If They Weren’t Raised Fundie: Duggar Edition
JOSH is the golden boy who goes nuts when he gets dropped off at college and is the creepy roommate who watches an alarming amount of porn and spends almost as much time partying/chasing girls as he does in class. He scrapes through with an okay-but-not-great GPA in a political science degree after getting arrested several times, which isn’t an issue at first because he’s the Golden Boy. He eventually settles down, marries, and has a few kids before making a bid for the state Senate. It’s then that his arrest record comes back to bite him in the ass after it’s revealed he got two DUIs and kicked out of a strip club for fighting the bouncer post-butt-grope-of-performers.
JANA lives in a tiny studio apartment by herself with two cats; the building has a rooftop garden and is close to the office she works at as an interior designer. She goes on dates every now and then but doesn’t feel ready for something serious. She’s quietly childfree, as raising so many siblings destroyed any interest in having her own kids.
JOHN-DAVID gets his pilot’s license and a degree in aviation sciences before getting hired by a minor commercial airline. He enjoys the freedom to travel, but misses his fiancée, ABBIE, when he’s away from home for too long; at least they can FaceTime and she can talk about her days working with the residents of the nursing home she works at. Only a bit to go before their wedding.
JILL meets and falls head-over-heels for a guy who’s a bit of a jerk, and he proposes the day after her graduation from nursing school. They’ve booked and planned a wedding for their one-year anniversary before he gets cold feet, freaks out, and calls it off. She’s devastated, so she throws herself into her career and gets her CNM. It’s a few years down the road before she’s ready to dip her toe in the dating pool again. She’s had limited success so far but cautiously optimistic.
JESSA works for Walmart corporate over in the marketing department; her U of Arkansas degree paid off. She met a cute-but-doofy freshman boy during her last year of college on a night out with her sorority sisters; they got married a little over a year later, to a lot of shock and questions. Luckily, BEN is more than content to be the house husband who helps care for their three kids, juggles cooking and cleaning, and takes the family dog for walks while his wife is at work. On the three days of the week the boys are in daycare, he works online for his last few credits towards his English and political science degrees.
JINGER moved out to New York City to go to art school almost immediately after she finished high school; her decision to get a relatively small, minimalistic tattoo of a heart on her wrist was the straw that broke the camel’s back with her parents. She dyes her hair blond and black and there’s even a lavender-highlights phase at one point, but luckily hair color doesn’t matter for a degree in photojournalism. She still brags about that one time she dated a soccer star for a hot second, but nobody recognizes the name “Vuolo” when she brings him up.
JOE got a decent-paying construction job straight out of high school; he’s never going to be a millionaire but he does save when he can, because he’s determined to finish renovating the last few rooms of the fixer-upper he bought for his growing family since he just found out he and his wife, KENDRA, are expecting their first child a couple of months ago. Thank goodness the daycare she works at has a steep employee discount!
JOSIAH graduated last spring with his degree in economics, but it’s the theatre minor that’s been opening more doors for him. So far, life in Little Rock is good but lonely - he’s only had two serious-ish relationships in his life, and though he doesn’t talk to his first ex, he’s surprisingly good friends with LAUREN, the other. Maybe they’ll reconnect after she finishes college?
JOY is a bit more distant from her family, given the fact she refused to wear a dress or skirt ever again after the age of thirteen. The relationship is strained, but her parents are proud of her in their own way, even if they disagree with her decision to follow in Joe’s footsteps going into construction management. Her on-again, off-again relationship with his buddy AUSTIN is a bit of a sore spot for Joe, but he just wants them both happy.
JED is currently studying political science and involved with student government, College Republicans, and one of the sketchier fraternities on campus. His twin, JER, visits him on campus occasionally but is busy trying to get his lawn care business off the ground.
