Character Bios-Robert and Mary Barden--REVISED

Robert Barden

Robert Barden was born on August 17^th, 1954 in Charlestown, Boston.  Robert was an only child and had very over-bearing parents.  He excelled in academics because his parents would force him to study every night without seeing his friends until the weekend.  His parents had aspirations of Robert becoming a doctor, lawyer or high-ranking political official.  Robert knew that his parents only did these things because they wanted him to live a successful and happy life.  Robert was a relatively popular kid in high school.  He loved sports but was never great at them.  Robert just always wanted to do whatever it took to keep his future looking bright.

 It was at Charlestown High School where Robert’s life was turned upside down.  Robert’s father, Robert Sr., was a very successful investment banker in East Boston.  On March 5^th, 1970, Robert Sr., was arrested and later sentenced to 28 years in prison for money laundering, extortion, and embezzlement.  Robert could not believe what happened when he received the phone call in school.  Robert could not get over what his father did and the fact that he now had to grow up without him.  Robert’s emotion took a toll on his grades in school and graduated with a 2.3 GPA.  He went to trade school for two years where he was able to get a job with the MBTA.  Robert Sr. is still alive and living in a retirement home in Charlestown.  He is a very healthy man at 89 years old and although Robert has not spoken to him since he picked him up from prison and checked him into a retirement home, he told Carl the story and Carl would visit him in prison and now in the retirement home.  

            Robert met his wife Mary in 1986 at O’Dools, an Irish Pub in the heart of Boston.  Robert and Mary were married in 1989 and moved to Boston.
Robert and his second son Carl were very close during Carl's childhood and adolescent years.  Robert pushed Carl into playing sports and staying ahead in school.  Robert would spend hours everyday with Carl playing basketball after work.  He became somewhat distant from his older son Bryce during his childhood because he was not into the sports world, he was an academic.  Robert always stressed to Carl about keeping his body in shape once he realized Carl had a bright future in basketball.  Carl would always tend to shrug off this advice because it was too hard to keep up with a strict diet and constant stretching and working out.  Robert saw that all Carl wanted to do was play basketball without putting in 100% effort off the court.  After Carl's career ending ACL tear, Robert and Carl's relationship was strained.  Robert would constantly remind Carl that he would have never suffered that tear if he had listened to him and kept his body in shape.
Robert decided to kick Carl out of his house after a year off from basketball and work.  Although they do not hate each other, Robert will always be disappointed in Carl because he knows the injury he sustained was Carl's fault.  Robert became closer with Bryce from this incident because Bryce became a big success in law which made Robert proud.  

Mary Barden

            Mary Barden was born on October 3^rd, 1957 in West Islip, Long Island. 

She grew up with one younger sister Linda.  Mary lived a very ordinary life; her parents worked together in owning a bakery.  Mary attended West Islip High School where she was an all-state lacrosse player.  She had very good grades in high school as well as a long-standing relationship with Brandon.  Mary and Brandon dated throughout high school and then came across the dreaded long distance relationship. 

            Mary went to Northeastern University where she studied nursing and Brandon went to Miami U to play baseball.  Mary and Brandon ended their relationship in the second semester of freshmen year after realizing there are more fish in the sea for each other. 

            Mary graduated from Northeastern with her nursing degree and decided to stay in Boston after receiving a job at Boston Medical.  Her nursing career got hectic quickly where she had some weeks of working close to 60 hours.  In the midst of the craziness she was able to get a night out where she and a couple of friends went to O’Dool’s Irish Pub.  There she met Robert Barden who she later married in 1989.
Mary is very close with both of her sons.  Mary is the typical pushy, nosey, and loving mother to Carl and Bryce.  She is very overbearing at times which tend to anger Bryce and Carl but they know that it's because she loves them and they love her.  Carl became closer with his mother after his injury because she continued to support him with whatever he did.  She would take Carl's side in an argument every time Carl and Robert got into one.  Mary wants nothing but the best for her kids and they both see that which is why they have a great relationship.  Mary although she loves Carl, does slightly favor Bryce because she was closer to him when growing up.  Mary did not want Carl to move out without a job and a very shaky financial status.  She fought with Robert for days but in the end Robert convinced her it was the best thing for them and Carl.  Mary always calls Carl and asks if he needs anything.  She loves delivering him food and mailing him items he may need.  Mary never wants her kids to really grow up.