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Thomas Lake (67)
Project: Nighttime soap (War of Joy)
Known as: No nicknames
Real name: Thomas Leonardo Lake (nee Szymkowiak)
Group affiliation: Lake family
Physical description: Thomas is in his early 50ies and is a ruffled, unkept sort of handsome. He has gray eyes and light brown hair (that seems eternally in need of a trim). He wears comfortable and loose-fitting clothes most of the time – usually with some odd bit of flair (e.g., a necklace of plastic beads made years ago by one of his children).
Personality: Thomas is an affable dude. Patient and easy-going, he was the primary caregiver to the Lake children. Liked by most people, Thomas wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s comfortable crying in public and Melody finds him embarrassing at times (though loving him thoroughly). Lately he has been a little moodier, as he is wondering if he will ever make his mark on the art world.
History: Thomas’ mother died in childbirth, leaving Thomas with an abusive father with anger issues. Thomas was a loving son but was not the child his father expected. Artistic and more overtly emotional, Thomas was never really understood by his father. Their one point of bonding was that Thomas’ father was a welder and Thomas was fascinated with working metal (Thomas’ father would be ultimately disappointed that Thomas turned this interest towards art).
College (Thomas was on scholarship) was a magical time for Thomas. He found a people who appreciated him for all the reasons his father felt distant from him. A few of his metal sculptures were very well received (one is on permanent display at the college) and it seemed that a career in art would be a possibility for him.
Even more life-affecting is that he met Joy Lake. It was lust at first sight and a steamy (but open) love affair erupted. They knew nothing long-term would come of it. Joy had to go back home and run the family business while Thomas was a free spirit who had no specific plan other than to (somehow) pursue his art. After years of on and off again, when facing graduation, the two of them had an unexpected realization: they were in love. Being unable to imagine life without each other, they got married.
They were both somewhat surprised to find out they were a great match. Joy had drive, providing the rudderless Thomas with some direction (and a partner whose love he never doubted). Thomas, meanwhile, was Joy’s rock – a stable, calm presence that centered her. As a result of this dynamic, and the belief that Thomas could do his art anywhere, they settled in West Spring so Joy could work at Dulac Toys. Thomas even took Joy’s name, Lake, as he never cared for his existing one (Szymkowiak), as a gesture of defiance and independence from his father, and due to his progressive nature.
Thomas went into an experimental phase with his art, losing some of the early momentum his career had in college. Soon the Lakes found that keeping Thomas in metal and other materials for his art was becoming challenging as money was tight. Thomas began to specialize in scrap metal art, another shift in his artistic sensibility. He was talented, but his career stalled as a scrap-metal artist in a small community.
When the children were born, his output further reduced. With Joy being so busy at Dulac, Thomas became primary caregiver and was very active in the children’s lives (PTA, scout leader, sports coach, etc.). While they were growing up, much of Thomas’ artistic drive was aimed at his children and their development.
Now Melody is full grown, and their second daughter will be heading to college soon. Thomas has started to feel restless and has begun resenting how his art career seemed sacrificed for Joy’s professional one (something he has never expressed before). Though they still get along well, there is some negativity brewing under the surface (between Thomas’ resentment and some guilt Joy has that she didn’t give family enough time.
In reality, Thomas is just going through some empty nest/mid-life crisis sort of stuff. He (and Joy) will come out the other side just fine, but in the meantime there will be some conflict and some odd behavior from Thomas (he might try out a more traditionally “manly” persona – not realizing he is working through his father issues).
Some secrets and points of drama we may or may not encounter:
- Thomas’ sculpture at his old college will be vandalized. After some investigation the case will be closed. We’ll find out it was Thomas who vandalized it; releasing some pent-up anger and as a statement of frustration that his past art career exceeds his current one.
- Thomas’ father will claim he (the father) has gotten is life on track and wants back in Thomas’ life. Time will tell if this is sincere or some sort of ploy.
- A few pieces of Thomas’ art will eventually become something of a fad at a nearby metropolis. Thomas will feel the lure of that city’s art scene, only to ultimately realize that the life he yearns for is false and shallow comparted to the life he already has.
- For some inexplicable reason, I feel like Thomas should eventually finds out he has an identical (but evil!) twin he never knew about.
Role in the narrative: Thomas is a great guy. Self-sacrifice and prioritizing others are his standard state of being. The problem comes in when he starts to question as to whether he was forced into self-sacrifice (his conflict mirrors Joy’s). Some self-acceptance issues will be expressed as anger with Joy for a while.
Abilities: Thomas is a talented metalworker and artist. He’s a fantastic dad and husband (at least, when he is feeling more himself).
Inspirations: Ramona and Beezus’ dad combined with the metal sculpting character from Friday Night Lights.
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