Recluse Island

Chapter 55

May 2014

Ralph Rafanoli is the most well-known person on Pigscula Keys.

A seemingly inconsequential tidbit of information except had he not been born a Rafanoli no one would know who he was. It had never sat well with him; that he was responsible for the unhappiness of so many people. Ralph had never wanted to be ruler of Pigscula Keys, he didn't have a mind for business or politics. He enjoyed spending time outside, working on his rock collection and reading long biographies on world leaders such as George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela in the hopes he would one day gain the courage to do the right thing, but history and expectation continued to prevent him from doing so.

Unlike the previous Rafanoli's before him, he did not share the same enthusiasm and drive to run Pigscula Keys. Even from a young age he did not understand the purpose of the Clinkirk Compound, yes, the island needed to produce an income to thrive but why did their people have to remain underground never allowed to come above? Why were they not paid appropriately for their services? Even in Stormy Shore residents still had to live with the constant fear there was a possibility they may be deported.

Upon deep reflection Ralph knew he was ashamed of his ancestors and their motives. He was also angry about being put into the situation he was now. He suffered tremendous guilt knowing what the people of this island endured simply because of tradition and because he wasn't willing to end it.

Naturally, he had speculated many times what would happen if he decided to eliminate the Clinkirk Compound or disbanded with the deportations. The problem was the island had thus far profited and done well based on the parameters currently in place. Even one change could cause a domino effect. Ralph suspected complete ruin and while he didn't agree with the current situation selfishly, he also didn't want to be known as the Rafanoli to fail. To be the one blamed for the collapse of Pigscula Keys.

Because of his disinterest and lackadaisical ruling style, he primarily left decisions and any managerial duties to be handled by his advisors. Lowell, his oldest son, now twenty-four, was not a fan of this set up and routinely encouraged him to take a more active role. Ralph knew even now that when Lowell eventually took over big changes would come to the island. Though Ralph didn't like to admit it to himself he knew that Lowell was much braver than he and would most likely finally destroy the foundation the Rafanoli family had built Pigsclula Keys on.

Ralph had never had a good relationship with his father Ignacio Rafanoli. He had always been trying to teach Ralph to be more assertive and aggressive when it came to his dealing with other people and those inferior to him. Ignacio felt that Ralph was weak and feeble-minded. And despite the extensive time he spent with his tutors learning about the island's resources, defenses, and productivity, it never interested him. Therefore, Ralph so often escaped from his tutors by hiding in the library or in the manor's garden.

His mother Ellamae was kind and gentle and Ralph remembers often asking why she married Ignacio. Ellamae never gave a straight answer; she would just smile and gently stroke his midnight black hair murmuring that someday Ralph would have answers to all his questions.

It still wasn't clear to Ralph forty years later, but he did obtain a reprieve by the early death of his father when he was seventeen. In retrospect Ralph had certainly not wanted to be thrust into a leadership role so young but at least he no longer had Ignacio watching his every move and telling him what to do.

It was probably one of the most disheartening moments of Ralph's life when his good friend Winston Higgerdod refused Ralph's gesture of freedom to return to Stormy Shore. Ralph had not anticipated any rebuke from Winston and was shocked he would choose to remain in the Clinkirk Compound.