The Island Experiment

Chapter 7 Left Behind

            It seemed much hotter, standing over a boiling pot of dirty clothes.
     Amy wiped away sweat from her face, with her shirt bottom,"to think I was to lazy, to do my laundry back home. My mom not only did my laundry, she picked up the dirty clothes from my bedroom floor. She hung up my clothes, and put them away, neatly folded into my dresser."
     Julie wrung sea water, from the pile of clothes next to boil, "the good old days, when our rooms cleaned themselves. "
     Page carried a bucket of clothes, she just scrubbed, with salt water and sand, "dream on girls, our old life is gone. Our mothers never would have had children, if they did laundry like this. In prison they have washers and dryers, food, showers and toilets. I would rather be there, or back at shed camp."
     Lizy hung cooled clothes, on the twine rope," I never thought I would miss shed camp, but we actually had more free time there. Cat pushed us sure, but there was always plenty to eat. We never did laundry, Cat and her girls did it. In fact, they did far more work than we did."
     Amy lifted the hot clothes with a small branch, putting them into a bucket, "speaking of Cat, I sure hope she has pity on us. Kevin and Ronny are worn out, from scuba diving."
    

            Jake watched his ex as he  gobbled down, his third bowl of stew,"you know there are plenty of vegetables, in the garden Steve. The tops, peels and tomato slices, we planted, are little plants now. By the time the garden is empty, ten times it's harvest will be mature. The chicken feed is nearly gone, but they will eat bugs and what we peel."
     Steve ate the last spoonful of stew, "all we had left to eat was fish. Kevin and Ronny scuba dive, three times each per day. Seven people can't get full, on little fish, eating once per day. I feel guilty, but I couldn't stop eating. "
     Jake handed him a peach,"don't you dare feel guilty Steve, all of your group, should have came with you. I would have fed them, but not one scrap of food, will be carried to them."
          A rooster pecked Jake's shoe, he picked it up, rubbing the little head against his cheek," I won't let them eat you little Chance. "
     Steve took a bite of the peach, " I wouldn't leave you, if you begged me to Jake. "
     Jake put the rooster onto the ground,"when they show up, and they will. Am I to act like we're just friends? "
     Steve threw, the mostly eaten peach near the rooster, "no, we will tell them the truth." Little Chance pecked at the peach fiercely.

            Amy was mad,"it's been two days, Jake isn't coming back. You're to big of a chicken, to kill a chicken Kevin.  I set them free, it's there best chance to eat"
     Kevin stood his ground, " you're to big of a chicken Amy, to face Cat. Me and Ronny are going back, and we're not going to drag, any useless girl stuff with us."
     "Julie, page and Lizy , are going with us. Good luck being here all alone, bossing no one but yourself. "

              Within one hour the entire group, including Amy were walking on the trail. Each person pulled a suitcase, and had a back pack on their back
     There was nothing to eat along the way. The thought of food awaiting, at the end of their journey, urged them to walk faster. The girls grew tired after forty minutes, sitting on the path.
     Kevin stood above them,"rest to long, and you all four will die here. Leave your suit cases behind, they're slowing you down."
     Amy stood up,"come on girls, we are as strong as any boy." Their pace was slower, but they did not rest again. The group drank water, while walking.
    

            Jake was kissing his boy friend by the fire, when the group walked up behind them.
      Amy crossed her arms,"so this explains why Steve never came back,"
     Kevin threw up his arms,"really dude, you left us to starve because of him. Where is Chance and Cat? We need to beg them, to return here."
     Steve addressed his group," I couldn't carry back enough food for all of you, even if I wanted to. Jake wasn't about to let me try. As far as Chance and Cat, they aren't here. When Jake came back here, from beach camp, no one was here. They didn't leave a note, they just left. "
     Lizy nearly shook from fear,"my cousin Lenerd, would never leave me stranded on this island. Lenerd might not always like me, but he always loves me. Someone abducted them all, I just  know it. First the little boy goes missing, then six others from the shed group."
     Page looked around," they'll come for us next." She clung to Julie.
     Ronny dropped his backpack, " I knew we should have stayed on the beach. "
         Jake spoke softly,"it's no safer at the beach than here. I've been here for weeks, no one has abducted me. There is always, a rational explanation for everything, we just don't know why."
     Steve took his boyfriend's hand," we are a couple, not friends. We were in love, before we came to the island.  There is plenty to eat, and better shelters. Jake will teach us everything he knows about survival."
      Ronny wasn't shy,"I just have one thing to say about that. When do we eat?"

           
                          The beach group gorged on fruit, then took a two hour nap. The shed floors, were so much softer than bamboo.
     Jake made two pots of vegetables stew, he added a rooster he killed. Not his pets, Little Chance and Little Cat. The campers were so tired, they were awakened when dinner was ready.
     Kevin ate quickly, "thank you Jake, you saved our lives."
     Ronny spoke with a full mouth, "I'll second that Kevin.
     Amy stared at a hunk of chicken on her spoon,"yummy chicken. " it was in her mouth, before she was done speaking.
     Page didn't take the time to talk, giving a thumbs up. Her spoon never stopped going in to her mouth.
     Julie didn't look up from her bowl," thanks. " her teeth worked faster, than she could think.
     Lizy's manners were nonexistent, she burped loudly, " room for more food. "

            Jake and Steve ate half a bowl of stew, making sure the others were full. Needless to say, both pots of stew were completely gone.
                                

            The she shed was warm, no bugs could get in. Cat, Jess and Sara's clothes still hung on nails, on the walls. All of their personal things were still there.
       Amy put the blanket under her chin," it feels like a ghost will pop up any minute. "
     Page closed her eyes," frankly I'm to tired to care."
     Julie put her head under the blanket, " it creeps me out too Amy. "
     Lizy yawned," I'm just glad, we no longer have to share, a shelter with the guys. After all that food, it's going to smell so bad. Ronny sure can cut the cheese. Kevin's farts, are silent but deadly."
     Page giggled, " everyone farts Lizy."
     Lizy responded," everyone knows boys stink worse than girls. Their pits smell worse, their poop smells worse, their farts smell worse. "
     Julie complained, " be quiet Lizy your grossing me out. "
      Lizy pulled up her blanket, " at least I made you forget about ghosts."

            Kevin laid on his back looking around,"is anyone else, creeped out, by all the shed campers stuff ?"
     Ronny turned on to his side,"kinda, but then I thought, they're not coming back. It's not stealing, if in the lost and found. They're definitely lost, and we found their stuff."
      Kevin hit him with his pillow, "Ronny you idiot, it's not the same. Go to sleep. "
      Steve held the warm hand in his own,"Jake you made everyone so happy today, most of all me. You are the new leader, rather you wanted to be or not. "
     Jake squeezed his hand,"as long as no one tries to kill, little Chance, or little Cat. I will thump them, if they so much as harm one feather, on their tiny heads. "
     Steve closed his eyes, completely content and happy. He listened to the breathing of the person, he loved most in the world. A perfect moment, that was until Ronny farted.