The 603 Cast

Meet Jack & Mia

They’ve lived in the same neighborhood since grade school when Jack’s parents first got divorced.  Mia says “he was so shy when he first moved in and I had a huge crush on him.  I stole his winter hat once and wouldn’t give it back until he kissed me on the cheek.” She laughs “He hates it when I tell that story.”   Jack remembers “Mia was a major headache back then – if she wasn’t bothering me she was giving my brothers grief – always hanging around.   It’s all good now – she’s become like a little sister to us.” 

Both Mia and Jack are working towards going away to school.  Grades are good for both of them but Jack has to go to the school offering the most grant and scholarship money. For Mia, money has never been an issue – but having friends at the same school is an important part of the decision process for her.  Not going too far away is also a factor.  She would like to go away somewhere that would still make it easy to get home on the weekends.   “Yeah Mia worries a lot about her Mom and Dad being alone when she leaves – I guess that’s the down side of not having brothers and sisters.” Jack says. “My mom keeps telling her that if her parents seem lonely, she’ll send my little brothers over for an afternoon” he laughs “that would cure anybody of loneliness!”

Adam & Hannah

Hannah was in middle school when she remembers seeing Adam for the 1st time. Hannah remembers, “ He had filled some kid’s locker with those little paper holes from the back of a hole punch . There were, like, a million of them and they were really, really light. So when the kid opened the door to the locker they blew all over the place. I mean, they were in this kid’s hair and his ears and mouth – he had them stuck to the ends of his nostrils so he was blowing little colored papers in and out with each breath. It was sooo funny!” “I ended up suspended for that– AND I had to pick up those little things from all over the hall - but it was worth it!” Adam adds, laughing at the memory.

Even though they weren’t friends until later on, Adam remembers Hannah in the lead role in “Annie” when they were both in elementary school. “she was smaller than all the other kids in the class and she already had that crazy red hair – she used to get picked on a lot for that hair when we were younger” he adds. “I really didn’t care though – I kind of liked that it made me stick out and be noticed.” She says with a shrug – “that’s because she’s a ham” Adam adds with a laugh.

Anyone watching can clearly see why the two of them became friends – they both have a hard time answering any of the more serious questions they are asked – like what they plan on doing after graduation. “I can’t decide what I want to do. Some days the idea of going away to school sounds great but then I think about how much in debt I will be by the time I get through it and will it be worth it” Hannah sighs. Adam nods in agreement, “some of our other friends have the next 10 years planned out already – I can’t plan out what I want to do this weekend.”

Ethan & Brianna

Ethan remembers meeting Brianna in an art class when they were freshmen.  “Everybody was talking about what a great artist she is so I asked her if she would make a flyer for the band I was putting together after school.“ he says “she did one and it really was great – but then I heard her sing in a music class – I didn’t care much about the flyers after that.”   Ethan has been playing guitar since he was 10  and Brianna began singing lessons around the same time – so nobody was surprised that they ended up forming a band after getting to know each other.  Says Brianna, “we’ve really been a garage band mostly but we’ve been writing some really great music together lately.”  Ethan agrees, “It has gotten a lot better between us and it shows in our music.  But who knows where it will go from here.”   The band is one of the things that will probably change after graduation.

“I have always wanted to go away to school, live in a dorm– you know… do the whole ‘college thing’” Brianna says.  “Ethan keeps telling me I won’t last a month and the rules alone will kill me!”  she sighs “he’s probably right but I have to give it a try right?”

When asked what he wants after graduation, Ethan is just as strong in his opinions. “I know I wouldn’t last in college  – I can understand Brianna wanting to move away and start her own life – I just don’t think you have to go to college to do that.  I’m just so sick of school and everybody telling me what to do.”  As Ethan leaves the room it’s very obvious that these are hard choices for both of them.  Brianna, “we’ve been really close for a long time – both of us have messed up family stuff going on – so playing music together and hanging out has always been the way we get away.  It is really scary to think of that part being far away.  But I guess everything changes eventually.”  Roll over a character to learn more about them

Look for more of Ethan and Brianna’s story and catch up with the rest of the “603” and help tell their stories
– starting tomorrow – Friday, June 18th