reminisce| jj maybank²

nineteen

'guys, we're coming up on freedman's church. this is the church denmark built for all the slaves he freed.' pope spoke.

as the van made its way through the woods, ivy looked out the window to see the church's sign entangled in vines and fallen branches.

'there it is. angel oak.' kie smiled.

john b let out a sigh, 'shit, tides coming in.'

'she'll make it through. she's been through worse.' ivy said.

'wait, look, those have to be limbreys tire tracks. they've already been through here. we gotta go.' pope said.

'what do you think chief?' jj asked.

'i'm thinking it's looking a little dicey.' john b replied.

'yea, i'm gonna have to agree with that statement.' jj said bluntly.

'okay well clearly they made it, no?' kie said.

'with two wheel drive? i dont know about that.' jj replied.

'this vans beaten an airplane down an airstrip, i don't think some mud will hurt.' ivy rolled her eyes.

'exactly, why are y'all acting like you're not gonna do it anyways? like when have y'all ever done the safe thing?' sarah smiled.

'i rest my case. she gets it.' ivy beamed.

'alright. she's got a point. okay, speed is your friend here dude.' jj ordered. 'so put her down in second and hammer down brother.'

'stick to the high ground in the middle john b.' pope warned.

'all right. ready? here we go.' john b called out.

ivy let out a laugh as she was thrown back into pope when john b stomped on the gas, 'punch it dude!'

'speed is your friend, speed is your friend. you're not going fast enough!' jj yelled.

'i'm in second!' john b hissed.

'we're gonna slide!' kie yelled.

'this is like a fuckin rollercoaster.' ivy giggled.

'you're fishtailing already man come on!' jj laughed.

'not to put anymore pressure on you, but if we don't get through here we're gonna be stuck here forever!' pope hissed.

john b responded by pushing popes head back, put your head back, okay? i told you we'd make it.'

'that's my girl. don't ever doubt her.' ivy smiled.

'dude, right here, right here, right here, stop!' jj yelled.

the van them came to a stop, jj jumping out, 'angel oak's right through here. and word to the wise, gators nest back here, so keep your eyes peeled, okay? you don't wanna step on a mama gator. that's the last thing you wanna have happen.'

'they have nests?' kie asked.

'yep. seems like a good place to park.' sarah nodded.

'you don't wanna be a pat womack.' jj mumbled.

'a what?' ivy asked.

'pat womack. she had her calf chewed off by a gator, you didn't know that?' jj said.

'that's not even close to being true.' kie corrected. 'pat womack was injured in a car accident, but i hear you.'

'okay. just live in ignorance. but like, she had her calf chewed off by a mama gator. i know that for a fact. they like the brackish water.' jj argued.