Junie - JJ Maybank

3

I walk out of my bedroom early in the morning to see JJ's asleep body on the couch. I walk past him and step onto the porch.

There is a bunch of tree branches all over the yard. I can't really think about anything else to do so I start picking up some of the branches and put them in a pile.

A few minutes later, I hear the screen door swing open. I turn around to see John B and JJ stumbling outside with tired looks on their faces.

The two of them look at the yard then JJ speaks up, "Agatha did some work."

John B nods, "yes she did," he gives me a weird look, "the cleaning can wait, Ems."

JJ nods at John B's words, "the day after a hurricane is a free day," he shrugs at me.

I give the two boys a weird look, "what should we do instead?" I ask.

John B and JJ look at each other then John B looks out on the water, "the tide pushed in all the crab and fish."

JJ agrees with him then continues, "let's go fishing."

They both look at me, waiting for me to answer. I think for a second then speak up, "Okay, give me ten minutes."

I walk past the two boys, John B smacks my back playfully then they both follow me inside.

I quickly get ready then the three of us leave on our dad's boat, the HMS Pogue.

While we are on our way to Pope's, we say hello to all the people who are out cleaning their docs.

"Hi Ms. Amy! You guys get through it?" John B yells to Ms. Amy, our old first grade teacher.

She waves in return, "still here."

When we are out of earshot from her, JJ speaks up, "she totally looked at me."

John B agrees with him sarcastically, "I saw it."

I scoff, "get over yourself JJ."

He turns around and gives me a dirty look then turns back around when Pope's doc comes into view.

"Well look who we have here..." I say as we get closer.

John B and JJ both whoop, then John B puts his hands over his mouth as if he is talking in a walkie talkie and speaks again, "we have a safety meeting. Attendance mandatory." When he is done talking, he mimics static.

Pope looks at us and sighs, "I can't. My pop's got me on lockdown," he tells us.

JJ steps over to the head of the boat where I am sitting, "come on man," he does the walkie talkie thing, "Your dad's a pussy. Over," he says.

I smack his leg and he looks at me, "don't talk about Heyward like that." I tell him.

He mumbles a sorry as Heyward comes down the doc, "oh, I heard that, you little bastard," he tells JJ.

John B speaks up before JJ can say anything, "we need your son."

JJ talks, "Yeah, and island rules. Day after a hurricane's a free day," JJ says with a shrug.

Heyward has a confused look on his face, "who made that up?"
"Uh... Pentagon, I think. We have security clearance," JJ reaches into his pocket, "I have a card."

"Think I'm stupid?" Heyward asks us.
I shake my head, "no sir."

Pope looks at us and we all nod him over, he looks back at Heyward with a sort of scared look on his face, "I'll do it tomorrow, I promise."

Heyward looks at him annoyed, "what? Hell no. You doin' it right now." He tells his son.

John B whispers at Pope, "get in the boat."