Harper James

Harper grew up in a large Italian immigrant family, residing in an apartment complex in the downtown of a city. Coming from a working-class family, but was surrounded by family in the complex, so they shared everything they had. Living with his mother, father, younger sister and older brother. Besides that, his mothers parents lived next door, her siblings lived around the building, mostly on separate floors. Giving the family the illusion of personal space.  

Harper spent a large amount of his time at home with his mother and siblings, while his father, Peter James, worked as a construction worker. Peter James worked as a scab due to lack of job opportunities for immigrant families during the time. A scab is someone who fills the job of someone on strike. While his mother, Bell James, stayed at home working hard at raising their children. Often being surrounded by her siblings children as well, taking on the task of looking after them while their parents were at work.

Bell suffered great stress due to handling so many children at once. Harper grew up fast, learning how to cook, clean, sew and look after younger children, by the age of 6. Instead of attending school Harper spent his childhood days cooking for his large family, cleaning up after the children, as well as teaching them basic subjects. Learning to read quite fast, with the help of his mother, so he often read to the children as a pass-time. As well as getting them involved in artistic hobbies. Like: paining, drawing, knitting and sewing. Which are all skills he learned from his mother.

Having a very close bond to her growing up. Harper made a daily effort to help his mother as much as possible, which only made their bond tighter than ever before.   On the off chance that Harper had some time alone, he spent it indulging in his own interests. Often drawing out designs of clothing, usually of the feminine nature, illustrating swirling dresses and skirts, fluffy sleeved shirts, and softly heeled boots. Illustrating dresses he saw in store fronts, always going with his mother to shop, so they often stood in front of the dress shop to admire them. This was one of many things Harper and his mother deeply bonded over.

His time at home with his mother was usually spent alone, besides all the children. His father worked, and his older brother, Stephan James, was enrolled in an education. Peter & Bell James saving up to put Stephan through a good education, in hopes it would allow him to get a well paying job. However, he didn't like to associate with his family, instead deciding to move in with a friend, treating his family as if he was ashamed to be associated with them. Due to this, Harper grew up barely registering that he had an older brother, not having any male role-models to look up to.

Soon after Harper turned 11 his baby sister was born, named Sophie James, after his grandmother who had recently passed away. Bell took the death of her mother quite hard, sending her into a looming depression, once it was time for Sophie to be born, she still wasn't mentally prepared to raise a child, let alone love them properly. Falling into a postpartum depression after Sophie's birth. Postpartum depression refers to a period where a mother falls into depression after giving birth.

His mothers depression was manageable for a long period, being able to fulfill her role as a mother very well. With the aid and support of Harper. However, despite her ability to pull through, it took a toll on Bell's health, and by the time Harper was 14, she was regularly bedridden. From that period on, Harper took over his mothers role as a guardian. Even though years past, the children stuck around, preferring Harper's warm hand than their distant parents.

After Sophie's birth, Harper earned a better understanding of his families position, and started to dedicate himself to his craft. Becoming exceptional at illustrating & designing clothing, and started to make his own patterns not too long after. Starting to make clothing for himself, his little sister, and many of the children, even his mother now and then.

During this time, Harper's father grew distant. Seeing his wife's health decline, Peter hid in his work, finding a full-time job despite his families time of need. Stephan never returned to aid his family either, seeming to have cut ties off completely at this point. Though, Peter started to form a loathing towards Harper, becoming bitter at how much Harper reminded him of Bell. Never being able to see his wife in the health that Harper had, made him sour over time.

>Unfinished<