Welcome Back!
Most of the original cast is back for
the new story, but I thought it would be a good idea to highlight
some of their new attitudes and perspectives before I throw the
story at you. Here are the profiles of the OA characters:
Michael Chandler
Although now a highly recruited PRO baseball protégé,
Michael has his sites on going to Haywood University to major in
Biochemistry. Still occasionally suffering from the after effects
of the last blast of plutonium, he does his best to hide his declining
health while hoping to attend Haywood next fall.
Michele “Meesh” Chandler
After a sudden return, Michele turns Michael’s ambitions
into a bed of rusty nails, as she tries to carry out his dream
of attending Haywood by sneaking into the college tour. Our young
friend soon discovers that she’ll have to confront a ton
of unresolved issues that have plagued her circle of friends all
year.
Patricia “Treecy” Shaw
Going against her parent’s wishes of attending an Ivy League
school, Treecy rebels, and expresses a strong desire to attend
an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities), as well
as stay close to her boyfriend, Michael. Although deeply in love
with him, she wonders if she’s passing up the opportunity
of a lifetime.
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Xanthia “Zant” Murray
Zant is the most excited in the group about attending college,
but her family back in Jamaica may succeed in rerouting her dreams
by forcing her to take over the family business. Maybe they should
have ask Zant first.
Denise Blackwell
This time around, Denise is having a personal struggle. Fighting
a slipping GPA, she's afraid she’ll never
get into college unless a Softball scholarship comes through. She
only goes on the college trip because her friends have convinced
her to go.
Lisa Jackson
Still the "cute" one of the group, Lisa looks forward
to reuniting with her boyfriend Dexter, who's at Banneker. As long
distance relationships go, this one is no different from most,
filled with many challenges and a few surprises.
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Professor Struball
Still the bumbling chemistry teacher at Westside, the professor
is given an opportunity to redeem himself, as the chaperone of
the college tour group. Haywood University, which is on the tour,
is Professor Struball’s previous employer. He's looking forward
to being reunited with old colleagues.
Kareem Wallace
A sophomore at Haywood, Kareem is one of the tour guides assigned
to the group. He’s a cool character, but he’s very
suspicious of Michele, who doesn’t appear to be officially
registered with the tour. He keeps a close eye on her, which turns
out to be more than he bargained for.
Nikki Evans
A sophomore at Garvey, Nikki’s the other tour guide of the
group. She gives the girls a complete perspective on being a black
woman in college, preparing for the real world. A bright, intelligent
political science major, with a minor in biology, she bonds well
with Michele, until they both realize they have something else
in common!
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Thomas “King” Streeter
Accepting a full football scholarship to Garvey, King made 2nd
string quarterback as a freshman, and will be the starting QB spot
next fall. Having never really gotten over Michele, his relationships
never seems to reach true intimacy. And just when he seems to be
coming to terms with the breakup, guess who shows up on campus?
Ricky Chandler
Michael’s younger brother is on a "mission" this
time around. Tired of dreaming from afar, he decides to approach
his "Westside High Dreamgirl"
that's stolen his heart, and let her know how he really feels about
her.
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Elaine Simmons
A former assistant professor of Chemistry, under Dr. Struball
while he was at Haywood, she now holds the position of Chairperson
of the Science Department. A staunch admirer of the professor’s
radical research theologies, she looks forward to reuniting with
her former colleague during the tour.
Curtis Jackman
Formerly the chairperson of Chemistry, and now the Dean of the
College of Science, Dr. Jackman is the person who fired Struball
from Haywood. Tormented by the professor’s many accomplishments,
and jealous of his “working relationship” with Elaine,
he is determined to make sure the professor never teaches at the
college level again.
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Tina Trudeau
A serious-minded Haywood freshman, the first one in her family
to go to college, doesn't seem to have time for distractions. Right
after kicking out her "second" roommate (for stealing),
she discovers that due of a previous written commitment, she must
reluctantly take in Michele, as a temporary border.
Franklin Chin
Another student on the tour meets the girls, and wants to hang
out during the breaks. He meets Treecy, and tries to ease her personal
frustrations about her parents feelings about Black Colleges. Franklin,
who is of Chinese-Jamaican descent, knows Treecy's pain because
he is also the son of a doctor.
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Robert "Brooklyn" Brown
Chapter rush chairman of Nu Phi Gamma Fraternity on the Haywood
campus. Brooklyn, the baseball team captain, is in college on an
athletic scholarship. An infamously known "ladies man",
he sets his sites on Michele, as his next winner. (Sidenote: Kareem
and Brooklyn have been bitter competitors in sports since junior
high. Now, on the same college campus, their intense resentment
for each other's values, burns red hot behind their cool demeanors.)
Dr. Della Banks
An emergency room resident doctor at BaySide Medical, she has
the misfortune of tending to Michael's tests. When she discovers
what's really happening to the Chandler kid, she sets off on a
quest to see what she can do about his condition. The journey leads
back to her alma mater, Haywood University, and reunites her with
former teachers, Dr. Struball and Dr. Simmons.
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