Island of the Unemployed

COUNT ME IN

A general assembly of residents gathered at an amphitheater just outside of the center of town. Simon stood ready to address an unusually large crowd. River, and those who planned to go back with him, stood at his side.

Simon's addresses were generally poorly attended, as it was a chore for most of the elderly to make their way to the amphitheater. But what kept most people from to making the journey was the fact that they knew they wouldn't understand most if any of what Simon had to say anyway. On this particular day, however, people showed up. In fact, they came in droves.

Deja and Adrienne were among those in the crowd. "Look at all these people!" Deja said to Adrienne.

"I know. It's crazy!" Adrienne replied

"Oh, my! We do have quite a crowd today, don't we?" Simon said to those standing with him. "Well, I suppose it's time to get started." He raised his hand to quiet the buzzing crowd.

"Thank you all for making your way here today. I know it is a difficult journey for many of you, and I do not take that lightly. The reason I have called you here is that we have an opportunity. An opportunity to help some who have been left behind.

"One would like to think that our own human nature would inspire us to help all of those left behind. It should be only natural for us to do so. Unfortunately, we live in a world that is moving so fast, it is in too big of a hurry to listen to this particular aspect of our nature.

"It is a world that is like a train running on a tight schedule. A train that cannot wait for a ticket holder that is even a minute late, whether that person be elderly or disabled. It is in a hurry to get somewhere, but, to where, it does not know, nor does it care. As long as it continues to grow profitability, that is, as long as it continues to go faster and faster, that is all that matters. It is a train on a set of tracks that leads to nowhere. One that ends abruptly for no apparent reason. And when it reaches the end of those tracks, it will be going too fast to stop. It the very speed that it so highly treasures that will ultimately lead to its own destruction.

"But that is not us. We do not have much, but we do have each other. At least we have community, and when someone in our community does not have enough to eat, we feed them. If someone cannot walk, we push them.

"As you know, we have new friends here," he said, looking back at River and company. "New members of our community. But there are three others. Three that, by unfortunate circumstances, were left behind. If they are still alive, they are almost certainly in a dire situation. If they are alive, they probably feel lost and deserted, but they aren't. They aren't because when someone is left behind, we go back for them. And, when it comes to these three, we will not leave them behind!" Simon lifted his voice.

"Crap! Now I'm starting to feel guilty," Deja said.

"Don't fall for it. We're doing the right thing," Adrienne replied.

"Today I offer you an opportunity. An opportunity to go back to retrieve friends left behind. It may result in the ultimate sacrifice, and if it does, then we will have taken the better path. One that leads to a better destination. Because the tracks we travel on do not end, even if they may appear to do so. Each of us spends only a limited amount of time here. When that time here ends, it is not the end of a life, but it is the end of a story. Because each of us writes our own story while we are here. If that story ends because of a noble endeavor, who could ask for a better ending?" Simon looked around, expecting a rousing response to his spirited words, but half of the crowd seemed disinterested. "Who here is ready to stand up, and join our new friends? Who here will take that better path, and go back for those left behind? If you would like to join in on this noble effort, please raise your hand!"

Simon paused. There was a long silence. No one spoke. There was only an occasional cough. No one raised their hand. "Anyone at all?" More silence.

Simon turned to River. "I'm sorry. I suppose I miscalculated. I thought there would be many who would step forward. It would appear that I was wrong."

"WHAT DID HE SAY?" Trevor said to Sophie.

"I THINK HE'S ASKING IF ANYONE WANTS TO HELP RIVER RESCUE HIS FRIENDS ON THE OTHER ISLAND."

"HE'S GOING TO LET US GO WITH HIM?"

"I THINK SO!"

"OH, HELL YEAH! I WANT SOME OF THAT!"

"IS THAT WHAT HE'S BEEN YAPPING ABOUT?" Another said. "COUNT ME IN!"

The crowd suddenly buzzed with excitement.

"Fascinating!" Simon mumbled to himself as he walked off the platform. "All this time I thought they never reacted because they didn't understand me. It turns out they just couldn't hear me."

Vladi looked at River, who discreetly shook his head as if to say, "No. It's mostly because people don't understand him."

A man in the crowd with thick glasses stared at River from afar, wondering why he looked so familiar. It was difficult to remember because he suffered from dementia.