Author notes

Character Profile: Teddy Atwater

blntmaker

on March 9, 2007

Legal Name: Theodore Raymond Atwater
Occupation: Student (Sixth grade)
Legal Status: Citizen of the United States with no criminal record, still a minor.
Place of birth: Seattle, Washington
Known relatives: Martin (father), Naomi (mother), Rayne (middle sister), Siobhan (younger sister)
Group affiliation: Covington Middle School Boys' Soccer
Base of operations: Sherman Oaks, California
History:
Teddy is the oldest child of Martin Atwater, a former 12-year NFL pro linebacker and his wife, a defense attorney. His family settled in the San Fernando Valley after Martin Atwater suffered a career-ending injury. Mr. Atwater was offered a job as head coach of the Valley Oaks Community College football team, while Mrs. Atwater accepted a partnership at a law firm in Universal City.

As a child, Teddy developed a love for the game of soccer. At the age of six, he signed up for an initial season and has been playing the game ever since. He was a stand-out player during his elementary school years and quickly became a star at the secondary level once he arrived at Covington Middle School – he was a defensive midfielder.

Near the end of the season in his sixth grade year, eighth grader and star goalie Moises Portalegre sustained a bizarre non-sport related injury. There was no second-string goalie because Portalegre had never missed a game his entire middle school career.

Teddy was elected by the team and Portalegre to start at goalie against a rival team in the middle school Valley-wide finals. Teddy held his own the entire game and it came down to a tie of 0-0 with a shoot-out to determine the winner. In the final showdown, Teddy not only failed to stop the game winning goal, he collides headlong into a goal post and suffered a severe concussion.

The head injury proved problematic for Teddy the remainder of his sixth grade year, as he began to suffer headaches, black outs which required a few surgeries and CAT scans. Doctors ascertained that Teddy's recent injury was due to excessive "head shots" from soccer balls. A C-average student anyway, Teddy's attendance and academic performance suffered. By the end of his sixth grade year, it was recommended that Teddy be retained for another of sixth grade. A recommendation he has accepted with sarcasm and a great deal of indifference.

As he begins his second sixth grade year, he is befriended by fellow retainee, Desmond Blackshear. A stronger crush is also developed by childhood friend, and new sixth grader, Vanessa Castro. Teddy remains uninterested in a relationship of that magnitude…for now.

Special Features:
Teddy has some scarring on his forehead due to this recent injury. He is also taller than the average child his age.

Skills, abilities and interests:
Academically, Teddy is indeed a C-average student. It isn't because he has low-comprehension, it's just that he only does the bare minimum to get by in class and be eligible for sports. Athletically, Teddy is an above average athlete and in spite of the head injury, he is still an exceptional soccer player. For reasons of his own, Teddy has elected to remain in the position of goalie, permanently.

Teddy's interests lie not only with the sport of soccer, he is apparently an avid fan of "old-school" and "underground" hip-hop music, which he frequently quotes and seem to serve as personal mottos for his life.