Revealing The Unexpected Guardian: Beyond Teacher, Gardener, Baker

Forge Series: Character Profile, Clari Roberts

To learn more about the FORGED series, visit the Table of Contents.

Other Mentors: Ruth Philon and Dr. Shay Weaver

Photo by Fernando Andrade on Unsplash

Clari Roberts

• Pronouns: she/her

• Age: 44

• Birthplace: Bannock, Bannock Zone, United Pacific Territories

• Occupation: middle school math teacher at Bannock Middle School

• Relationship profile: married, no children, no pets, guardian to Contessa ‘Tessa’ Wright (niece)

• Family: Finn Roberts (spouse), Conseula Wright (sister, deceased), Jonathon Wright (brother-in-law, deceased), Contessa ‘Tessa’ Wright (niece), Isabella ‘Sis’ Wright (niece, deceased)

• Hobbies: gardening, canning, baking, reading, yoga

• Personality Traits and Quirks: has strong sense of values, supportive, emphatic, organized, keeps a daily record book, loves to drive but rarely gets the opportunity

From the Desk of Clari Roberts

The following is an excerpt from Clari’s diary, a record book and journal she keeps to track her projects and random thoughts.

10 October 2133
The Tallian Meteor Showers will hit peak display this weekend, so Finn is taking me to the reservoir tonight to view the show. I feel as giddy as when he first asked me on a date as first-years in high school. Of course, that date had been only to the arcade in the Transfer Hub. Tonight, we will take his car out of the urban center to see the night sky in all its glory, with no light pollution to interfere. I guess I shouldn’t complain about Finn’s job when one of the perks is having a car–the only private car in our neighborhood. Temps will drop below 13° by 10pm, so I’ll need to pack: blankets, jackets, scarf, banana muffins, and vacuum flask of hot tea.
To do: pack for excursion, snuggle with hubby, and enjoy the meteor shower (all the rest can wait until tomorrow!)
Today’s Accomplishments: Tweaked the banana muffin recipe. Adjusted almond flour-to-maple syrup ratio from 3:1 to 4:1. Observed a decrease in sweetness but improved texture. Next, will add mini chocolate chips to see if sweetness offsets the lower maple syrup in recipe.¹
Today’s Quote: "The beauty of mathematics only shows itself to more patient followers." — Unknown

5 December 2133
Isabella is five. Five! She measures 112 cm and weighs 20 kg. So petite, so adorable. Connie called us after dinner to sing Happy Birthday together and watched Sis blow out her candles. She announced her wish so we could all hear, and of course, it was to go outside and swing! It was -2° in West Portlandia, so Connie rightfully told her no. Luckily, when Sis opened her present from us, she forgot about her disappointment. She loved the mono we’d sent–I couldn’t resist sending a stuffed monkey–her perfect animal spirit (but only because I couldn’t find a stuffed firefly. That girl and her fireflies!)
Contessa seemed quieter than usual tonight, though she did thank me profusely for the peach jam I sent in the box with her sister’s birthday gift. At 13.5, Contessa is the same age as my students. I wish I could have her in my classroom. When Connie took Sis to wash up, Contessa and I spoke for a bit. Sounds like her pre-calc lessons are progressing fast. Faster than most of my students. Contessa is sounding more and more like an adult, though I suppose she’s always been an old soul. She’s growing up so fast. Maybe Finn and I should take the time to visit this summer. It’s been five years since our last trip, right after Sis was born.
To do: Check Finn’s schedule for July, book mag rail tickets, trim cilantro, thin romaine, start broccoli and beets seedlings, clean greenhouse lights, finish Algebra unit grading tests
Today’s Accomplishments: Substituted almond flour for all-purpose flour in a 1:1 ratio for focaccia bread. Resulted in a denser, more crumbly texture. Plan to test different ratios for improved results.
Today’s Quote: "Grow where you are planted and bloom with grace." — Unknown

15 May 2134
Spoke with Connie. Jonathon is safe. Praise the stars! The explosion at the satellite comms tower in the Cascade Zone was the only location attacked by the Underground. They are getting more bold. Makes me fearful for my brother-in-law–their entire family, really—since they live so close to the comms tower where he works. Connie told me Contessa was cleared to attend the high school in the fall. Such great news! The poor girl has been cooped up since she was Sis’s age. I’m so thankful Contessa’s health has finally improved. Connie said the doctors think her immune system has caught up or finally repaired itself. I know Connie is relieved. She’s considered Contessa’s illness her own personal failure. I understand the ease of self-blame and how hard it is not to feel guilty. But some things are not in our control. Connie seemed excited and talked of applying to teach at the public school. We finalized some plans for our visit in July. I warned her that I might travel alone–Finn is already stressing about the Climate Summit, and it’s still four months away. I’m sure by July he’ll have convinced himself that he cannot be away from the office for even a few days. Connie assured me though that celebrating my birthday in their home will be memorable. I just hope Finn will be there with me.
To do: harvest spinach and dry basil, transplant carrots/tomato seedlings, re-plant kale, and prep unit test for algebra and pre-calc classes.
Today’s Accomplishments: Today’s rainfall accumulation was 1.9 centimeters. Due to the high humidity, my sourdough starter was overly active, and I needed to feed it an additional ¼ cup each of flour and water. The dough was stickier and required ⅓ cup more flour. Texture of final loaf was denser than usual and holes were uneven in size.
Today’s Quote: "Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be." — Unknown

21 June 2134
Connie, Jonathon, and Sis are gone! I spoke with the security officials, but I cannot wrap my mind around what they told me. Contessa was unharmed, thank the stars! Finn rebooked our July trip. We leave in five hours. I wish there was a faster way to get to Contessa. The doctors gave her a sleeping aid and assured us a nurse would stay with her throughout the night. We’ll meet with the officials when we arrive. They told us they expect to have more details of how the accident occurred. I’m not sure I’ll be able to listen to the report. Or see their home–the officials said it was struck by the truck. I don’t expect I’ll be able to sleep tonight.
To do: pack bag for 3 nights, email principal, request sub—final exams are ready, prepare room for Contessa, pack extra tissues
Today’s Accomplishments: 
Today’s Quote: "Life is a gift. Never take it for granted." — Unknown

22 June 2134
Between the traveling and tasks of today, I am physically and mentally exhausted. Contessa is asleep. She’s barely been awake today, but the doctors are not worried. In fact, they gave her a sedative, not because of any physical pain, but so she can sleep. When she’s awake, she just stares out the window.

Finn and I met the officials at Connie’s home. We had to sign some legal documents and needed to pack Contessa a bag. The state of their home nearly broke me again. Contessa’s room was destroyed by the truck’s impact. Thankfully, she’d been in the living room! And the fire had destroyed what was left of it. I wasn’t able to salvage any of her belongings. The only clothes I could pack for her were from the laundry room, safely on the other side of the home. I forgot to grab any of the artwork or photos from the walls in the living room. We won’t have time to return to the home before we leave in the morning. Maybe the officials or the neighbors will send some to us.
To Do: Contact the Shaws and ask for artwork/photos, contact officials, find grief counselor for Contessa
Today’s Accomplishments: Arrived. Hugged Contessa. Made it through the meetings.
Today’s Quote: "To grieve is to honor what was cherished; to move forward is to celebrate what remains." — Unknown

18 July 2134
Today, I completed my 44th trip around the sun. Finn and I were supposed to be with Connie and her family this week. Instead of exploring West Portlandia and making family recipes together with my sister and nieces, I’m in my own home, and only Contessa is with us. I am so thankful she was not involved in the horrific accident, but she is struggling. She’s fourteen and already has no mother, no father, no sister. My heart breaks every mealtime when she sits at our table and pokes at her food. I’ve tried making all the family recipes I know her mother made, but my version must taste different. Maybe grief has changed the way food tastes. Changed Contessa’s ability to find joy and comfort. I keep hoping her sessions with Dr. Weaver will help her ease her sorrow. I know my sadness is affecting my delight in everyday pleasures–I find solace in gardening still, though my tears often dampen my hands.
Today, I took Contessa to the Transfer Hub. We’d taken so little from her home, so she needed more clothes. And I’d hope to find some trinkets for her room to make it feel like hers. She was robotic in her responses, so we ended up with 8 outfits that I selected, new sandals, running shoes, and a second pair to leave at school for PE. The only non-clothing item she wanted was a small mirror for her room. She had no interest in any posters or stuffed animals or jewelry or anything else. 
To Do: Register Contessa at the OHS, harvest tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce, avocado, adjust shade over peppers and green beans, finish pickles, call Dr. Weaver for update, check on Contessa’s Omniband delivery
Today’s Accomplishments: Measured the pH of the pickling brine at 3.2. Adjusted acidity by adding 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Final pH recorded at 3.0. Should be ready to put into jars tomorrow.
Today’s Quote: "The journey through grief is not a straight path but a winding road with moments of light."  — Unknown

---

---

Character Inspiration and Role

Like Dr. Weaver and Mx. Philon, Clari is a mentor for Tessa in Shattered, book one of the FORGED Series. Tessa finds both comfort in being around someone so much like her mother and suffers moments of extreme sadness by being around someone so much like her mother. As Tessa journeys on her path of grief, she often relies on Clari’s empathic nature and maternal instincts to help her through moments of deep sorrow. For Clari, Tessa is the child she never had on her own.

I pulled parts of Clari’s personality from my favorite aunt–I loved visiting Aunt B!² As a mom of a boy, she always made me feel like I was the daughter she never had. She made the best toast and peanut butter for breakfast and introduced me to “dark” bread. To this day, I still prefer thin, whole-grain bread toasted just shy of burnt with a creamy layer of quality peanut butter. She also took me Back To School clothes shopping. As much as I love shopping with my mom, these special trips with Aunt B were moments I cherished. Her advice and opinion was always more appreciated than anything my mother told me. (Sorry, mom!) And Aunt B was a willing conspirator to find ways to extend my budget, calling my mom for approval for the “must haves” that would otherwise blow my budget.³

For Clari’s occupation, I decided she needed to be a middle school teacher because they are a unique breed. I have several close friends who work with young teens–by choice!–and excel at connecting with the quirky, energetic, self-absorbed, sensitive, rebellious, adventurous, impulsive, easily distracted, and organizationally challenged age group. They thrive on the middle school emotional roller coaster.⁴ Aunt Clari fits this persona perfectly. She has a very analytical mind but is deeply empathic–perfect for complex baking experiments and nurturing young minds with math challenges.

Clari’s relationship with Finn is based on my idealized relationship of a couple with more years together than apart, pulling from my own relationship with my husband. Tessa witnesses their meaningful shared looks, good-natured teasing jabs, adoration and disagreements, couple-ness, and respect for their individual passions. Just as I hope we modeled a healthy relationship for our boys, I hope that Clari and Finn’s relationship models a healthy marriage to readers.

Because, in the end, one of the wonderful aspects of fiction is the ability to recognize ourselves in the characters, right? As a writer, I aspire for you—my readers—to find inspiration in the characters. A source to model your response in healthy ways, no matter what life throws at you.

---

What I’m reading

Here are some SciFi and other fiction pieces available on Substack or as a published book(s) that you might enjoy. Plus, one from someone we should all convince to start writing on Substack.

1. Hey Eye - This short story from

   S.E. Reid
   will give you the heebie-jeebies and make you think twice about anything you do online! Enjoy.

2. The Time Witch - A paranormal mystery series that releases weekly, every Tuesday from

   Tell Me a Mystery
   is a fun take on time travel and witchcraft centered around a Carnegie Library. (One of these library buildings is in my hometown, so now, when I enter, I visualize Evangeline’s remodeled version.)

3. external frame - This short fiction from

   Clancy Steadwell
   is not to be missed! Though I can appreciate young Dave’s horror at one, umm, life-changing event on this trek, it’s the “whatever genetic mutation some humans have which makes them particularly amenable to mosquitos” statement that spoke to me.

4. Remembering My First Save - The first chapter of the second book in the Soul Salvager trilogy, The Inner World Trap, is available on

   Bill Hiatt
   ’s publication Everywhere and Nowhere. His books are available on Amazon or view here.

5. Flight Of The Nosoi - I’m doing a beta read of a debut novel from David Earl Whitaker. So good! It’s a speculative thriller set in 2015 where The Terminator meets Jason Bourne meets Hanna. Technically, it's not yet available for you to read, but maybe we can convince David to bring his writing to Substack!

---

Before you go

Did you enjoy this post? Click subscribe so you don’t miss future posts. Tap the heart to let me know. Restack your favorite quote. Share with your community. Recommend me to your followers. Leave a comment.

---

Questions

1. What other questions do you have about Clari Roberts?

2. What comfort foods inspire a deep-seated nostalgia for you?

3. What fictional character have you most connected with? What did you learn about yourself from seeing their life through the writer’s words?

1. I make banana muffins for my boys. No sugar, just maple syrup, over-ripe bananas, and mini chocolate chips for sweetness. Here is the vegan-friendly recipe I use (just substitute your choice of mini chocolate chips for the blueberries). I add plant-based pea protein powder with vanilla flavoring for an extra boost.

2. Aunt B was taken from us too soon. The last time I saw her, I was pregnant with my now 24-year-old. My family continues to make multiple recipes from Aunt B’s recipe box, including B’s juice, lasagna, and spaghetti. For full transparency, though, my kids have named it Grandma’s Spaghetti because my mom always makes it for them. Sorry, Aunt B. We know it was really from you!!!

3. Why, yes, these jeans were 100% essential to my senior year wardrobe. And they blew my budget by over $80.

4. Before my kids had reached middle school age, I had lunch with a friend at her work on her birthday—she was a middle school language arts teacher at the time. I was in near panic mode when she sent me down the hall after eating, and the bell released the hordes for passing time, blocking my path of escape. I’m not sure why middle schoolers frightened me so much. Likely PTSD from my personal middle school experiences. Once my kids aged-up to the building, I overcame my fears and even volunteered regularly in their classrooms, much to each of my kiddo’s chagrin. I mean, who wants their mom in their middle school language arts class?!?