WILDFLOWER ↳ JJ MAYBANK | 5

two.

And a storm there had been. The morning after they'd all woken up a bit hungover, John B more so than anyone else, his eyes practically closed all morning as June and Sarah had cheffed up some breakfast. It was common knowledge that something had happened to the store because of the storm the night before, but they were all putting off the inevitable and avoiding going out to see the damage.

When the time finally came, they all walked out together, JJ holding Junes hand in his like his life depended on it. They all knew that this would be a setback, they just weren't sure how bad it would be.  They approached the store,  John B walking towards the cooler, June resting against a wooden post as John B opened the live bait fridge.

"Anyone want fried fish?" He said, pulling a bet out with the dead fish in it. With the loss of the bait, their business would plummet.

"What's the damage Pope?" JJ asked, walking over to  the boy in question as he sat back against the wall.

"Fuse box is busted. Without the live bait, fishermen won't come and there goes half of our business right there. We have enough profit to cover it, but barely, just barely. Alright? This is it." Pope grabbed a can from the wall,  pouring out the last chunk of gold they had left from El Dorado.  June looked at the piece, a pit forming in her stomach as she realized how that Little Rock was the last thing they had left to show of the helm they went through to get it.  "That last of our Au."

"Uh, what?" John B asked, Sarah following up with the same question.

"Gold. It's the periodic symbol for gold." Pope explained, Kie next to speak.

"Why not just say gold?" She said, June lifting her hand to get a word in.

"I understood your reference."

"It doesn't matter. Thank you. It doesn't matter. This is all of our savings, and it's a no-go. This is for property taxes. We're gonna have to tighten up. Which means no more $600 in gas chasing tarpon up the Gulf." His attention went right to JJ, the boy immediately getting defensive.

"Pope that's my job!"

"We were chasing a bait board." John B got defensive right with him, June looking to
Pope who was pointing at  Kie now.

"No more $200 heirloom tomato seeds." They all erupted into arguing, Cleo next to speak.

"What about my imported pepper?"

"Peppers gotta go too, baby." Pope said, shaking his head as JJ started to get rowdier about the charters.  They all started to argue with him, getting defensive about all of it. "June you're perfect, don't cut back on anything." Pope said, June giving him a smile as he looked back to the others.

"Hey guys no! No...if the business starts failing, the sharks start circling, alright? We don't even know if your dad is coming back." Pope said, gesturing to JJ. June thought about this often...if Luke would ever come back.

"Yeah, well it's not his anymore." JJ said, not looking up at the mention of his dad.

"Doesn't matter. What's he gonna think when he sees all this?" Pope asked, JJ going silent now as you could see the stress on his face.  "Listen, if we want to save this place, we skinny up until business gets afloat again. Okay?" Pope said, putting the gold down on the table and walking off. June looked at the gold for a minute before walking after Pope,  attempting to hurry to catch up with him in his stressed gait.