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FICTION > NOVEL

Begun by Jessica at age 10 and continued through to age 12 when enrolled at Cameron School in Burnaby, B.C.   Unfinished and unpublished.   1975-77.   Reproduced entirely in small capitals in accordance with the author's original manuscript including original punctuation, and spelling errors (marked*).


BY JESSICA

CHAPTER NAVIGATION BAR
CHAPTER 1  ·  CHAPTER 2  ·  CHAPTER 3  ·  CHAPTER 4  ·  CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6  ·  CHAPTER 7  ·  CHAPTER 8  ·  CHAPTER 9  ·  CHAPTER 10  ·  NOTES

NOVEL
(otherwise untitled)
CHAPTER 7

"Alright you kids"92 the man said as he clapped his hands together, "The first thing we gotta do is find food! There's some coconuts on some trees and bannans* on others."

"But I'm thirsty!" cried Jill.

Panic stricken Melissa said "Yes, and the water around us is salt water!!"

"Yes" he remarked, "I realize that so we'll have to find fresh water, well, let's get going."

The man started to walk into the tropical jungle and the children followed reluctantly. The heat was drenching Melissa with sweat as they wandered through the jungle.

"Alreight, let's seperate* and I trust you won't try to run away with those nasty sharks surrounding the island" the man remarked.93

"Now I want Melissa and Jill to go in one direction, Patricia in another direction and I'll go in the other direction."

Several minutes later Melissa yelled out, "Water, over here ... quick!"

It was a very small stream that did not have a lot of water. Melissa cupped her hands and sipped the water. The sweetness of the water was refreshing to her dry, chapped lips. The puppy, who was being accompainied* by Patricia came dashing up and gulped down some water. Patricia bent down and tried to drink the water but could not, so she did the same as Melissa. Jill and the man also did the same as Melissa,

After the man finished drinking he stood up and said, "We will ration this water because of it's [sic] scaresity*94, now we must find a place on this island to settle for the night."

He started walking to the edge of the island. He motioned the children to follow him and they did. As they walked there was silence, no conversation, just silence.

Jill always stuck close to Melissa but95 Patricia being an espeically* independent type walked ahead and the man led them. The puppy trotted happily96 behind everyone.

The man stopped at a sandy spot at the small beach-like edge. He nodded and turned to the children.

"We shall rest here for the night, but tomorrow morning we shall make a shelter."

"But why, it is warm here, no rain comes." Patricia looked confused.

"Oh, but that is where you are wrong, it rains, not too often but it does rain here" he said in a sauve* tone.

"The puppy is hungry and so am I!" Jill replied.

"Yes, we must find food sir" Melissa looked up at the tall, handsome man.

The man was quiet for a moment, he was amazed at anyone calling him sir. He then spoke up, "Well as I was saying before, there are bananas and coconuts and from the coconuts we can produce97 coconut milk and coconut water. There are also berries."

"But we cannot live on only fruit!" Patricia remarked.

"Yes, you're right, but there are some non-poisoness* snakes on this island" he said thoughtfully. Patricia shook at the thought of eating snakes and wished she hadn't spoken.

"Yuch!" said Jill in disgust.

Melissa suddenly felt very frightened and said, "You mean there's poiseness* snakes on this island?!"

"Oh yes and there might98 be many other deadly things on this island, so you'd better get used to it" he said purposly* meaning to frighten them.

Jill ran into Melissa's arms, crying and Patricia just stared into space with wide, scared eyes. Patricia99 regretted asking about100 the snakes and she felt guitly* because it frightened Jill101

Now let us collect the food, I'm sure you three are hungry."

Quite suddenly Melissa fell to her knees and buried her head in the sand. Her words were quiet but it was possible to hear her say, "Oh please let us go, please."

The nervous102 children stared at Melissa in amazement. The man showed no signs of guilt, just impatience.

Melissa had always been quite stable and rarely cryed,* so this scene was a first for her.

Patricia went to her side and stroked her back. Gradually Melissa stopped crying and quietly sat up. Jill stared at the man, wondering how he would act. The annoyance that spread over his sun-scorched face dissapeared* and was replaced by reproach. toward Melissa.

"C'mon now" he soothed, "I certainly hope you don't cry a lot."

Melissa got up and brushed the rough sand off her face.

"O.K., you three haven't eaten for a day, so I suppose you're too weak to do much of anything ..."

"Yes, Raggady*-Ann and I are both very hungry" Jill said seriously.

"Oh, you and that silly doll of yours" Patricia said as she looked down at the little girl.

"May be it's only a doll but I can still pretend it's a real person."

"Alright, we're getting off the subject of food" he reffereed.*

"I'll get some coconuts because I just happen to be an expert at climbing coconut103 trees, so you girls104 rest."

Patricia, who was reliefed*105 knowing that she was not up against any hard work, settled comfortably in the sand. Jill played in the sand and Melissa walked back and forth, too restless106 to do anything else.

About half an hour later the man came back with four coconuts.

"Wa-la" he said proudly showing the coconuts, "One for each of us."

"No107" Jill remarked, "What about Whitey?"

"Where is that dog anyhow?" Patricia questioned.

Just at that moment Whitey came in dragging a barely alive, flying fish.

"Ooooh, Gross!" Jill half-shrieked.

"My god, I've got a dog whose playmates are dead fish and a 7 year old that has a big mouth" the man mumbled.

"I heard that" Jill said.108

"Seven and a half."

"Hey, since Whitey brought in that fish does this mean we won't have to feast on snakes?" Patricia asked hopefully,

"Maybe" he answered.

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