Our last prompt of 2013 is an anonymous prompt: Second Chance At this time I'd like to thank everyone who contributed a prompt, who responded to one, and even those who just read the responses. Thank you. Also, as I remember I still need to make up a calendar for 2014, I'd like to put in a call for prompts. No one has signed yet, so all dates are open. If you want a specific date, please let me know, first come, first served, if you want any date, let me know, and I'll give you one. Thank you.

"Drip!" Jinpei exclaimed, before quickly shaking his head. "No, it's drop!" "How about this one?" Dr. Nambu asked, holding up a sign. "Shift!" the boy answered. "No." "Aw, give me a second chance!" Jinpei moaned, clearly upset. He squinted carefully at the sign. "Is it... shaft?" "Yes, that's right." Dr. Nambu told him. "But I'm concerned by how frequently you are reading the words incorrectly. In my estimation, you have some kind of learning disability." "So I was right to be concerned." Jun sighed. "I wasn't sure." "You did the right thing, letting me know about this." Dr. Nambu confirmed. "But I've almost made it through high school!" Jinpei protested. "I'm fine!" "It would seem that the individualized teaching methods you have been working with were enough to guide you through any difficulties." the Doctor mused, "at least enough to scrape by." "Hey, I try my best!" Jinpei defended himself. "Your grades have never been that good." Jun reminded him. "And now it seems that there may have been a legitimate reason for those low grades." Dr. Nambu frowned. "Jinpei, I think we need to get you into treatment right away." "What?" Jinpei nearly leapt out of his chair. "Aw man..."

A good way to close out the year, TJ! LOL. Jinpei can start afresh in the New Year, hopefully free from dyslexia!

TJ, this particular piece hits way too close to home for me. I've been fighting this with the school system for my DD since she was in second grade. Had her tested in fourth grade, where she just missed the cut off, and now in high school, where her spelling really matters, there is not much to be done, and after talking with the school psychologist (informally), she's not likely to score any different if we had her retested. The sad thing is, she doesn't qualify medically either, it is all in the wiring of her brain, not in the muscles of her eyes (as some dyslexias are). Fortunately, her high school counselor was the elementary counselor and knows how much we've fought this and is helping us be very proactive, if we could only get the teachers to contact us and not wait for us to contact them. I sincerely hope that Jinpei realizes how lucky he has that Nambu has the resources he has to help him over come this disorder.

Amethyst, I wasn't thinking of this in that kind of manner, but I wish your DD all the best as she struggles with this issue. I know it cannot be an easy thing to deal with.

Thanks, TJ. While this did hit close to home, it is still funny. That is one of the ways we deal with DD's situation, too. We laugh with her and then help her with spell checking.

Ame ... the best of wishes for a brighter future, especially where your DD is concerned, from me, too! *hugs* I can only imagine what you're going through, where this condition is concerned, but am happy to hear that you're dealing with the situation the best you can as parents and your DD is so blessed to have a loving family as yours to support her. TJ ... you couldn't have given a better, jolly ending to mark this year for poor Jinpei! Poor thing ... he has been quite a target! He really needed this second chance, hoping that he'd start the New Year afresh!

TJ, at last someone will address Jinpei's challenges! Ame, all the best to you and your family in the New Year!

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TJ - At last now they are taking Jinpei's issues seriously. So often these things are overlooked and the help the child needed isn't made available to them. But it's never too late, and as long as the help and treatment is forthcoming, then any learning disabilities shouldn't stop them from becoming successful in their adult life.

KT ... I'm glad that Ryu has been given a second chance and that everything ended well! A happy New Year to all!

KT -- Great finish to the prompt! Happy New Year to all!

What a great wrapup, KT! And I hope Ryu enjoys his New Year's with Connie! And I hope Ken and Jun have a happy new year too! )

TJ - It's good Jinpei will get some help before his difficulty affected a mission. Ame, Its amazing how our school systems work. If a child is having difficulty, it shouldn't matter the reason or whether they pass or don't pass an evaluation. Just help the kids. More power to you and DD! On another note, is there a master list of all the prompts we've used so far? Don't want to suggest one that's already been used. KT - Good for Ken, good for Jinpei. good for Ryu. Bugs...YUCK! Katse is truly evil.

Originally posted by Becky Rock Ame, Its amazing how our school systems work. If a child is having difficulty, it shouldn't matter the reason or whether they pass or don't pass an evaluation. Just help the kids. More power to you and DD! On another note, is there a master list of all the prompts we've used so far? Don't want to suggest one that's already been used.

Becky, there are times it frustrates me to no end, as a parent and as a teacher. Unfortunately until I get a permanent position, I need to learn to keep my mouth shut about it. Not something I'm too good at. As for the master list, I do have one. I'll try to put one up later this week, or anyone is always welcome to ask if a word or phrase has been used before.

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Amethyst: Thank you so much for continuing to do this over such a long period of time! I look forward to this each week. Regarding your daughter, that's great that at least you're getting some support despite not quite falling into the proper checkboxes. Dyslexia runs somewhat in my family but no one was diagnosed until one of my nieces was. While I'm fortunate enough not to have that particular issue, spelling still royally kicked my butt in jr high. (So much memorization and that's a huge weakness of mine, it requires a heavy amount of repetition for me to do and I don't have the kind of patience that makes me stick to it, heh.) My spelling vastly improved not with the help of school so much but from being a voracious reader growing up, and from setting my word processor (once they existed) to underline misspelled words but not correct them for me. My niece is currently in her first year of college so despite her struggles she's really come far! Btw, she's my brother's daughter, and it probably passed down through him, and while he never received a college degree he has gotten into and completed an ivy league business seminar program. In his case it was in part that it took him longer to appreciate an education. TJ: Aw, great stuff for Jinpei even if he doesn't think so yet. I'm sure he's felt stupid and will be amazed at how much better he does with academic stuff with the right treatment/assistance. It really wouldn't be surprising that something like that could slip past for him. While I'm sure there's plenty of reading to do, most of his team-required education would probably be verbal/practical. KT: Oooh so Katse was playing the long game. Eerp. Yay for Ryu for his second chance!

amethyst: I just remembered that when I was in university and dating a guy with a housemate who was a rather brilliant computer programmer with severe dyslexia. His housemate was also just quite aware that if his code wasn't compiling right, he might have mistyped something along the way. The guy had a good job and apparently had been taught to work with a special blue screen/background or something that somehow helped him avoid turning things around. I also knew a severely dyslexic physics major. Very nice guy, he essentially had to study non-stop, going over and over stuff, but he was doing really well and was pretty happy and determined. So as usual one size does not fit all, but with support and experimentation, your daughter can certainly find success. Good on you for making sure she gets all the support she can! When I was in school my mother's biggest complaint was that while honours students (me for the most part) and below average students got a lot of support/special classes, etc, the average students (my brother) were more kind of warehoused. I had to take some average classes after spelling mucked me up in English and threw me partly off the honours track, and I know I really was ready to hang myself in the middle of the average English class, the teacher was SO FREAKING BORING. The average history teacher, though, was brilliant and fun and it was the first time I enjoyed a history class in school since it didn't feel as much like it was just rote matching names to dates and events. I'm in a rambling mood I guess, but I'll complete the thought ... I've done a lot of editing for a company in India who provides an international online classroom platform, and while I was editing one of their papers (meant for a North American audience) we had a huge cultural disconnect that took a bit of talking to sort out. Apparently in India it's more of a problem that everything is taught for the average student, and the better students are bored/not properly served or challenged, while the slower students desperately try to keep up. That was a really enlightening conversation for myself and the folks in India to realize how opposite the situation was.

Chris, I can see how Joe is frustrated, and I'm amazed at how much he's restrained himself, for being so young and on a first mission! Interesting that Ken appears to be a full Galactor agent...

I was debating this with a forumite and we decided that at 16 and still green he might lack the confidence to go roaring on in. That and he actually cares about someone down there. Note that he's still being impulsive. He's going in. As to Ken being a full agent ... that's one possibility ...

KT: Glad to see Ken made it through just fine, and that the blue goo wasn't evil, like I thought it was going to be. And it's good to see Ryu get some of the spotlight too CW: Oooh! I really liked this. So, Ken might be working for Galactor? But for some reason I'm thinking it's a ruse on his part, that he wants to make sure his mom is ok (and get her help). Could he possibly be a "double agent"?

Double post. Jeez.....

Originally posted by ChrisW at 16 and still green he might lack the confidence to go roaring on in. That and he actually cares about someone down there. Note that he's still being impulsive. He's going in.

CW ... Joe's restrained impulsivity almost hurts in real person! I literally felt myself itching when I read through this piece! But, what you've explained makes sense, especially the "he actually cares about someone down there" part, even though he's not sure whether Ken is a fake or not. Though still 16 he's dealing with this with a greater maturity than expected, maybe mostly because of this same fact. I can sense his empathy with Ken, Joe having already gone through a similar experience with his own parents ... it is very risky, given Ken's precarious identity, but Joe seems to be giving Ken quite a chance when it comes to help him leave or betray Galactor without being harmed. Can't wait to read more!

Ok, here's my lame attempt at getting back in the "Jar"...the captions suck, but this was literally what came to mind when I saw "second chance"...

LOL Springie. I loved the episode where Joe has to pilot the GP and turns out to kinda suck at it. (Not totally, the ship is intact at the end, unlike in your version!)

Teehee...yeah, I cobbled a few screenshots together for more "impact" (pun intended)... TJ- Poor Jinpei! I can identify with this situation, too- glad Nambu will be able to help him! KT- EEW, bugs!! (Now I feel like Jun)... AWWWWW...I love that Ryu gets a second chance!! Chris- Siren- what an interesting concept! Ken is with his mom and they are working for Galactor? Very dangerous, indeed! I really want to read more about this!!

Springie ... that's hilarious! I love the way you patched the story up! Wonder what Joe would say if he comes to know about this!!

I love it, Springie! I have missed your cartoon. You are so awesome at them!

Oh I liked this Springie! You should do more of these!

Originally posted by ChrisW LOL Springie. I loved the episode where Joe has to pilot the GP and turns out to kinda suck at it. (Not totally, the ship is intact at the end, unlike in your version!)

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that was "The God Phoenix, Reborn" episode. Jinpei told Joe he flew the ship "like a turkey". Ryu's bother was also appalled at Joe's "crappy landing".