-
The Birth of Nic Sheff
The baby is due in July. An ultrasound identifies the baby as a male. David and Vicki decorate a nursery with furniture, children books, toys, and gifts given from a friend. On the morning of July 20th, after midnight, Vicki begins having contractions. David drives to the hospital and Nic is born at dawn. -
Nic’s Parents Divorce
David and Vicki Sheff are having relationship problems. They visit a couple’s therapist that does not work anything out. David admits that this is not the first relationship that he has sabotaged. They divorce when Nic is 4 years old. David has full custody of Nic. Vicki moves to Los Angeles, California, and remarries. Nic remains with his father in San Francisco. -
Nic Welcomes a Stepmother
David meets Karen Barbour at a friend’s dinner party one summer evening. David and Karen go on their first date at a friend’s party on the Upper East Side. After six or so months, David introduces Karen to Nic. Nic starts getting attached and sees Karen as a motherly figure in his life. Karen marries David in May. They move to Inverness, California together as a family. -
Nic Gets Caught Smoking
David smells cigarette smoke when Nic enters the car afterschool. At first, Nic persistently denies that he has been smoking and tells David that he has been hanging out with smokers. However, Nic is pressured to tell the truth by David and admits having a few “puffs.” After a lecture from David, Nic promises to never do it again. -
Nic’s Youngest Sibling is Born
Marguerite Sheff, “Daisy”, is born. This is significant to Nic because this is yet another sibling, the other being Jasper, that Nic has to help look over. While in the nursery, Nic tells Nancy (his grandmother) “I never thought I would have a family like this” (Sheff 64). With yet another additional child in the house, one would imagine that Nic would stop smoking for his younger siblings… But he does not. -
An Afternoon in May
The telephone rings while the Nic, Jasper, Daisy, and Karen are in the yard. The freshman dean calls David and Karen to come in for a meeting due to Nic being caught with possession of marijuana. Nic gets suspended for buying the marijuana on school campus. On a sunny afternoon that month, Karen and David drive to Nic’s school without him. The dean gives Nic a second chance, but he is required to attend drug and alcohol counseling. The Dean says, “Many schools have zero-tolerance policies, -
The Arrest
Nic is arrested for the failure to appear in court after being cited for marijuana possession. Nic did not mention this infraction to David, but David bails him out anyways. Nic is continuously making bad decisions. David is confident that the arrest will teach him a lesson and he explains that this is the only time that this will ever happen. -
College
After high school, Nic enrolls at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Nic’s roommate, Charles, is from Manhattan. Charles is a huge negative impact towards Nic because he is an orphan who parties hard, is an alcoholic, and a druggie. Charles was always getting Nic involved with drugs. Charles would buy drugs for both him and Nic to use while studying. Charles always got Nic to do crazy things while he was high. Nic explains that drug stories are sinister. -
Methamphetamine
Nic has decided to drop out of University of California, Berkeley admitting that it was a mistake on his part and that he should go to a smaller college. Nic returns home to his family in Inverness. Nic agrees to honor curfews and other household rules. David discovers that Nic missed his curfew, and Nic goes missing for four days. Once David finds Nic on the streets, David says to Nic that he has to go to rehab and that he needs help. Nic agrees. On the morning of the appointment, Nic yell -
Nic Moves to New York
Nic, who is having problems overcoming his addiction with meth, moves to New York with family. His family thought that living in New York, it would be easier to detox than living in San Francisco. While in New York, Nic attempts to make a $500 check written out to himself, but it was rejected due to the bank account being inactive. One evening, Nic receives a phone call from Nic’s stepfather, who he rarely speaks to, of news that Nic is in serious condition in a hospital due to drug overdos -
Herbert House
After the Hazelden rehab center in New York gets shut down, Nic goes to Herbert House in Culver City. Nic enjoys it in Herbert House and quickly befriends the patients residing there. Nic gets a new AA sponsor called Randy, whom Nic really enjoys being with. Nic starts working at Promises, a place where he can helps other addicts get over their addictions with drugs or alcohol. -
Nic Relapses For the First Time
Nic relapses after one year of sobriety. He stopped returning David’s phone calls and ignored them every time he received a call from him. Nic’s phone has been off and every call from David went straight to voicemail. Nic broke into his family’s house and pillaged through David’s desk drawers. The following day, David finds out that Nic had broken into another house, besides his family’s own, in Inverness, but Nic fled the scene before getting caught. -
Nic Breaks In Again
Nic goes missing yet again for more than a week. This is a sign that Nic is back on drugs. They come to a conclusion that Nic has broken in when they find some things are out of place. Both David and Karen close their bank accounts and lock their credit card accounts to prevent Nic from accessing them. Jasper finds out that Nic has stolen $8 from him. Nic drives by their house a second time attempting to steal again, but this time Karen is home and quickly gets into her old car and chases h -
Nic’s Second Relapse
It was a constant battle for Nic to stay sober and he almost made it to two years. Nic calls David leaving him a voicemail pleading for him to call back. David calls Nic and they have a conversation about everything that has been happening. Nic admits to have been using speedballs and crystal meth and relapsing with his girlfriend, Z. David informs Nic that he needs urgent help, and Nic hangs up. David is disappointed in Nic because he gave away his long stretch of sobriety for drugs yet ag -
Life Healing Center
Nic is in rehab at the Life Healing Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. David and Vicki travel to Albuquerque to visit Nic in rehab and to attend a family meeting. Although David and Vicki are divorced, it is still a meeting for the patient and the parents of the patient. Here, they spend time together and bond to help the patient relax. Nic really enjoys being together with both of his parents because he has not had an opportunity like this in years. Nic is all for recovery this time.
