What attracted your attention to Jenna in the first place, anyway?
I guess I should be embarrassed that everyone knows I wrote Jenna those poems, but now that things are okay with her, I’m finding I don’t really care. Jenna is amazing - why wouldn’t I like her! She’s so smart and witty and so, so pretty and I’m a bit disappointed that she didn’t like me back, but I’m just happy that she wanted to stay friends.
What do you think about Hastings?
I love it here! For now, at least. It’s been a really nice place to grow up so far, but I can’t wait to get out there and see more of the world. If I’m going to be a great writer, I need to have experiences outside of rural New Hampshire!
Do you know about Max’s feelings for you?
What do you mean? Is Max mad at me because I was leaving Jenna those notes without saying anything? I know Max believes in always speaking her mind, so I’d understand that. But I hope she forgives me soon, because I like being her friend.
I’m not going to ask you a question; just give you some advice: Theo, no matter what peer pressure says, you are NEVER too old for half-priced books at the bookstore.
