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[John B. narrating]
We're the Pogues, and our mission this summer is to have a good time, all the time.
The Outer Banks: Paradise on Earth.
It's the sort of place where you either have two jobs or two houses. Two tribes, one island.
All right, so first we have Figure Eight, the rich side of the island. Home of the Kooks. So, guess where we don't live.
And then, there's the south side, or the Cut. Home of the working class who make a living bussing tables, washing yachts, running charters. The natural habitat of... drumroll, please... the Pogues. That's us. Pogues, pogies, the throwaway fish. Lowest member of the food chain.
Okay. So, the downside of Pogue life is we're ignored and neglected. But the upside of Pogue life? We're ignored and neglected, which means we do whatever we want, whenever we want.
Now, I think it's time for some introductions.
First, we have JJ, my best friend since the third grade. He's about as local as they come. Latest in a long line of fishing, drinking, smuggling, vendetta-holding salt-lifers who made their living off the water. Best surfer I know (just don't tell him I said that). Mild kleptomaniac, and a future tax cheat.
Next is Kiara, or Kie, as we call her. When she's not saving turtles or listening to Marley, or getting a dolphin tattoo, she hangs out with us. I'm not really sure why, though. So, she's a rich kid, actually. Foot in both worlds. Her family owns The Wreck, which is this Outer Banks institution. Total cash cow for tourists. You know, I'm not really sure how her parents feel about us. I guess we all sort of have a thing for her.
Her and Wyatt, actually. So, Wyatt's probably the nicest person you'll ever meet, especially from the Cut. When she's not freelance fixing people's bikes and boats, she's out surfing on the water or out-drinking all of us, including JJ. He's kinda sensitive about it. Wyatt's had a pretty rough time, actually. See, her sister drowned when they were little, and her mom left back to the Philippines right after. Still, other than some pretty gnarly anger issues, Wyatt's the friendliest person I know.
Finally, there's Pope, the brains of the operation. Finalist for the Lucas T. Vanderhorst Merit Scholarship. And the smartest person I know. Little bit of a weirdo. All right, so, his father's this legendary character, Heyward. Anything you wanted on the island, Heyward could get for you. Now, I'm not sure Heyward knew what to make of his oddball son, but it didn't matter. He was a Pogue, just like the rest of us.
So, that's my crew.
Last, but certainly not least, me, John Booker Routeledge. I live in an old fish shack on the marsh. The Château, as my dad used to call it. He disappeared at sea nine months ago, looking for a shipwreck. Who disappears at sea these days? I miss him.
And then there's mom. She split when I was three. Last I heard, she was in Colorado. I think it was Colorado.
Since dad's vanished, Uncle T's supposedly my legal guardian. At the moment, he's in Mississippi, building houses. Which means, it's just me right now, on my own, hangin' out with my friends.
Three months after my dad was missing, he was officially presumed dead. I refused to sign the papers. Until I see a body, I'm not giving up.
They actually thought I'd be happy to hear the offer of foster care. A "loving family," they said. Can you believe that?
And that's where this story starts. My dad missing, my uncle MIA, and the Bride of Frankenstein threatening foster care.
