Summer began and life was great. Three cousins had all just arrived at their family island just off of Martha's Vineyard. They were free from their boarding school lives with itchy dress pants and kilts, endless days of homework, and other snooty kids too rich for their own good. Clairmont Island was their happy place. Days were filled with sun and surf and the night held campfires and the sweetest of dreams. Joyce kept the boys in line but sometimes she couldn't help but join in. Balcom is the youngest at fifteen and is the resident genius headed straight for Harvard. Everett couldn't care less about his academic achievements. His wanderlust and desire to live the fullest life, bringing smiles and laughter to everyone, made him a troublemaker in the eyes of most. The trio is the closest of cousins and the bestest of friends. They bounce from the islands four large houses wreaking havoc and making memories to last a lifetime. They are the lady, the duke, and the jester to the kingdom they call Clairmont.
If the cousins were nobles then their grandfather would be king. A king with three daughters who were made for the ivory statues and majestic houses he gave them. Grandfather was manipulative and made his princesses fight for his affection and do his bidding. He started this summer's argument between the sisters not even ten minutes into dinner at the main house where he resided.
"Now that your mother has passed," he said glancing grievously to his daughters that sat gracefully at the table. Each beside her bunch of children, "I have decided to rewrite my will".
"What a fine idea Dad," exclaimed Louise, Joyce's mother, as she tended to her youngest two twin sons who were making a mess of their meals.
"That's probably for the best," uttered Everett's mother Tina, the eldest daughter as she slowly mixed her drink.
"I agree with them. Changing your will is probably a smart idea," Karen added and placed a gentle hand on her father's arm. Karen was the one to help him through the passing of his wife that winter. The cousins Nan was the glue that held the family together. When she was diagnosed with cancer it was no surprise. It was horrible to watch. Each day getting sicker. Skin greying, memory fading. Grandfather sat up straighter and continued,
"I need all my things to go to the right places. The island for example has to be given to one of you." This final note made all three daughters stop.
"Don't worry Dad, I'll keep this place in tip top shape when you're gone," Tina stated matter of factly. And that's when the arguing started.
The yelling lasted all night and continued again for the rest of the week. It would follow the cousins everywhere. No matter how far away they tried to go or how loud they turned up their music. They could still hear the tattling and door slamming of their husbandless, immature, and selfish mothers. The trio was furious. This was supposed to be their summer. Their time to spend frolicking in the sand. Their time to be free from expectations. Their time to spend with the family that they never saw. Clairmont Island was their refuge. The happiest place on earth. Rage bubbled in them whenever they saw grandfather. He was the reason their summer would be ruined. He was the reason their family was crumbling. They boycotted dinners and family outings. They stayed, the three of them, in Balcom's mother's sizable blue painted cottage on the northern point of the island while his mother stayed in the main house to fawn on his grandfather. She called it taking care of him. There, they tried to make the best of their summer by playing dusty board games they found in the cellar and suntanning on the small, sandy beach out back. No matter how hard they tried to have fun, the atmosphere on the island was toxic. It was full of hatred and sabotage, revenge and annoyance. The air infected the cousins with a hateful disease and turned them vengeful.
One night the king, his princesses, and their children took a boat off the island to a nighttime festival leaving the lady, the duke, and the jester all alone on the island.
"I've hit the jackpot!" Yelled Everett from the basement cellar of the main house. He ran up the stairs two at a time carrying three full bottles of liquor.
"Why thank you," Joyce drawled poshly as Everett handed her one of the bottles and the other to Balcom. They stood in the main house leaning against the kitchen island talking and drinking until the wave of warmth that came with alcohol washed over them.
"Grandad is such pompous snake," Balcom slurred and took another swig.
"Ha!" Everett laughed and swayed slightly.
"Oh my dearest cousins," Joyce joked, "You are delightfully screwy." They all howled with laughter and started chasing each other round the room. Balcom swung his bottle and it knocked a plate, sending it flying to the ground and he watched it shatter into pieces. The cousins stopped and glanced at each other mischievously. Everett threw open the white cabinet doors and took out a tall stack of plates and began smashing them one by one. Hollering as each one splintered. Joyce and Balcom joined in throwing and breaking anything they could find. Plates, bowls, china, lamps, and ivory statues all destroyed. Once they were finished they stood, out of breath, huffing and puffing, with adrenaline coursing through their veins. Needing more to keep the high Everett barked taking needed breaths between words at Balcom and Joyce.
"Boat fuel. Shed. Go". They raced to the shed and grabbed as many bottles as they could carry.
"Joyce, you take upstairs. Get every room and everything," Everett ordered, " Balcom, same thing. Basement." They rushed away and Everett said to himself, "I've got the main floor." They doused everything in the fuel. Windows, floors, couches, and beds. The smell was nauseating. As soon as they were done they made their way to the porch and Balcom pulled a lighter out of his back pocket.
"Who would like to do the honours?" He asked looking between the two. Joyce grabbed the lighter and flicked it open. The flame danced above her fingers for a moment. They stared at it desperately and then she threw it into the house. Everything caught fire instantly. Flames licked the doorframe and up the side of the house. The lady, the duke, and the jester watched the palace burn to the ground. All their problems along with it.
