I have lots of feelings about Wayne Munson…
…who was probably warm from a distance, but loved his nephew very much…
…but knew he wasn’t his father and that he couldn’t be that for him even if he wanted to or even if Eddie wanted him to…
…because he was probably not There a lot, but not because he was neglectful or didn’t care but because he cared So Damn Much that he worked such long hours to put food on the table and clothes on Eddie’s back…
…and who then probably slept during the day while Eddie was in school - and he slept on a pull out bed let’s not forget, he let his nephew have the lone bedroom…
…and he let Eddie live with him even though he was no longer responsible for him once he turned 18, I bet that wasn’t even a conversation it was just a matter of This is Your Home…
…and even though he probably didn’t understand his nephew that much he didn’t say anything discouraging about his hobbies of fantasy and metal because they made him Happy…
…and even though he didn’t understand him, he knew him enough to know that he was a good person who would never hurt anyone…
…like he never doubted that for a minute - and he doesn’t know if Eddie knew he knew he was innocent and if Eddie knew how much he loved him because they probably never really Said It there was probably no physical affection ala Manly Hugs or even affirmations that he was proud of him because they are both two blue collar Men living alone and probably not very open about their feelings why say it they shouldn’t need to say it they know but you know Wayne still wishes he said it and he wishes he knew for sure that Eddie knew because like…
…you know he loved Eddie so much and he was probably proud of him and the young man he had grown into…
…like yeah he’s not stupid he probably knows about the drugs even if Eddie thinks he doesn’t which Eddie probably knows he does but they just Don’t Talk About It so that Wayne has plausible deniability and he may not approve but like… he’s a small time dealer for just for some spending money he ain’t the Pablo Escobar of Hawkins…
…he knows Eddie isn’t going to end up like his father - he’s not gonna waste his life, he’s not gonna waste himself and his own potential…
…he’s stayed in school and maybe it’s out of spite but he’s not given up and dropped out because - Uncle Wayne didn’t raise no quitter…
…and Eddie was going to have a future and he was going to get out of Hawkins and make something of himself and have himself a better life…
…and maybe it would be via his music maybe it wasn’t he was going to Try that was for sure, because by God again for all the “running away” crap Eddie gave himself in his final days, he really never knew when to give up…
…and like you know that’s probably one area where Wayne was like “ok, that’s enough fantasy - you got to be realistic here - you’re focused on graduating, but what happens after that?” but again it’s Wayne Munson and even though he probably rolled his eyes he probably never doubted Eddie for a second…
…like maybe he doubted that his wildest fantasies about becoming a rock star would become reality, but he never doubted that Eddie would bust his ass trying to make them a reality and just…
He was supposed to graduate. I bet Wayne would have had to request off from work that day in advanced and like.
Now he doesn’t even have anything to remember Eddie by save the guitar pick necklace, because his trailer was destroyed and like what now he’s got little to no money and he’s homeless and his nephew is dead like what is he supposed to do now…
Yeah it’s late and I’m sad fam. Wayne Munson is up there with Ben Parker and Owen Lars and Iroh on the council of Uncle Blorbos.