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David's Past
David, Nic’s father, wasn’t all that innocent growing up, either. He tried almost every drug, including: Marijuana, cocaine, and meth. He talks a lot about meth, “its a near-instant flume to ride to the central nerve system” (107). David speaks how Nic has became an addict, but never he had thought it would happen to his son. -
Nic's Birth and Toddler Years
Nic was born on July 20 1982, in San Francisco, to David and Vicki, his biological mom. As Nic grew up, everyone knew he was a special kid. When Nic was three, his parents got a divorce and shared custody of Nic. Vivki moves to Los Angeles and remarries. Nic attended kindergarten at a prestigious school in San Francisco. Nic was an adventurous child and loved to play. When his father married Karen, Nic loced her. Karen is David's second wife and has become a second mother to Nic. -
Nic's Adolescent Years
All throughout middle and highschool Nic made friends easily, he was an outgoing kid and spent time with his friends a lot. However, this is where Nic starts having trouble. One day Nic entered his fathers car and smelled like cigarettes. Nic denied it saying, “that he was hanging out with some kids who were smoking” (47). David harassed Nic for the truth, and Nic admitted to smoking but promised to never do it again, due to his fathers disappointment. -
The First Time and the Lake House
When David was packing Nic’s overnight bag, he found a small bag of Marijuana. While Nic was outside playing with his friend, David asks Nic about the Marijuana. Nic says that he bought it from a friend and that it was his first time, David is unsure if he is lying or not but believes Nic. David also finds out that Nic had drank alcohol during their ski trip to Lake Tahoe, when Nic and his friend were bored one night and drank everything they found in a liquor cabinet. -
Nic Goes Missing
About four years later, Nic takes a trip to Paris and when he comes back, David describes him as "He look(ed) terrible. His hair [was] shaggy and unkempt. Black circles [were] under his eyes"( 83). One evening, David and Nic were on an evening walk, when Nic takes out his joint and says he wants to smoke. David takes a hit on the joint, and when they return home he realizes that maybe smoking with Nic wasn’t the best choice. Nic robs cash from the family a few weeks later. -
Thunder Road
After David finds out Nic has been using Meth he makes Nic attend his first rehab, called The Thunder Road. David cried, “It sinks in. God no. I am horrified that Nic had used meth” (104). Nic is very reluctant and puts up a fight to not go, but David says this is the only way if he wants to get better. After arguing, Nic finally budges and attends. The counselor at Thunder Road says Nic’s condition was “really out”. -
Nics Second Rehab
The counselor at Thunder Road suggested that he goes to the Ohlhoff center for another evaluation. David takes Nic to the Ohlhoff center to speak with a counselor. The counselor says, "Nic doesn't acknowledge that he is an addict" (128) and the next morning they check him into the twenty-eight day program. Nic has a family session with David and Karen but doesn’t seem to care about their presence. After a couple of weeks Nic announces that he won't be going to college. -
Nics Third Rehab
Because Nic did not go to college, David allows Nic to leave the Ohlhoff center to go to a Halfway house but soon Nic vanishes and relapses again. As the Ohlhoff recovery center didn't work out they tried a third rehab, St. Helena's Hospital, it was similar to the one Nic was previously at but more advanced in activities and meetings. After a brief meeting the families go outside and have lunch. Nic shows David and Karen his room and then leads them outside to apologize to them for everything. -
Nic in Nancy's Home
Nancy is Nic's step grandmother, Karen's mother. She finds Nic inside her basement one day while doing laundry. Nic looked miserable and strung out on drugs. Nancy was frightened to see her grandson almost unrecognizable, as if he didn't sleep for days. Nancy tells Nic that he should've told her he was gonna be staying, but Nic doesn't really listen as he is still high. Nic then leaves his grandmother abruptly and she is left stunned, so she calls David. -
David and Karen
Karen and Nic had always had a good relationship even at a young age. Karen came into Nic's life around the age of nine and ever since then they have been such great companions. Karen has been emotionally supporting David through all this but is soon betrayed by Nic. One day David walks in to find Karen upset about what Nic had done. He forged a check for himself under Karen's name, she felt wounded and hurt by this act, David knew he couldn't make any more excuses for him anymore (187). -
Nic Hits Rock Bottom
One Sunday morning, David gets a phone call in the morning around five and it is Nic's stepfather, Kyle. He told David that Nic had an overdose and was in a hospital in Brooklyn. He flies to New York and meets with Nic's doctor. He tells David how lucky Nic is and how close to death he really was. The overdose does not stop Nic from leaving the hospital. Not even an overdose will make Nic change or stop harming himself. (200) -
Nic Goes Downhill
After moving to Los Angeles things seemed to be lighting up for Nic, but that didn't last very long. One Day David calls Z, Nic's girlfriend, who then proceeds to tell him that Nic was going to break into Vic's house and steal a computer "as if it was like borrowing sugar" (283). David calls Vickie to only find out that Nic had broken in and was tweaking so hard he was unable to get out. Vicki then discusses it with Nic's step father, and gives her son a choice go to jail or go to rehab. -
Nics Fourth Rehab
After a few months pass Nic decides to go to rehab again for the 4th time after speaking with his father. This time Nic went to Hazelden, apparently one of the nations best rehab facilities. Nic would be attending rehab for 6 months, or depending on how well he does through the program. After months pass Nic was beginning to progress and was checking in with David regularly but then the program shuts down and Nic relocates to Los Angeles to live near his mother and stepfather -
Nic is Back
Nic completed his 6th rehab in Santa Fe and has been sober for a year. He and his father chat regularly, they have become much closer and have a stronger relationship. Nic has a girlfriend and is working in a coffee shop, He has started writing again and plans to come out with a book. Nic seems to finally be on the right track of progress and hopes to continue on this path for “a long, long time.” (307-309)