Junie - JJ Maybank

26

I am standing in the kitchen, waiting for the cooks to finish the last plate of food for one of my tables.

"Emery, someone is here to see you," Stef, one of my coworkers, tells me from the restaurant.

I tell her okay then grab the last plate of food and put it on my tray. I walk out of the kitchen and go to the table.

When I am done dropping them off, I walk back behind the counter.

"Who was here for me?" I ask Stef.

She shrugs then points outside. When I look out, I see John B pacing back and forth at the end of the ramp.

I set the tray down then go outside.

"Hey," I shout to him.

He looks at me and when he realizes who I am, he rushes to me.

When he gets to me, he holds out an envelope.

I take it and try to figure out why he gave me it.

"What is this?"

He nods to it, "read it," he says with a stressed out and rushed voice.

"John B what is going on?" I ask, confused about why he is so stressed.

He raises his voice, "just read it, Emery!"

I raise my hands a little, "okay, jeez." I tell him as I open the envelope and see right above the sticky part is writing.

To Bird and Emery June

What is this??? The only person that ever called me Emery June was my dad, and he was the only person that called John B bird.

I look up at John B, my face asking him once again what this is.

"Read what it says."

I sigh and pull the paper out of the envelope and read the level.

Dear Bird and Emery June,

It's your dad.
I know you guys aren't gonna believe this is real, but surprise, it is. I have to make this quick, I am in Barbados. I don't have any way to get to you, so I need you to come to me.
Bird, I know you believe that I am alive, and I wouldn't be surprised if Emery June didn't think I was alive because she's not as much of a dreamer as you and me. But I am, so please, if you get this letter, come find me in Barbados. I am staying at Carla Limbrey's. I hope I will see you both soon.
-Big John Routledge

Oh my god...

I look at John B and he has a hopeful expression on his face, "it's dad."

I shake my head, "John B... this is a sick joke from some sick asshole."

He shakes his head, "it's not a joke, Emery. It's dad and he's alive."

"There is no way."

He lets out a frustrated laugh then moves next to me and points at the paper, "look at the E's. Dad always wrote his E's like that."

I look at the a few of the E's on the note and they do, in fact, look just like how my dad used to write them. This is just like his handwriting...

"What are we gonna do?" I ask him.

He shrugs with a grin, "we're gonna go to Barbados."