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Deckard was five years old, and his mother was braiding his hair. The comb brushed through soft strands, untangling the knots that formed when Deckard turned in his sleep from a nightmare.
Deckard wasn’t permitted to sleep with his parents that night. His father said if he was old enough to start school, he was old enough to sleep by himself.
The house smelled of fish and saltwater. His mother lit a candle that smelled like cornflowers. That smelled much better, in Deckard's opinion.
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Deckard was eight years old. His father told him to accompany him on his fishing trip. He showed Deckard how to throw the line into the water. Deckard mimicked his dad to the best of his ability.
Deckard ended up dropping the rod into the ocean. His father cursed as the rod sank out of reach, never to be seen again. In his frustration, he hit Deckard, accidentally sending him off the boat. Father had to jump overboard to save Deckard from drowning.
They returned to the dock, both wet and lacking any fish. Father went inside to shower off the stench. Deckard wasn’t permitted inside until he dried off. It was cold, and Deckard was sick the next morning.
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Deckard was ten years old. He hid his favorite toy -a small doll- at the bottom of his sock drawer. Deckard was now double-digits, which meant he was too old for toys. Mother and Father came into his room and took the rest of his toys. Deckard watched with wide eyes as his mother opened his drawer. She didn’t take the doll.
Deckard was caught later that night playing with the doll. He had named him James that day, and James liked to drive cars. But his father heard him impersonate the motor, and came into his room.
Deckard missed James.
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Deckard was twelve years old. He was washing the dishes. He had to clean the kitchen, mop the floor, buy bait from the market, prepare lunch for his fathers boating trip the next day, and then do his homework.
Deckard had three missing assignments. He had 3 D’s and an F. He flunked his last quiz. He had to finish cleaning before father came home. He barely had time to study.
Deckard heard the sound of glass shattering. He looked at the sink to see blood flowing from his hand, punctured by shards of a mug. It was his father’s favorite mug, and relatively expensive.
He wouldn’t have time to study now.
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Deckard was fifteen years old when his father told him to pack a lifejacket for him and Mother. Numb and absent minded, he packed only one. Only his father came back that day.
Deckard was fifteen years old when his father pointed a gun at him and shot him in the eye. His father rolled Deckard’s body into the water.
Deckard was fifteen years old when he dragged himself onto the dock, dizzy from blood loss and water in his lungs.
Deckard was fifteen years old when Ish found him.
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Deckard was sixteen years old when he was discharged from the Chrysalis hospital. He was given a home in New Star City, a small domicile by a dock. He met Abel, the senior analyst for Chrysalis. They told Deckard he would be part of a show that proved androids and humans could co-exist. Deckard then met Ish.
Deckard learned Chrysalis had done bad things. He confronted Abel, who promised to never lie. Deckard later learned that a human had murdered an android.
Deckard asked Ish about his father. Ish told Deckard his father died in a fire around the same time that Ish rescued Deckard.
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Deckard was seventeen years old, and Ish was throwing him a birthday party. Deckard had never had a birthday before. Ish offered to become Deckard’s new dad. Abel also offered.
Deckard found out that Abel was an android, and that he had another person in his mind. Deckard decided this meant he had three dads.
Deckard listened to Ish confess to murdering Deckard’s previous father. Rodger had killed Ish’s predecessor. Deckard decided to accept Ish as his father.
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Monarch was seventeen years old, and he was a soldier.