jackson
“Miracles happen. People change. They learn to speak new love languages. There’s a YouTube tutorial for everything these days.”
~Isla Fairfax, Playing With Matches Confessionals
Motherfu-
I’m so busy cursing at my useless phone that I slip on some iguana shit and nearly wipe out right next to the big daddy hisser. At this point, we’re starting to get to know one another, and I’d like to think we have formed an uneasy alliance. He bloats his grotesque throat balloon at me and thrashes his tail.
“It’s not funny. And you’ll have to be a bit nicer if you want me to sing to you some more,” I say. Another iguana turns toward me and clicks nervously, like he’s saying“You can’t speak to the boss like that, Dude. He’ll fuck you up.”The clicking sounds a bit like my trusty pen. I find it soothing.
“Fine. FINE,” I say. “Hope you like late 80s hits.” Then I launch into“Playing With Matches,”totally belting it out.
We're a love inferno, with no escape,
Blazing emotions that we just can't shake,
We're playing with fire, got nowhere to go,
Destined to burn, in this twisted show.
It’s a great song. There’s a reason it was a hit. Catchy tune, with a great theme. It’s been used in a few movies.
My voice sounds like my dad’s did. That’s one thing I inherited from him. Chelsea was jealous of me for getting Dad’s voice. She wanted to be in all the high school musicals, but she couldn’t sing for shit. That’s how she ended up backstage with Dean.
I was never grateful for getting blessed with the voice. It only highlighted how many other things I might have inherited. His temper, his selfishness, and his ability to abandon his family. There were plenty of things I didn’t want.
I rattle the dog tags and the sobriety chip in my pocket. Murphy had been an old dog when he died. But he’d been in decent shape. He was my best friend.
I sing the song a second time before I make it back to the bottom of the rock. The big hissy bloke follows after me like maybe I have some food.Or maybe I am food.
“Don’t you follow me,” I scold. “You stay here with your friends. They need you. You’re their leader.” The lizard thrashes his tail again, does a few pushups, as if to say,“Damn straight I’m the man!”and then he scurries nimbly back up to his sunny patch at the top of the rock.
The cooler is still there, right where I left it in the shade of the lean-to.
I tear open a Power Bar and drink down half the second bottle of water. In my pocket, I turn the sobriety chip over. I run my thumb over Murphy’s tags, rubbing the two discs together.
I don’t expect you to forgive me.
The handheld radio reminds me of the walkie-talkies my friends and I played with as kids. We pretended to be spies and outlaws. We crept around barns in dirt lots and hid in sheds. I stayed out way too late. I was always the last one to be called home. There were times when I wondered how long it would take for anyone to realize it if I didn’t come home at all.
I have two options left. I can spend the night here and miss the chance to see Isla again before she leaves, OR I can man up and use the radio to call Cappy.
There’s no question what I’m going to do. I can’t let Isla leave the island without telling her how I feel about her.
The radio comes alive with a crackle of static and fuzz that reminds me of time travel. You don’t hear these sorts of sounds anymore. Who still uses VHF radios? Everything is satellite.
“This is Jackson Porter on Reptile Isle requesting help. Cappy, you there? Anyone? Can you read me?” I say.
The only reply is the crackle of more static and a noise like rushing air. I consider changing the channel but I’m assuming there’s a reason why the dial is duct-taped in place.
“Hello? Can anyone hear me? I’m stuck on Reptile Isle.”
“Jackson?” The voice is echo-y and distant like he’s speaking into a tin can attached to a wire on the other side of the universe.
“Dad?” I say, voice cracking. “I mean Cappy? Is that you?”
“Hang tight, Son. I’ll be there in ten minutes. Rob told me where he left you. I don’t think he knew about your lizard thing. Think you can make it out to the dock?”
