Define

Define: Family

12-13-11

Dear Diary

Yesterday I found out who Mr. Niall really is. It was an accident and apparently he didn't know who I was either. But he knows my Dad very well.... Well, we think he knows my Dad because the man he described in his story sounded like my Dad. I'll explain:

So, it happened yesterday, after the whole incident with the Jellyfish and meeting Owen's Dad, Mr. Niall. I forgot to wash the Jellyfish spit from my hair and now it's starting to change into a new color-I think it might be reddish brown but Mr. Niall thinks it's not changing because of the Jellyfish but because of the fact that I haven't washed my hair in almost .. 2 weeks?

Wow, time sure goes by quickly when you're running away. I could have sworn Momma and the other would have found me by now (since I haven't really moved from the Lighthouse since I ran over to it) but I guess they gave up their search. I guess they really didn't want me ... Which is fine because I have a new family now.

Mr. Niall, Owen (I still want to call him Turner but Mr. Nial told me not to cause then I would be confusing him) and that Jellyfish, Hector. I decided to keep the Jellyfish because he (or she ... I don't know how to tell the gender of it) isn't actually so bad and this can be my new pet on the Island. I don't have to feed him ... All I have to do is make sure he can swim in the Bay all day. But before he can swim, I gotta tie him down to a pole near the lighthouse with some rope to make sure he doesn't run away from us. I think it looks like a leash on him and when I told Mr. Niall about it, he started chuckling and called me "silly".

I think it's cool how much Mr. Niall has started playing and talking with us more in only 2 days. The past two mornings's every time me and Owen woke up, he would have a big breakfast with us. He went to the market to pick up some food for us and now our little fridge is fat and full.

He's a really nice guy- kinda cranky at moments- which kinda makes the surprise about him even more special.

It happened yesterday at dusk. Owen was in the Lighthouse, sleeping. I'm never gonna understand why that boy goes to sleep so early- Mr. Niall says it's because he's still a growing boy and he needs all the rest he can get- I think it's just because Owen is lazy. Either way, Owen was asleep but I didn't feel very tired so I went to go see if Mr. Niall would play 'Night Crawlers' with me. It's basically like midnight tag and football mixed together because we get to tackle each other.

Well, I went to go find him and when I did, I saw him messing with that shipwrecked dingy. He had a bunch of fishing supplies lying next to him and he was trying to pack everything in the dingy. I asked him what he was doing, but he didn't hear me, so I asked again. I think Mr. Niall has seawater trapped in his ears, because after 10 minutes of trying to get his attention and failing I decided another way of communication- I started to climb onto his back. He jerked a little out of fright but then he realized it was me and he calmed down. Then I asked him, again, what he was doing.

Apparently, he was packing up so that he and Owen can head downwards to New Hampshire but for that night, he was gonna go night fishing.

I was sad realizing that Mr. Niall wanted to leave the Lighthouse and just thinking about being alone made me a little depressed- so I asked Mr. Niall if I can join him on his night fishing journey as a last kind of "adventure" before he and Owen had to leave me forever.

"No."

I think he was cranky again too or maybe he was still mad because of the whole "scaring him to death" thing. Either way, I knew he didn't mean it and that he was just being stubborn to admit it. So, being the best spy I could be, I snuck into his dingy when he wasn't looking hid under a dark tarp- then I set sail with him to the middle of the Bay.