Chapter Twenty Eight
Aunts And Uncles
Kevin wasn't backing down, he'd had enough,"you're wrong on this one bro, your turn was yesterday Ronny."
Ronny stood his ground,"dude you're wrong it was three days ago Kevin."
Alex straightened them out,"you're both wrong it's my turn."
Sammy was mad,"you're all wrong, I've been waiting since yesterday for my turn."
Amy sat down next to the usual fifth in the weird circle of guys,"Tye, what are they arguing about this time?'
Tye pointed at the guys,"each of them thinks it's their turn to babysit JR."
Amy stood full of anger,"no way are those idiots taking aunt Amy's turn."
Amy got into the argument thinking that she was right.
Tye put up his feet on the chair close to his,"I would suggest a written schedule, but I would have no entertainment."
Cat picked up her son,"time for your nap JR."
Cat walked away,JR waved goodbye to his still arguing aunts and uncles.
Tye laughed,"I can't believe they're still arguing with the reason for it gone, this is too good."
Chance picked up his son smelling his freshly bathed hair,"nothing smells better than JR after his bath, to think that I missed it breaks my heart."
Cat combed her son's thick black hair,"he has changed so much since he was born, and I missed the two biggest milestones, walking and talking. My heart is breaking too Chance."
Chance noticed a spot on the back of his son's left thigh,"you didn't tell me that JR has a birthmark Cat."
Cat had a frightened look in her eyes,"what are you talking about? JR doesn't have a birthmark, that is not our son."
Chance whispered,"don't tell the others Cat, this is obviously a test to see how we react.If we don't play along, our son might well end up here for real."
At the very moment JR spoke his first word,"mama, mama."
Kevin held the toddler,"I'm not your mamma kid I'm uncle Kevin."
Sammy sat nearby waiting his turn,"JR said his first word this morning to Cat mamma,"
Kevin put the squirming boy into the playpen,"don't tell Cat Sammy but I was the first JR spoke to, he called me mamma, a few hours later he called Ronny mamma."
Kevin fist bumped his friend,"I always knew that you had a feminine side Sammy."
Sammy patted his friend on the back,"look who's talking mamma."
Chance stood at the altar that he built the day before,"we have a bible and it's Sunday,so here goes. I'm thankful Lord for all that we have, I'm grateful for everyone here and back at home. It was hardship that was our true blessing, because it brought us closer, making us more than friends. If we get rescued or not, we have earned this island family, we will be together always. God keeps us surviving, and it's in his name we ask, to keep on doing so."
Jake stood at the altar next,"I was made to go to Sunday school as a child, but it never stuck. My teen years were parties, girls and fun. Maybe this island was my punishment for my sins, or maybe it was my reward for being a good person where it counts. I humbly ask the Lord to get us home, if it's his will I know it will happen."
Cat stood at the altar next,"I want my son to go to church, rather it's back in civilization or here, I know God can hear us anywhere. Please God take us all back home, I humbly ask amen."
The group all silently prayed, tears running down their cheeks.
Amy baked brownies mixing the oil, eggs and water into the powdered icing,"it's hard to believe that JR is one year old today,he likes brownies more than cake,he's going to be so surprised.He's helping his dada build a swing set,he looked so cute using the tape measure. What a smart boy he is, just like his dada."
Cat removed the brownies from the oven,"I'm so glad the guys rebuilt the oven, like everything else the hurricane destroyed it. The crate wood made a good roof and door, for me and Chance's love shack. It was a great honeymoon cabin, but with a wooden roof and door it's much warmer. I think the guys worked faster helping Chance,because JR's crying kept them awake."
Amy sat down,"I love your son, but it's nice having you all to myself Cat."
Page put two chickens onto the spit,and wrapped potatoes
in foil putting them into the fire.
Julie cut vegetables for a salad,"I'm glad that we have something to celebrate, making a big dinner is harder but well worth it. We now have so many new seeds we didn't before, including flowers which are now fully grown. I'm going to pick flowers for the table, JR loves the colors."
Lizy was finishing her present,"Jake saved every rabbit fur, Kyle knew how to stretch and dry them. I stuffed the fur with feathers and stitched it up,there it is a stuffed bunny for JR on his birthday."
Julie bragged about her gift,"my cell phone still has sixty percent battery, I'm going to take pictures at the party, that's my gift to JR. When we go home I'll send Cat and everyone the pics, we will treasure them always."
The party was a huge hit, the swing set wasn't finished, but the story of building it was told several times.
The stuffed bunny turned out to be a bad idea, JR chewed on it getting a mouth full of hair.JR fed himself having chocolate all over his face and hands. The dinner was perfect being eaten
slowly savoring the conversation as much as the food. The flowers on the table attracted bees and had to be removed. It was decided to cook a large meal every Sunday, to have something to look forward to.
Tye spoke alone to the twin,"Alex do you remember the island coordinates?"
Jake said,"yes I do exactly because I was so paranoid about not finding it.Why do you want to know Tye."
Tye explained,"as a joke my father gave me a compass for my sixteenth birthday, so I could always find my way home. I take the compass on every trip I've ever been on since getting it, for good luck.I could make a sail for the raft,if just I go I can fill the raft with enough food and water to last three weeks rationing it."
Alex was shocked and worried,"you don't have the return coordinates Tye, I'm not sure how you would find your way back to Australia?"
Tye tooted his own horn," my IQ makes Chance look like a toddler, I was intelligent enough to go to college in third grade.By fourth grade I began one of my many hobbies, a few months later I could read, write and speak pretty much every known language on the planet. My mathematical and astrological skills rival anyone on the planet. In short with a mere compass,your coordinates and looking at the stars, I will have no problem returning the way you came here Alex."
Alex was amazed,"Tye why did you have to go all the way through high school, if you were smart enough to graduate in the third grade?"
Tye was shocked that was his only question,"my father wouldn't allow me to jump ahead.Alex the only problem I see is keeping this a secret, from our friends but also avoiding the camp cameras. We would have to build the sail unseen, sneak it and the provisions to the beach at night. We couldn't make any noise, the speakers would hear us. Loading and launching the boat at night."
Alex thought for a moment,"I guess that giant brain of yours will figure it out."
It was far too hard keeping the secret from the four friends, Tye decided that he needed their help. The sail was built in the dark, the only light was from three candles. The supplies were carried most of the way to the beach in silence,the darkness hid them from the cameras. On the third day, all of the supplies were carried the rest of the way to the beach.The two rafts were tied together with braided vines, the sail was installed. The rafts were carried to the water, Ronny and Kevin held the raft.Alex, Sammy, and Tye, put the supplies into both of the rafts. Tye got into the raft with the sail, all four guys waded into the water walking and pushing the raft, until the water was up to their chests. Tye began paddling out to sea with both oars,the guys waved goodbye to him.
The walk back to camp was just as silent, as the walk to the beach had been. The smartest guy in the world had trusted
them all, not one truthful word would be said about Tye, the trees had eyes and ears."
Lindy didn't see her brother at breakfast,"has anyone seen my brother?"
Ronny shrugged,"I'm not your brother's keeper."
Alex fist bumped his best friend,"way to go dude bible reference."
Lindy wasn't laughing,"stop being stupid this isn't a joke. My twin is missing and no one but me cares."
Jake offered his opinion,"maybe Tye had to go.Did you check the outhouse Lindy?"
Lindy took a sip of coffee,"no I didn't think to look there."
Sammy spoke with his mouth full,"if he doesn't push one out by the time we're done eating, go check on him Lindy."
Chance sat down being handed his breakfast,"are you talking about Tye? He told me yesterday that he was heading out at dawn, something about needing a break from the group, and doing botany research."
Lindy was relieved,"my brother has many hobbies botany among them, I'm sure he will make some discoveries for his thesis. As if he needs to add anymore to his college application, all the Ivy league schools are practically fighting over him already. I just got A's while Tye went far beyond that, but I got invited to the same schools he did."
Kevin took a bite of egg,"I'm going to write a book for dummies, how to get stranded at camp."
Ronny responded,"add and stay a virgin for the rest of your life."
Kevin nearly bit his lip,"Ronny did you forget about my ninth grade girlfriend Tina Plum?"
Ronny wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin,"you were the only guy in ninth grade, Kevin that Tina didn't make out with including me."
Kevin was defensive,"bite a big one Kevin you perv,I'm not a virgin so get over it already."
Alex wouldn't be left out,"braid each others hair already and talk about boys."
Ronny flipped off the twin,"this finger is the closest you'll ever get to being laid Alex Pratt."
Alex missed Tye already, he would have enjoyed the humorous argument. Hopefully the young genius was headed in the right direction, and with any luck would be rescued. The other thoughts were blocked out, Tye being lost at sea, no shelter from storms or sharks. Possibly dying of thirst or hunger.
Sammy noticed Lindy from the first time that he met her, out of respect for her brother Tye, Sammy kept his feelings and lust to himself. Tye was now gone, probably never to be seen again, the time to act was now before him.
Sammy sat next to the cute blonde,"it's weird how two sets of twins are on the Island, for instance if you and I had a baby, it would probably be a twin like us."
Lindy wiped melted butter from her chin,"I'm not really a blonde Sammy, I just used my last box of hair dye. My hair is black just like my twin brother's, you might not think that I'm pretty, when the dye fades."
Sammy smiled at her,"I like brunettes even better, but your hair isn't why I'm attracted to you, it's every single thing about you.I wanted to tell you since the day that I met you,I'm sorry that it took so long."
Lindy was touched,"how about we be slightly more than affectionate friends? Loneliness is our worst enemy here on the Island, I would welcome your touch and warmth. Let's explore the jungle and each other."
Lindy took Sammy by the hand leading him far from camp into the jungle.
Tye was on the ocean for the second day, the sail was working perfectly, the waves were rough pushing him further in the right direction. The braided rope kept the two rafts tightly pulled together as planned. Tye only ate and drank from the supplies on the second raft. If a storm separated the rafts, Tye would be on a raft stocked full of supplies.
On the fourth day Tye uncovered the supplies using the tarp for shade. When the ocean was calm he fished with small pieces of goat cheese. The fish were easy to catch thanks to Ronny's fishing pole, but he didn't throw away the guts, skin and bones until the wind picked up,blood attracted sharks and he wanted far ahead of them.
On the seventh day Tye saw a ship in the distance, hours later he was close enough to read the name on the side of the ship. Australian cruise line.
Lindy pleaded with her boyfriend,"please help me search the jungle for Tye, it's been a week I'm worried about him Sammy. Tye pretends to be strong and fearless but he's never been any of those things."
Sammy was guilt ridden,"I promised Tye that I wouldn't tell what he was up to Lindy, just know that he's ok. Tye is the smartest of us all, he will survive. I would bet my life on it."
Lindy turned her back on her boyfriend,"I hope you like sleeping alone Samuel Pratt, because I'm never sleeping
In the same bed with you again."
Sammy was sad he lost Lindy, but when they were rescued she would forgive him. He wanted to tell her the truth, but the speakers might hear him. Lindy would most surely tell the group and that could not happen.The real reason Tye risked his life to rescue them, was that Amy was pregnant.Alex was determined to take the raft along with his pregnant girlfriend, but Tye talked him out of it. Tye convinced Alex that Tye alone had a better chance of reaching Australia.
Tye used the satellite phone he stole from the cave, calling the most important phone number he knew,"hello Edgar, we It's Tye Smalls, we need to convene the council, I need their help.The richest sons and daughters in the world, are about to combine their assets and skills."
Edgar was intrigued,"Mr President what is our target this time? Another rich a hole who thinks he's smarter and richer than you are Mr Smalls."
Tye was proud of the club he created, but even more proud of his skills playing the stock market, and the many inventions he had patents on.
Edgar the target is an island near Australia, I will text you the coordinates. I was held hostage there along with a large group of others including my twin sister Lindy. Find out everything you can about Ricardo Lopez, use our best hackers.Wire me ten thousand dollars, I have nothing at all. When I buy a cell phone, I will call the hot number. Mercenaries will be hired and our club will lay siege upon the Island Camp."