The Inn on Bald island

Chapter 2: Foundations

   Maybe there was another reason I wanted to leave that place. It wasn't just because I was sick of the way the big city felt, but it was also because of the way everybody looked at me. Every time someone heard about how our dad had died, they would always give us an expression that said "aww you poor things, do you need anything. Like a place to stay... They can stay with me for a little while if you need to have some space." And every time mom's answer would be " Thank you for concern, but I think I can handle my children. " she would say in the nicest tone she could muster up. I hated people who tried to sympathize with us. It always made me feel like they were looking down on us for losing someone in our family. Maybe I thought if we moved away, no one would know about what happened, and they wouldn't  have to make themselves feel bad for us. I didn't know how my sister could handle all the stress from others. Maybe she saw this as praise, from all the attention she got at school. I got a little bit of recognition for it. After the word had spread that my dad was in a tussle with a criminal, and died in the process, people looked at me different. I could feel their eye's stare piers through my whole body, it made me feel sick. Maybe, that's why I wanted to get away. I thought to myself as I drifted off to sleep.

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         The next thing I knew the lady on the speaker was talking. "We will be arriving at the docks in approximately twenty minutes." She said in a very soothing tone. "Jack... Jack.... JACK!!" Sarah yelled as she shook me. "Alright, alright I'm up!" I groaned back. After sitting up and opening  my eyes, lots of thoughts flooded my head. What is the inn going to look like? How is the school? Is there good places to eat. How are we going to make a living? All of these things where the thoughts that overwhelmed me. One thing was for sure, everything that could go wrong, will go wrong. I've never had a good relationship with luck. While everyone was able to get along with their days, with no care in the world, I was always scared of the infinite possibilities of ways my day could be totally ruined. I think the only thing that was stopping me from thinking to hard about the future was my sisters constant nagging." Are we there yet?" she would repeat even though there was a clear view of the surprisingly small island on the other side of the room. I had just realized the people on the boat with us. It was full of tourists and frequent visitors, and the occasional resident of the island." How many people live here?" I asked my mom. She gave me an odd look, "Well, I'd guess around one to two thousand people." She replied, making one of those faces I knew was used to mock one of those relator guys she talked to on the phone when she was looking at the building we were buying. She gave me a smile," It's gonna be very different from the city life, so don't be too loud, you might disturb the whole island." I took a good look at her face. She was grinning one of those rare grins I never see anymore. I had a better feeling about this new part of my life. Then I remembered something..."Make sure to text me and send me pictures." I was reminded of one of my only friend back at shore. Bella Parton. Man was she a bossy person. I think she was the only person who actually cared for me when our dad died. She would get disgusted looks from the other girls when she hung out with me. I told her I would be fine on my own, but she was too stubborn to listen to the only thing I ever asked her to do." Why should I, there's no reason I shouldn't, besides you're the only person who has the same interests as me." We both liked a lot of things. We both shared an interest in books, art, etc. But I think we both really bonded over movies." What's your favorite movie?" I asked on the first day after spring break. "Hmmm, that's a good one, ... OH I KNOW!!" I remember how loud she was when she finally got around to answering, "It defiantly has to be Back To The Future!" She exclaimed so loud I think the whole class had heard what she said. She had such a stupid grin on her face. "What about you?" She said after giggling a little. "I really like The Matrix." I said. She looked fascinated. "Come with me, if you want to live." I wish she could come here with us, I really want someone to be there to help me into the new school... "Jack, by the time you stop day dreaming, the ferry will have taken forty-five round trips, come on lets go!" My mom had yelled at me louder than the ferries horn. I got up and gathered up my phone and book I brought with me for the trip to the island. The next few minutes felt like forever. We were slowly making our way down to the garage so we could get in our car and leave the ferry. "Tonight we are staying at another hotel, because we are going to need to get a guide to show us to the location of the building." My mom said trying to not get to worked up. "Can we go see it right now?" Sarah asked, almost more exited than my mom. "No, I'm sorry we have to go to the hotel, and we need to enroll you two for next year." I was kind of shocked to see her so eager and ready to do everything right away, usually she was the person to slack and wait till the last minute to do anything. I guess all the excitement left me grinning. "What are you smirking at?" My mom looked at me, trying not to laugh. "Oh, nothing." I said trying my hardest to stop smiling so much. When was the last time I smiled that much? "Look, look!" There standing tall and mighty was one of the largest hotels I had ever seen. We didn't get out much, I thought to myself not realizing both Sarah and my mom where both in awe of the building. My mom scoffed " This is going to be our competition?" She almost seemed that she was totally regretting everything up until this very moment. I couldn't stop looking at the top of the building. It seemed so far away, and it made my stomach hurt. We both heard a small grumble coming from the back of the car, and we both instantly knew what it was. It was Sarah, she never could stop eating. She was like a living bottomless pit. She wouldn't ever seem full after a large diner, and always wanted more by the time she had to go to bed. "Oh my goodness, looks like we are headed straight for the cafeteria once we unload all our stuff." My mom laughed after my sister started to giggle. We unpacked everything we needed for the night and headed to the front desk, where my mom got a key from the scary woman at desk. The room was very well kept and the floor was polished and seemed to have been cleaned only just a little while ago. We started for the elevator, and pressed the button for the 4th floor. "WAIT WAIT!" A larger man came running in and caught the door right as it was about to close. I jumped a little but didn't pay much attention to him and we moved to the other side of the elevator to give him room. He pressed the top floor button, which surprised my mom a little, but I didn't understand why she was put off by it. The ride up began slow, and  was a little awkward because of the man who was hyperventilating in the corner while we stood there not saying anything and trying to mind our own business. But something was a little off, he wouldn't stop his heavy breathing, it got heavier. We were getting concerned. He looked like he was half drunk and half exhausted. The more we waited the heavier it got, it kept going. The elevator was not in the best condition, it was probably old and couldn't support all of our weight to go fast enough. At that point, there was a loud thump, and we all understood what it was. The man had crashed to the floor, gasping for air. My mom was the first to reach him. I am dreaming, this isn't happening, I thought, in a daze. My mom had had training in this kind of procedures. She was pushing on his chest and counting, then took a deep breath in and exhaled into his mouth. My sister was a little grossed out, but she knew this is what happened. In between breaths my mother reached in her pocket and threw her phone at me. "CALL THE POLICE!!!" She yelled at me as she gasped for air, she was getting tired and I knew it. My hands were shaking, I didn't know what to do. I hurried as fast as I could, to open the phone, and dial 9-1-1. I stopped, what if there isn't and ambulance on the island.  Realizing what she had to do, my sister Pressed the floor one button. The Elevator descended faster than it went up. Then the other end of the line picked up. "Hello what is your emergency?" The operator asked. "A man in the elevator of the Hillgriph hotel has stopped breathing!" I yelled hoping that someone would come soon. The doors at the bottom opened. My sister ran out and so did I. "A man has stopped breathing in the elevator!" Sarah yelled and everyone began to panic. At that moment, at least fifteen people had opened their phone and were dialing 911. After ten minutes of my mother pushing on him and exhaling into his mouth, the ambulance arrived. The stretcher was out in a matter of seconds and the man was escorted to a hospital. My mom sat on the floor in total shock and exhaustion. She had worked fifteen whole minutes to keep him breathing. I fell to the floor as well.