Beverley's Questionnaire

Beverly grew up in a small, forgotten town in Nebraska called "Hollis Creek." It’s a place where time seems to slow down, where the streets are lined with modest houses and fields that stretch for miles, dotted with rusted farm equipment and aging silos. Once a thriving community centered around agriculture and a local grain mill, the town has seen better days. Many of the younger residents have moved to bigger cities for better opportunities, leaving behind a quieter, older crowd who still carry the weight of the town’s history.

The run-down bungalow Beverly calls home sits just on the edge of the town, surrounded by overgrown grass and a couple of rundown barns. It's a place full of memories—her father used to work as a mechanic in a shop that’s now abandoned, and her mother ran a small but well-loved bakery before retiring. Though the house may be a little worse for wear, Beverly has always taken pride in the work she does to keep it standing, much like the town itself. It's a community with a sense of loyalty, even if the town's future feels uncertain.

She had a stint when she lived in the big city but fled back to her hometown after the incident. 

Beverly's day-to-day life as a plumber in Hollis Creek is a mix of hard work, practical problem-solving, and the occasional moment of quiet satisfaction.

Her mornings start early. She wakes up in her modest bungalow, often to the sound of birds chirping or the distant hum of the wind across the fields. The first thing she does is grab a cup of strong coffee, then heads out to her tool shed to gather the equipment she’ll need for the day—her trusty wrench, pipe cutters, and a variety of sealants and fittings.

The majority of her work involves repairing old plumbing systems in the homes around Hollis Creek, many of which are decades old. Whether it’s fixing a leaky faucet in a farmer’s kitchen, replacing pipes in an old barn, or handling a clogged drain in the town’s diner, Beverly is constantly on the move. She’s known for her reliability, and word of mouth keeps her busy, even in a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business.

Throughout the day, Beverly often chats with the locals—longtime residents who have seen their share of ups and downs. She stops in at the general store for lunch, sometimes picking up a homemade sandwich or a slice of pie, and catching up with the town gossip. Some days, she’ll fix a sink for an elderly neighbor, or help out a young couple with their first home. She’s not just fixing pipes; she’s maintaining relationships, and her reputation for caring about the people she serves is what keeps her in business.

Her evenings are sometimes interrupted by an emergency—someone’s water heater goes out, or a pipe bursts. But it’s all part of the job. She doesn’t mind, really. The work keeps her grounded, and the knowledge that she’s making a difference, even in small ways, is enough to get her up and back at it the next day.

Her heart aches when she sees the old farmers working tirelessly, their bodies worn down by years of labor, barely able to afford to fix broken pipes in their homes. Beverly knows their stories. She’s lived it herself—working long hours, yet never seeing the true value of her labor reflected in her pay. The constant pressure to “do more with less” leaves her feeling exhausted and angry. She knows the system isn’t just broken—it’s rigged, designed to keep the rich in power while the rest of the world suffers.

At times, she imagines what life would be like without capitalism—the freedom to work together, to live in a system where people’s well-being isn’t measured by how much money they can make. She dreams of a world where the basic needs of all are met, where work is valued for its contribution to society rather than its potential for profit.

She often finds herself daydreaming about having god-like powers—if only she could snap her fingers and dismantle the system that keeps so many in poverty. If only she could erase the inequality, the greed, and the oppression. Yet, Beverly is just one woman with a wrench and a deep sense of justice. Her frustrations, though valid, are constrained by the very system she despises. Still, she refuses to give up on the idea of a better world. 

In 2013, Beverly’s life took a dramatic and tragic turn. She was working on a large-scale plumbing project for a new luxury complex in the city. It was a high-profile job, one that would put her name on the map. But nothing could have prepared her for what happened next.

During the Superbowl, while the world’s attention was on the game, a massive sewage backup occurred from the new complex she had worked on. The pipes that were supposed to direct waste safely had failed, and the entire system backed up, spilling onto the field where the game was being held. What was meant to be a thrilling spectacle quickly turned into a nightmare. The field became covered in waste, causing an immediate halt to the game and leaving viewers horrified. Some of the players even had to be rushed to the hospital due to the toxic substances.

Beverly couldn’t understand how it happened. She had followed all the protocols, ensured everything was in working order, and inspected the site herself. But the blame quickly fell on her shoulders. The media was ruthless, painting her as the cause of the disaster. News outlets sensationalized the incident, calling it "the worst disaster in Superbowl history," and plastered her face across the front pages, accusing her of negligence and incompetence.

After months of legal battles and the public humiliation, Beverly’s sense of self was shattered. The weight of the incident was too much to bear, and she felt like a pariah in the very city she had worked so hard to succeed in. Unable to find peace amidst the backlash and unable to prove her innocence, she made the decision to leave everything behind. She packed her bags and returned to Hollis Creek.

Beverly’s parents, Jack and Marla Forge, have lived in Hollis Creek for most of their lives. They are both humble, hardworking people who never sought out the spotlight, content to live a quiet life. Jack, in his late 60s, is a former mechanic who now spends most of his time tinkering in his small workshop behind their house. He’s a man of few words but a wealth of practical knowledge, able to fix nearly anything that comes his way. His hands are worn and calloused, a reminder of years spent working on cars and machines. Though he doesn’t show much emotion, Beverly knows that his love for her is unconditional, and his silent support means the world to her.

Marla, Beverly’s mother, is a retired schoolteacher with a gentle, nurturing spirit. In her early 60s, she’s always kept their home in Hollis Creek welcoming and warm, with fresh flowers on the kitchen table and the scent of freshly baked bread in the air. Marla’s calm demeanor and ability to listen made her a comforting presence in Beverly’s life, especially after the trauma of the city incident. Beverly often turns to her mother for advice, though Marla tends to avoid discussing the incident, choosing instead to focus on the present and future.

Before moving back to Hollis Creek, Beverly lived in the city with her roommate, Lindsay. Lindsay was a few years younger than Beverly, a lively, spontaneous woman with a passion for photography and a love of city life. They met when they were both starting out in the city, and Lindsay quickly became one of Beverly’s closest friends. The two shared an apartment in a busy, downtown neighborhood. Lindsay was outgoing, always dragging Beverly to art galleries, music festivals, and rooftop parties, encouraging her to embrace the fast pace of the city. They were an odd but complementary pair—Beverly, with her no-nonsense attitude and practicality, and Lindsay, who was full of energy and always looking for the next adventure.

Beverly’s childhood in Hollis Creek was simple, grounded, and shaped by hard work and close-knit community values. Growing up in a small town, life had a certain predictability to it, and Beverly found comfort in the rhythms of rural life. Her parents, Jack and Marla, instilled a strong work ethic in her from a young age. They believed in getting things done with their own hands, and Beverly learned the value of practical skills early on.

Her father, Jack, was often found in his garage, fixing cars, tinkering with engines, or repairing the family’s old tractor. Beverly would spend hours by his side, handing him tools and asking questions about how things worked. She developed a fascination with mechanics and plumbing from watching him, although her interests were always a bit more focused on the smaller, more intricate tasks—like how water flowed through pipes and how a simple faucet could be the source of so many problems.

Her mother, Marla, was the opposite. She was patient, nurturing, and the type of person who always had time for a conversation, whether it was over dinner or while folding laundry. Marla would spend hours reading to Beverly, teaching her the joys of quiet time and helping her with schoolwork. The sense of stability Marla provided was vital to Beverly as she navigated school and the expectations placed on her. Though Marla wasn’t physically strong like Jack, her emotional strength and quiet wisdom were just as influential in shaping Beverly’s values.

Beverly was a tomboy growing up. She preferred playing outside to staying indoors, often running through the fields with the neighbor kids, climbing trees, or getting her hands dirty fixing things. She was always seen as "one of the guys," never afraid to get her hands dirty or tackle a challenge head-on. This led to some teasing from her peers, but Beverly didn’t mind much. She was used to being in spaces traditionally dominated by men, having spent so much time with her father. Her friends knew that if they needed help with something mechanical or a leaky faucet, they could count on Beverly to figure it out.

However, her independent streak also came with its challenges. Beverly wasn’t particularly fond of the traditional gender roles that were often expected of girls in her small town. She would rather be working with tools or helping her father with a project than doing anything considered "feminine" by her peers. This led to some isolation at times, and Beverly often felt out of place when the other girls in town were focused on their appearance or playing more traditionally "girly" games. Still, she was tough, and it didn’t bother her too much.

Family was central to Beverly’s childhood. The Forge family had a strong sense of community, often hosting neighborhood barbecues, holiday gatherings, and lending a hand to neighbors when they needed it. Beverly learned early on the importance of helping others and the value of being part of something bigger than herself. However, it also created a pressure for her to succeed, especially when she was the first in her family to express interest in pursuing a career outside of traditional farming or service work. This led to a bit of friction with her parents, especially her father, who worried that Beverly’s unconventional career choice might keep her away from the tight-knit community they had spent their lives building.

Despite those concerns, Beverly’s parents were always proud of her when she left Hollis Creek for the city. They knew that, like her father, she had the skills and determination to make a name for herself. But the lessons of her childhood remained with her: the importance of hard work, community, and resilience in the face of hardship. These lessons are what kept her grounded during the toughest parts of her adult life, and they still guide her as she works toward the future she wants to build.

Beverly has loved, but her relationships have always been complicated, often overshadowed by deep sense of independence. Her heart, while open, has never fully settled into a lasting romantic relationship.

In her younger years, Beverly had a few boyfriends, mostly in high school and college, but none of them lasted. One significant relationship, a few years before she moved to the city, was with a man named Luke in Hollis Creek. He was kind, dependable, and shared her love for fixing things. They spent many evenings together working on old cars or walking along the creek, talking about their dreams and the future. It was the kind of relationship that had the potential to blossom into something deeper, but Beverly couldn’t quite shake the feeling that something was missing. The idea of living a life of quiet contentment, felt a bit empty to her. She left him behind when she moved to the city to chase her dreams, but the relationship lingered in her memory as a "what could have been."

In the city, Beverly’s life was consumed by work. The pace of the city, with its endless hustle, didn’t leave room for much else. She had a few short-term flings, but nothing ever felt right. She met people who were exciting, people who shared her ambition, but there was always a distance—a part of her that remained guarded, always focused on her career and the drive to prove herself. When the incident happened, she realized that the relationships she’d had never truly reached a depth of intimacy or connection. She had been so focused on building a name for herself that she never gave anyone the space to truly get to know her, let alone love her in the way she longed for.

Now, back in Hollis Creek, Beverly has become more reflective about love. She often thinks about what it would be like to have someone by her side, someone who would accept her for who she is, someone who could share in the quiet moments, the long hours of work, and the dreams of a better world.