set me free ~ jj maybank

006

JOHN ROUTLEDGE

" That's not gold." Pope said.

" Holy Shit." I said. " This is from our dad." I looked at Ocean.

" Code Red. Code Red." JJ said to the group. " Square groupers! Squared groupers!" He said while running behind us.

" Go." Kie said.

" It's the guys that robbed your house." JJ ducked down.

" Light!" Harper said.

" Turn the light off, man!" Pope goes to turn JJ's light off.

" Homie's got a gun." JJ announced.

" Screw this." Ocean runs.

Everyone runs behind her as the guys try to chase us. So we run to the fence and all try to jump over it.

" Guys, I'm stuck." Pope said onto the fence.

" Pope, come on." JJ said with the gun in his hand. " Pope don't move. Okay?"

Kiara and Ocean help Pope get down from the fence but let's just say he had no pants on.

" It's a little tootsie roll." JJ said while running to the van.

Ocean laughs. " Come on."

We all get into the van and I drive off.

OCEAN ROUTLEDGE

" That bread has mold on it three days ago." Pope walked past JJ with a lantern.

" I'll just pull off the bad parts." JJ said while spreading peanut butter on the bread. " Plus mold is good for you, It's just a natural organism."

I shook my head at his response. " JJ."

"Yup, yup, yup." He runs over to the rest of us. " Hot damn! Let's do it." He takes a bite of the sandwich.

And of course, he gags after he takes a bite and spits it out. Classic JJ.

John B starts opening the paper that was in the envelope. " Holy shit."

" Oh. X marks the spot." Pope points at the x on the map.

"Longitude, Latitude." John B starts reading the map.

" Wait there's something else in there." He starts to open the envelope again.

" What's that?" JJ just starts at the device.

" It's a tape recorder, dumbass." Kie looks at him.

" Dear Bird and Bee." the tape starts playing.

" Who's Bird and Bee?" JJ asked.

" That's what our dad called us." I said.

" I was Bird, she was Bee." John B not taking his eyes off the tape.

The tape continues, " I hate to say, " I told you so," but I told you so. And you guys doubted your old man. I suspect at this moment, you're filled with guilt and self-loathing over our last fight John B, but don't kill yourself just yet, kid. I didn't expect to find the Merchant either. You were probably right to call me out. Wasn't exactly Father of the Decade. What can I say, kids? I could smell a barn. (sigh) And hopefully, we're listenin' to this in our brand new sugar shack down in Costa Rica, livin' off passive investments and pulling on permits. (sigh) If not, and you and your sister find this for less optimal reasons, well that's what the map is for. There she is, the wreck of the Merchant. If something happens to me, finish what I started. Go for the gold, kids. I love you Bird and Bee, even if I didn't always act like it. And Bee keep your head up sweet girl keep being the strong woman I know you are. I'll see you guys on the other side." Then the tape ends.