Adopted

Pirate Steve was adopted by Carl And Avis Hassel from (at that time) Syracuse, New York. From the one sheet of paper I have, this took place several months after Theodore Elliott was born. Where baby Theodore spent his time from birth to adoption is a complete mystery.

Carl & Avis renamed Theodore to Stephen Richard Hassel, and so the shell of a persona was born. They were loving parents and gave Stephen everything they possibly could. Despite their efforts, Stephen grew quite distant and angry during adolescence. Thankfully, he grew up a bit and reconciled with the loving Carl not long ago. Avis died years earlier, but no doubt looks on with a big smile from Heaven where she certainly resides today. Of course, the death of Stephen's adopted mother triggered severe abandonment issues that were completely misunderstood at the time. But that is another story...


"The adopted child is unlikely to really believe she is lovable," Joe Soll, 'Adoption Healing'