He sits on the couch with a guitar in hand, strumming one song while humming another. He wears grey, always grey—a grey shirt, greyish jeans, and grey socks. Even his shoes are blackish grey. His favorite color isn’t even grey, but that’s all he wears. A childish smile plays on his face as he plays his guitar, he plays the same songs over and over. He says he only likes two bands, Mumford and Sons and Nothing but Thieves. Their songs have become a part of his image, a reminder of who he is. The man with dark flowing hair, bright blue eyes, and a guitar glued to his hip. Donevan Kain Vanslyke, is 25 years old. Born in Gainesville, Georgia, raised in Alaska, only to return to Georgia to follow his passion for music. Meeting him was an event.

“Donevan Kain,” His characteristic childish grin rising on his face, “Well, it’s Donevan Kain Vanslyke, but Kain sounds cooler.” He sips his vegan hot chocolate; oat milk is his favorite. “I’ll call you Wheels.” That nickname has been stuck since, of course, because of the wheelchair. The first thing he said at the first meetup was, “you’re shorter than I imagined,” his laugh so contagious, you have to smile with him. So, wheels it was, wheels with the wheelchair. He gives everyone nicknames, refusing to use their real names if at all avoidable. He creates nicknames based on a characteristic of the person, be it personality, physical, or an extension of themselves. His nickname is Donny Boy because he is so boy-like, but it should be Mr. Grey.

Donevan is imaginative. When he is up to something it is always obvious because his smile gives him away. Like a child, he smiles when he is planning something—a surprise gift, a vacation, a cross-country move. He is spontaneous, and his plans are created quickly and brought to life just as fast. Planning the move back to his roots in Alaska, he wanted to make a stop in Florida to Disney’s Star Wars Park, and

Universal’s Harry Potter.

“So... Star Wars,” He would say this often in blank spaces in a conversation as a way to ease the awkwardness of a pause, but a month before the move home it was, “So... Star Wars, let's go.” He did the thing with his hands that he always does when he is excited— almost like jazz hands—fully extended fingers, shaking back and forth, a tell-tale sign he was excited and that “no” was not an acceptable answer. So, the week before moving there he was, dressed up as someone from that world—not wearing grey for once. While there he did his hand thing more than he ever had before, and anytime there was music he would do the “Connor Mason dance.” The dance, named after the singer from Nothing but Thieves, comprised of bent knees together, a low and rhythmic butt shake, and arms flailing behind him. This is NOT how Connor Mason actually danced, but Donevan paid homage to him through this dance.

Moving to Alaska with one fully loaded car spilling at the seams, two people, and a dog was a hassle. But Donevan is the best person to have on a road trip. He would play his two bands on the radio and sing—no scream along with them. He invented new games to play on those sixteen-hour drives between hotels. He ensured that there was no boring part of the long drive.

Donevan is an amazing friend. He knows how to be supportive, fun, or comforting at the right times. It’s hard not to smile when he is around with his childish smile, impromptu concerts, and his okay dance moves. Donevan Kain really does sound cooler though.

                                                                  
TONIE STEWART is a senior pursuing a degree in English. Tonie Stewart is a transfer student to the University of Alaska Anchorage and is a member of UAA's Sigma Tau Delta Chapter. They also serve as the Far West Region Student Representative of Sigma Tau Delta.