When Wrong becomes Right

Chapter 11

I stuck my arm in the hole and pulled out a FedEx envelope, the words "For Bird" written on the front. I handed it out to John B and heard Pope go "That's not gold."

Kie and I jumped out, JJ eyeing me the whole time. "Holy shit, this is from my dad." John B said. We all smiled when JJ announced. "Code red. Code red, square groupers." We all ran to the backside of the grave, where they couldn't see us. 

We all scrambled to get our lights off, me turning off JJ's because he was too focused on his blunt. He turned and peaked around the corner. "Shit there's a cricket," I said, seeing one jump on my foot, trying not to scream. "Homies got a gun," JJ said. "Screw this," I said, jumping up and running, everyone following behind me. I personally was more afraid of the cricket than the square groupers.

I ignored the grave with Evie's name on it as we all ran towards the gate.

We all jumped over the wall, Pope getting stuck on the gate. JJ pointed his gun at him. "Pope don't move." I smacked the gun down, as Kie pulled him down, his shorts ripping. We all laughed, jumping into the van

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We all moved to the table, JJ putting jam on moldy ass bread. "Dude that bread had mold on it 3 days ago," Pope said, giving him a disgusted look. "I'll just pull off the bad parts, plus molds good for you it's just a natural organism." Blondie said, not quite sure if he believed his own logic.'

"JJ," I said. "Yep yep yep." He said, walking up to us and taking a bite from his nasty ass sandwich. He spit it out in seconds. We all ignored it, as John B unfolded a map. "Holy shit," JB said, scanning the whole thing "Well X marks the spot." Mr. Smarty pants said, pointing to the x. "woah." I said, sarcastically under my breath. JJ looked at me, holding back a laugh. "Longitude, latitude," JB mumbled, moving his finger around on the map. "Wait there's something else in there." He said, moving the map and reaching into the FedEx folder once again.

He pulled out a long black object, a tape recorder. "What's that?" Goldilocks asked. "It's a tape recorder, dumbass," I said to him.

"Dear bird" 

"Who's bird?"

"That's what my dad called me."

"I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so, and you doubted your old man. I guess you're currently filled with guilt and self-loathing over our last fight, but don't kill yourself just yet kid. I didn't expect to find the Merchant either."

We all turned and looked at each other, JJ grabbing onto my hand. I don't know if he wanted the comfort, or thought I did, but it helped either way.

"You were probably right to call me out, I wasn't exactly father of the decade. What can I say, kid, I can smell the barn. Hopefully were listening to this in our brand new sugar shack in Costa Rica, living off passing investments, and pulling off permits. If not, and you find this for less than optimal reasons, that's what the maps for. There she is, the wreck of the Merchant. If something happens to me, finish what I started. Go for the gold kid, I love you bird. Even if I didn't always act like it. I'll see you on the other side."

The tape cut off, and for the first time in years, something almost brought me to tears. John B got up, leaning against the doorway to the living room. 

"He did it! Big John found the merchant!" Blondie said. "Can you, please?" Kie asked. I stood in silence, trying to process what just happened. Kie walked up behind the broken boy and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

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Kie was lightly strumming a tune on her ukelele, as Blondie asked, "How much was it again?" "500 mil" Pope answered. "Alright let's talk split, now before we say evenly, may I remind you I am the only one who can properly defend us from those groupers that are after us."