Bruce on Holiday

Bruce's story will pick up next week.
He is on holiday at the moment !

Happy New Year's to you all!

Sunday Fiction - Chapter 13

For earlier chapters go to the fiction page


The son monitored the mother’s safety and happiness over the next several weeks when finally he determined it was time to seek a way off this place. Setting off early in the morning, Bruce headed in the opposite direction of the beach. Dense bush existed, but he was sure there was something on the other side.

Mid-day he found a running stream. Gingerly he tasted the water and was shocked that it was fresh water, not the salt water that was nearer to the camp. He knew that with fresh water came different vegetation and wild life. Choosing to secure a place downstream, he camouflaged himself as well as he could and he waited.

Quite a bit of time passed before he heard them before he saw them. A sounder of wild boar approached, kicking up whatever was in their path. They reached the water’s edge, and much to Bruce’s amazement, they swiftly entered the water and appeared to be playing and swimming together. Being raised in the city, wild boar was not something Bruce was familiar with and was not sure if this was normal behavior or not.

Having their fill of water and playtime, the sounder moved on. Bruce did not see any means for capturing and or killing one of those beasts. He sat patiently awaiting other animals. Having dozed off, he was woken up by the sound of screeching. Gaining total consciousness he realized it had to be the sound of owls. They went from the soft “Hoot-hoot” to all out screeching. At that very moment he heard scurrying in the leaves around him. Uncertain what it was he gingerly stood up. Acclimating himself to the dark he began to make out the origination of the rustling.

A small family of rabbits was foraging for food under the leaves and the owls must have seen them. As one owl descended, screeching the entire plunge, the rabbits darted off in different directions. The owl honed in on a single animal and deftly swept it up in its claws. Bruce was both shocked and astounded. He’d heard this was the way of the wild, but he’d never been privy to it visually.

He had lost track of the other rabbits but he heard screeching nearby and assumed that another family member followed the same fate. Although the experience had shaken him, it gave him an idea on how to catch a rabbit. For weeks he had been eating nothing but nuts, berries, fruit and roots. His mouth watered at the thought of meat.

Bruce stayed in the same location for several days, observing the wild life and taking note of which plants and berries the animals ate off of. On the fourth day he set out his rabbit traps and stood back to watch. A few missed attempts later he had captured two rabbits. Pleased with himself he gathered his spoils and headed back towards his campsite.

Barbequed meat had never tasted as good as it did that night! Not only had he proven to himself that he could capture food, he managed to skin it and cook it as well. This was the first time in months that Bruce was happy to be alive.

He put the fire out and walked towards the beach to make sure his mother was still safe. He did not spot the fire from the distance and doubt crept into his sole. He moved quickly only to find the spot they had been in was empty. There was no sign of the people or his mother. All of the joy he had felt earlier dissipated into disappointment and self degradation. How could he have left her behind?

Hunkering down in the spot up wind of the beach location seemed to be the only solution to this dilemma. If he stayed there long enough they had to return. Right? Four nights passed with no sign of live. Bruce sank into a deep depression thinking that it was his fault his mother had vanished. Then on the fifth night all returned to frivolity and joviality on the beach. Nicole appeared happy and healthy. She again was smiling and talking to the people by her side. She remained a fixture at the head of the party.

Bruce’s relief flooded his entire being. He’d been worried for naught. She was safe and sound and more than that she was happy! Perhaps she had totally broken with reality and believed she was home amongst her family. What more could a son want for his mother than for her to be happy?

Now it was time for him to get off of this forsaken place and return to civilization.

Baby It's Cold Outside

Time to Ponder yet again.  You know the drill... I post a prompt that has multiple meanings and we get see what you write! Add you post to the linky and wait for the magic!!

I am asking everyone to come up with words they would like to ponder for the New Year.... Please email or just leave a comment .. Thanks!

(If you want to send me words that you would like us all to ponder - please feel free to do so!)

Today's word is Cold (you can always grab the prompt early by visiting the Pondering Page

The only time I enjoy (ha ha ha) having a cold is when it is cold outside and I can hunker down with blankets and hot tea. It is awful having a cold during the summer - not only do you feel lousy, but it is hot and sticky to boot!

Cold is an interesting word. I suppose it is a temperature - but is cold to me the same as cold to you? And then of course there is food that is best served cold (or does room temperature count?). Of course the head cold (why is it cold?) you don't feel so hot!

But this word is also connected to emotions. If you are aloof, emotionless, insensitive you are said to be cold hearted. Well if that were true, you wouldn't even be here!

And then of course there are cold blooded animals (sorry can't think of any right now!)

So let me know what you think of cold

Happy Pondering ... and happy holidays to you and yours. 
I will return after the first of the year with more words to ponder!

Sunday Fiction - Chapter 12

Dear readers and followers: Please accept my apologies for the lapse in time between chapters. Life has been a little hectic here. My anticipation is that this story will be published each week until its conclusion.

If you missed or want to catch up on previous chapters please view the Fiction Page

The hours turned into days and the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months. The daily routine remained stagnant. Bruce would venture off into the forested areas and bring back fruits and roots he could scrounge up. He had fashioned himself a spear and a bow and arrow; however his skills were not adequate to catch anything. It took days to dig a hole and cover it with ground coverings to see if he could trap something larger.

When the weather started turning warmer, Bruce would venture off in the beach direction. He learned how to fish and dig for crabs. His water system had grown quite effective and they were never in need of fresh water.

Nicole’s mental status never improved and every morning Bruce had to remind his mother where they were and how they got there. There had been one occasion where he returned to camp to discover that she had wandered off. It took him the greater part of the afternoon and early evening to locate her. She was sitting on the beach watching the waves.

“Mom, you can’t just wander off like this,” He scolded her.

“Oh Bruce! I decided to go the beach. It is such a beautiful day. I told your father to meet us here and we could have a bonfire together.”

Thinking quickly, Bruce said, “Mom, I just spoke with Dad and he is not going to make it before sunset. He is stuck at work.”

“Oh sure he is!” She exclaimed. “That man has more excuses not to spend time with his family than anyone I know. His work has always come first in his life and the family has always been second or even third.”

“I am sure that he would love to be here right now,” Bruce answered. “But some things cannot be avoided.”

“Bruce, I never told you this before, but it is time you knew. Your father is so absorbed with work that even missed your birth. And it wasn’t so much that he missed the actual birth as that no one could even locate him for two days. He claimed that he was in a meeting, but no one we spoke with had seen him. I have had this feeling for quite some time that your father has been hiding something from me. Now that he has missed this special occasion as well, I am sure of it.

“If I have ever asked you of anything before, please consider this request the most important. Please find out what your father has been hiding.”

Bruce wrapped his mom in a hug and gently said, “I will.”

One week later Bruce came back to camp to discover that Nicole was missing again. He retraced his steps from the previous week, thinking she had gone back to the same spot on the beach, but she wasn’t there. When the daylight evaporated he began to panic. He circled back to the camp numerous times, looping through the forest, the beach and down by the cliffs. He could not locate her. He looked out at the ocean and said, “Mom, where are you?” It was then that he saw a light down the beach.

Bruce doubled back to the camp, just to make sure she wasn’t there, and then headed towards the light. He had no idea what it was or where it was coming from. He also realized that he had not ventured down to the shore at dark before so for all he knew it had been there the entire time they had been stranded.

As he approached the illumination, he heard chanting. Nothing that he could make out, but it was definitely human in nature. He moved away from the shore and headed towards the cover above it. Walking cautiously, as he did not want to make any noise, he soon saw the embers from a fire flashing in the sky. He peered over the ridge to see a huge fire blazing. There were several people dancing around the fire, chanting in some language he did not recognize. All of the people, men and women alike, were naked and had their faces painted with white markings. Seated behind the fire he saw a man with a necklace made of shells. He also had white markings on his face, but his were different from the dancers. Seated next to him was a younger man with similar markings and necklace constructed of smaller shells. Then next to this man he saw his mother.

Nicole was smiling and talking to the man to her left. Bruce had not seen her smile is such a long time it took him by surprise. She did not seem to be in any distress or danger. He watched for a while longer and decided she was safe and went back to the shelter for the night. The following morning he went back to the same spot and there was no sign of any life. Whoever had occupied that space the evening before had retreated into their day time abodes.

Bruce remained near that spot throughout the day; hunting and foraging as he went. He discovered a different type of fruit on that area of the island. It was bright purple with a thick outer shell. The only reason he knew it was fruit is that he saw one piece on the ground that had split open. The inside of the fruit was a green melon like substance with large purple seeds. He watched ants and bugs crawling all over it and surmised that it must be sweet. He found a whole piece and carefully opened it. Pulling it closer to his nose to smell it he was overwhelmed with a fruity essence he had never experienced before. Carefully scooping out a piece and placing it in his mouth he was overcome with sensations on his tongue he was unfamiliar with. His tongue had literally come alive! He continued to gather more pieces of fruit, storing them in a safe place for his retreat.

As the sunlight began to diminish, he heard rustling nearby. Taking cover he watched as the gathering from the previous evening reconvened. Nicole came skipping down a path, laughing and chatting away. She was not restrained in any manner; therefore Bruce decided she was indeed safe. She certainly was happier with her captors than she had been in the shelter with him.

Once again Bruce returned to the shelter for the night. He thought long and hard about what to do. With Nicole not relying on him for food and shelter he had the opportunity to explore more of the island and see if there was a way off. But there was a major part of him that did not want to abandon his mother.

Book Review: The Borzoi Killings

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes only.

The Borzoi Killings is set in the Hamptons amongst the rich and even richer. It delves into the underbelly that exists there: drugs, sex, murder, police corruption and extreme indulgences.  The human factor is only partially discussed.

This author is a famous attorney; therefore much of the discussions revolve around court room drama and the fate of the defendant.

It was a great read up until the last two chapters. I felt as if there was a thread missing to jump to the conclusions that were the result of the end. There were also many other threads left dangling throughout the book.

I would recommend this book anyway, just expect the ending to disappoint.

There’s something rotten in Easthampton…

Renowned Defense Attorney Concocts Exciting Legal Thriller

Astor+Blue Editions is thrilled to release respected defense attorney Paul Batista’s latest thriller, The Borzoi Killings: a daring novel with addicting legal drama and a shocking twist ending.  (ISBNs: 978-1-938231-99-5 paperback, 978-1-941286-00-5 ePub, 978-1-941286-01-2 ePDF; list price $14.95 paperback, $5.99 eBook; pub date November 10^th, 2014.)

Batista is a veteran not only in the practice of law but also in writing brilliant legal thrillers. His first two books, Death’s Witness and Extraordinary Rendition, have been critically acclaimed and have established tremendous rapport with readers. The Borzoi Killings is no exception to audiences’ high expectations. Set in the elite, exclusive Easthampton, this novel mixes all the twists of sensational courtroom drama with all the “dirty little secrets” of the Hampton lifestyles: lavish parties, sex, drugs, corruption, and more.

When the 10^th richest man in the world is brutally murdered along with his prized Borzoi dogs in a luxurious East Hampton beach house, only one man is suspected of committing the crime: Juan Suarez, a handsome, charismatic—and illegal—Mexican immigrant who worked for the victim.

Now, renowned trail lawyer Raquel Rematti must take on the defense of the man the media has dubbed, "The Blade of the Hamptons." Not only must she take on one of the wealthiest families in the country, she must protect Suarez and herself from ruthless people bent on lethal revenge, while straddling the dangerous line between concerned involvement and forbidden passion for her client.

##

About the Author

Paul Batista, novelist and television personality, is one of the most widely known trial lawyers in the country. As a trial attorney, he specializes in federal criminal litigation. As a media figure, he is known for his regular appearances as guest legal commentator on a variety of television shows including, Court TV, CNN, HLN and WNBC. He’s also appeared in the HBO movie, You Don't Know Jack, starring Al Pacino. These contacts will be used in promotion.

A prolific writer, Batista authored the leading treatise on the primary federal anti-racketeering statute, Civil RICO Practice Manual, which is now in its third edition (Wiley & Sons, 1987; Wolters Kluwer, 2008). He has written articles for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The National Law Journal.

Batista's debut novel, Death's Witness, was awarded a Silver Medal by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). Batista is a graduate of Bowdoin College, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and Cornell Law School. He’s proud to have served in the United States Army.

Paul Batista lives in New York City and Sag Harbor, New York.

##

Advanced Praise

“The Borzoi Killings is one fine book indeed, keeping you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Paul Batista surprises you again and then all over again…right up to the last page. Hold on to your hat – you’re in for a great ride!” (Rikki Klieman, Legal Analyst; author of Fairy Tales Can Come True)

“Paul Batista has done it again. Through the eyes of criminal defense attorney Raquel Rematti, you’ll see the criminal justice system laid bare. The book is truly 'shock and awe.' A must read.” (Lis Wiehl, New York Times Bestselling Author)

“The Borzoi Killings is Paul Batista’s newest entry into the world of high-powered murder/coutroom mysteries. From the brutal murder that leaps off of the first pages, through the twists and turns of the investigation, and the drama of the trial, Batista channels an insider’s knowledge of crime nad punishment, together with a craftsman’s creation of compelling characters, into a page-turning, thrilling, and ultimately shocking journey. A must read!” (Jack Ford, author of The Walls of Jericho, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning television journalist)

You Can't Handle this!

Time to Ponder yet again.  You know the drill... I post a prompt that has multiple meanings and we get see what you write! Add you post to the linky and wait for the magic!!

(If you want to send me words that you would like us all to ponder - please feel free to do so!)

Today's word is Handle (you can always grab the prompt early by visiting the Pondering Page

I find that this word is very interesting. You can handle a situation, and there are handles on cupboards, pots, drawers, etc.

To handle a situation is a verb. Honestly I believe it shows the true character of a person by the way he/she handles extreme situations. Are they calm? Sullen? Extroverted? Belligerent?

And then of course back in the CB Radio days a person's name was their 'handle.'

But what I find extraordinarily interesting is how many different types of handles there are:
Here are just a few:

Have fun handling this word today!

Happy Pondering

Round to it

Time to Ponder yet again.  You know the drill... I post a prompt that has multiple meanings and we get see what you write! Add you post to the linky and wait for the magic!!

(If you want to send me words that you would like us all to ponder - please feel free to do so!)

Today's word is Round (you can always grab the prompt early by visiting the Pondering Page

It completely slipped my mind that today was Thursday and I never got around to writing my post.

My life has felt like I'm going round in circles just trying to keep up with everything.

Hope you all have a great day!

A merry go round goes round, and then of course a ball is round, but what other kinds of rounds can you come up with?

Happy Pondering

I feel like stuffing...

Time to Ponder yet again.  You know the drill... I post a prompt that has multiple meanings and we get see what you write! Add you post to the linky and wait for the magic!!

(If you want to send me words that you would like us all to ponder - please feel free to do so!)

Today's word is Stuffing (you can always grab the prompt early by visiting the Pondering Page

I know that there are many people who enjoy stuffing many times during the year; however my family is not one of those. The only time we havs stuffing is when I am stuffing a bird; even though two of my children prefer the stuffing that is cooked in the casserole right next to the bird and one enjoys the stuffing from inside - I also prefer the stuffing that actually stuffed the bird. This year our stuffing will be delayed by a couple of days because my daughter and son-in-law just go done stuffing all of their belongings into boxes and suitcases and are stuffing themselves into a tiny plane seat to fly for many, many hours to return to the states for good.

It is hard not to think of the sofa stuffing, chair stuffing, stuffed animal stuffing, and other stuffed items. Has anyone figured out why we have so much stuff? and is that stuff what it used for stuffing?

I wish all my American/Canadian friends a Happy Thanksgiving (yes I know Canada celebrates early!) and all my 'other country' friends, I wish you all a happy fall season - (or spring if you're on the other side of the equator).

Happy Pondering!

Orange you glad?

Time to Ponder yet again.  You know the drill... I post a prompt that has multiple meanings and we get see what you write! Add you post to the linky and wait for the magic!!

(If you want to send me words that you would like us all to ponder - please feel free to do so!)

Today's word is Orange (you can always grab the prompt early by visiting the Pondering Page

This word popped into my mind because I was trying to teach my grandson Ryan colors  --- he already knows what an orange is to eat, but I'm not sure how he knows that the color is orange. And then to make matters even worse, the inside and the outside are not the same color. So it made me ponder how a color and a piece of fruit got the same name. It's not like a pear is called "green" or a lemon is called "yellow".

SO: I looked up its origins: 1300-50; Middle English; the fruit or tree < Old French orenge, cognatewith Spanish naranja < Arabic nāranj < Persian nārang < Sanskrit nāraṅga

Then: I looked up other definitions

noun

1.

a member of a European princely family ruling in the United Kingdomfrom 1688 to 1694 and in the Netherlands since 1815.

2.

a river in the Republic of South Africa, flowing W from Lesotho to theAtlantic. 1300 miles (2095 km) long.

3.

a former small principality of W Europe: now in the SE part of France.

4.

a city in SW California, near Los Angeles.

5.

a city in NE New Jersey, near Newark.

6.

a town in SE France, near Avignon: Roman ruins.

7.

a city in SE Texas.

So I guess the real question is this: Are you a member of the Orange family, living along the Orange river in South Africa, recently moved from France and about to relocate to Texas all because you need to have an orange tree and a house made of orangewood?

Phew..... this one is confusing!!

Happy Pondering

Sunday Fiction Ch. 11

For earlier entries please go to the Fiction Page

"Mom," Bruce began, "we left for your anniversary trip on the fifteenth of July. After three days of glorious weather and site seeing, we lost all power on the boat. Our radio was dead, the engine would not power on. Dad decided the best thing to do was just float and see where the tide would take us. He figured that we would be missed as soon as the boat didn't return and that a search party would be sent out after us. I think what he didn't consider is that we had chartered the boat for a month and that still left twenty eight days before we would be missed.

“We set out fishing lines and figured we could eat from the ocean. It worked for a short while, but then we ran out of water. Dad and I tried to catch water from the condensation; we even tried to boil sea water, but it just wasn't enough. By the tenth day adrift we were completely desperate, no water, no food, no more matches and then the storm hit.

“The skies darkened to a black like I have never seen. The seas became enraged and tossed us from side to side. When the waves were higher than us, Dad said we should all take shelter in the cabin. Adriana went all the way to the front of boat and hunkered down in the beds under the bow. You and Dad somehow or another managed to get into the bunks near the back of the cabins and secure yourselves in. I lay down in the area under the table and held on for dear life. 

“That storm seemed to take days to clear. When the winds and sea finally abated I got up and opened the hatch to see what kind of damage we had sustained. The deck of the boat looked like a hurricane had blown through. There was seaweed, fish and other debris from the ocean strewn across the bow. I had expected all of you to join me on deck, but that was not to be the case.

“I went back into the cabin, first looking for Adriana. I found her curled up near the bow of the ship. I thought she was sleeping, but she was dead. She had been weak and dehydrated prior to the storm and I guess her body just couldn’t handle all the abuse of rolling around.

“When I found you and Dad I half-expected you to be dead because you had been as weak as Adriana; but what I discovered couldn’t have been farther from the truth. Dad had wrapped himself around you so his body took the brunt of the tumbling. He was gone, but you were still breathing even though you were unconscious.

“I went back up on deck and found that the storm had left great deposits of water. I managed to get a small fire going on the stove in the cabin and cooked one of the fish that was on the deck. I tried to get you to eat, but you wouldn’t wake up. I managed to get some water into you and over the next several days I repeated this activity. Your eyes began to flutter one morning and you woke up. At that time you know what was going on.

“I spotted land the next day and we took cushions for floatation devices and managed to get to shore. When we landed you were again unconscious. I built us this shelter and have done a little exploring during the day. But now that you are awake I can take long trips and see what else there is here.”

“What day is it?” Nicole asked, “And where is your father?”

“Mom, did you not just hear me tell you where he was?”

“No, I heard you say we all went for a boat ride and now we are on an island.”

Bruce put his head in his hands and wanted to weep; but he knew this was not the time to get emotional. He slowly repeated the story again from start to finish.  When he was done Nicole said, “So your Dad and sister are gone?”

“Yes, Mom, they are.”

“And we are on an island somewhere?”

“Yes, Mom, we are.”

“When is the search party coming?” Nicole asked.

Bruce shook his head and replied, “I’m not sure if there is going to be a search party. I have no idea what date it is; where we are or if we could even be spotted.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“Find us a way home!”

Web, web, web

Time to Ponder yet again.  You know the drill... I post a prompt that has multiple meanings and we get see what you write! Add you post to the linky and wait for the magic!!

(If you want to send me words that you would like us all to ponder - please feel free to do so!)

Today's word is WEB (you can always grab the prompt early by visiting the Pondering Page

OKAY - I am not talking about the world wide WEB - however I am sure all you computer junkies thought of that first.

I was originally thinking about a spider web and how those nasty things are invisible until you walk through it. Or there are those that are beautiful with a beautiful spider in the middle. It makes me glad I am not an insect - wouldn't want to mess up the beauty.
 and of course there are those that actually show you what the weather is

The other web I think of is the web of deceit that so many people I know spin. Seriously how do they keep track of all the lies? Well the truth is they don't and we honest people see right through it!

Now there is material that has webbing in it - so those little parts are webs - and last week's prompt of screen can also be a sort of web.

What do you think?

Link up and Happy Pondering

Screen me please

Time to Ponder yet again.  You know the drill... I post a prompt that has multiple meanings and we get see what you write! Add you post to the linky and wait for the magic!!

(If you want to send me words that you would like us all to ponder - please feel free to do so!)

Today's word is SCREEN (you can always grab the prompt early by visiting the Pondering Page

As I sit in front of my computer screen I am pondering other meanings of this interesting word. Besides the computer or television screen - that which you look at, there is a window screen which allows air to flow through it.

But when you go for a job interview that is a type of screen as well. The employer is trying to determine whether or not you would fit in with the company, the position, the people. All a type of screening.

I suppose you do the same thing when you are searching for a school for your children, or looking for a place to live - all of this can be seen as a screening process.

Of course there is sunscreen that we must put on to block the rays of the sun from doing harm to our skin.

So the real question here is this: Does a screen block something or let something through?

Now it is time for me to screen my email and see what I need to do!

Link up and Happy Pondering!

Litter me not!

Time to Ponder yet again.  You know the drill... I post a prompt that has multiple meanings and we get see what you write! Add you post to the linky and wait for the magic!!

(If you want to send me words that you would like us all to ponder - please feel free to do so!)

Today's word is LITTER (you can always grab the prompt early by visiting the Pondering Page

Not being a cat person, kitty litter was never anything I had to worry about....BUT as my daughter and son-in-law prepare for their new lives they will be staying with me and they have a CAT! So...looks like I'm going to get quite familiar with kitty litter.

Now the most interesting thing I fin about this word is that it is both a noun and verb. When one litters - that is a verb; however when the litter is left on the ground that is a noun.

There are also litters in animals that have nothing to do with trash or kitty poo. Who could forget the huge litter of puppies in 101 Dalmations? So we know that cats and dogs have litters, but what if a bird lays multiple eggs? Is that a litter of eggs, or are they only litter when they hit the ground?

Link up and let me know what you think!






Happy Pondering!

Sunday Fiction - Chapter 10

For earlier entries please visit the Fiction Page

Bruce work up with a start; trying to gain his bearings and determine where he was. He heard some sort of bird screeching and he knew he was cold. Sitting up he saw his mother still asleep next to him and the what remained of the fire he had started the night before. It didn't take long for him to remember where he was and what was going on.

The first thing he did was create a large drawing that an airplane could see with the letters H-E-L-P. Doing that he figured if anyone was looking for them it would be spotted. He really had no idea where this island was located; and how far off course their boat had drifted. All he knew is that they had set out from the tip of Florida and had chartered a course for Bermuda.

Not wanting to leave his mother alone he scanned the surrounding area. There was a potion of thick jungle to one side and what appeared to be a rocky beach area in the other direction. Looking from his perspective he could see large cliffs overshadowing the rocky beach. He didn't think that he would find any provisions on the beach so he headed off to the jungle, but only as far as he could see his mother.

Gathering wood and leaves he looked around for any type of wild life. Seeing nothing he decided to go back to their area and see if he could build a shelter out of what he had gathered. That was when he determined that going to the beach area was a better idea as he could use the side of the cliff as a backdrop for their 'home'.

Trying to rouse his mother was useless.  He needed to find food and he needed to build shelter and he was all alone.  It took several hours for the shelter to be passable. He moved his mother inside and went off to find food and water.

Time has no meaning when you are alone. Nicole had not regained consciousness. Bruce was doing his best to get water into her, but he wasn’t sure it was working.  He had found some sort of fruit and mashed it against a rock to see if he could get some sustenance in her mouth. She seemed to accept it.

The days merged together as Bruce would cover the shelter in the mornings and go foraging for provisions. The wood pile had to be stocked, fresh water refilled and fruits and grains gathered. The routine had become easier and easier with each passing day. He had a pattern he followed, with the fresh water being gathered last. The extra time he discovered allowed exploration into new areas of the island.

“Nick?”

Bruce awoke with a start at the sound of his mother’s voice.  Again he heard her call out for his dad. “Mom?” he called out to her and crawled next to her. “Are you awake?”

“What?” She asked, “Where am I?”

The sun had just begun to creep in through the sides of the shelter and Bruce could begin to make out his mom’s shape in the dark. “We are stranded in the middle of nowhere.”

“Where’s Nick? We were supposed to go to the movies tonight. Is he traveling again? I swear that man loves traveling more than he loves his family. I’m sure he’s keeping another family somewhere, do you know who they are?”

Bruce did not even know where to start. Was she delirious? Or was what she said the truth? It was obvious that she had no idea who she was talking to. He decided to try again. “Mom, it’s me, Bruce. How do you feel?”

“Bruce? Where are we?”

“Honestly Mom, I have no idea.” He paused and took a deep breath before continuing. “What is the last thing you remember?”

She turned her head towards him and answered slowly. “I remember planning a trip for our anniversary. Aren’t we leaving soon?”

“You don’t remember anything after that?”

“My head is pounding, why are you asking me so many questions? Where is Nick and where are we Bruce?”