A New Life

Ian stood on his brand new “island”, looking more than a little confused. 

“This can’t be right,” he said to the driver of the boat.  “Are you sure you brought us to the right place?”

“I brought you exactly where you told me to go.  So as long as the co-ordinates you gave me are correct, we have arrived.  Should I start unloading?”

“No wait,” he said while pulling out his phone.  “I need to make a call.”

Dialing the real estate company, he was transferred over to the agent who had handled the deal and was apparently waiting for his call.  He seemed amused by Ian’s confusion and out right laughed when Ian called him a criminal.  To which the agent replied “buyer beware! Don’t like it, then sue me!”  He promptly hung up with the sound of laughter still ringing in Ian’s ears. Sue him he would, if it weren’t for his pathetic piggy bank.

Ian stepped off the dock onto the sandy grass and looked around.

This was NOT an island!  Four steps in any direction and Ian’s feet were ankle deep in water.  Pimple, was a more accurate way to describe this lump of dirt that had somehow risen from the depths of the water.  Had it been a bigger island at one time? He couldn’t tell, but he highly doubted it by the slope of the sand.

Ian was so deep in thought, he didn’t hear the driver yelling his name.

“Hey!  Hey buddy!  So what’s the deal?  Do I start unloading or not?”

“Yes.  I will help,” Ian replied.

“Nah, don’t bother.  You got more important things to worry about.”

Ian stood rooted in place while the moving driver unloaded the few meager possessions he had been able to bring with him.  Worry?  No, try panic!  This was a mistake.  A huge mistake.   What do I do, he thought to himself.  Stay or go? As each box left the boat, his time was running out.  But there he stood, frozen in place and unable to make a decision.   

When the last item had been unloaded, the driver turned to Ian with a concerned look on his face.

“You ok?”

Ian could only respond with a nod.

“Well okay then.  Good luck.  Looks like you’re going to need it.” With a wave, he drove the boat away.  Ian stood there watching, till the last hint of it could be seen in the far distance.

This was one of these moments his mother would call reality time.  She would say, “Take a big breath and take a step back.  Try to look at things from a different perspective.”  Which he did, careful not to step into the thorny brambles at the bottom of the stairs. Perhaps this won’t be so bad after all.  The view was gorgeous, and the sound of the water was soothing.  Sure the island was small, but small also meant no yard work or upkeep.  Other than getting rid of those brambles of course.  Best of all, there was no one in sight to bother him at all.  Was that not the purpose of buying an island in the first place?  Master his skills, focus on himself and work towards making a name for himself.  Yes, this really could be the best thing that ever happened to him.  He placed his foot on the rung of the ladder and began to climb down into his new home.  Pulling the chain on the over head light and…….

“I take it back,” he said out loud to the room, while praying he didn’t see a single spider or rat.  “It can be worse. Oh gawd.”

There was nothing to be done but get to work, because there was no way he was sleeping down here till every little speck of dirt and critter had been taken away.  Shaking his head and mustering some strength he set about cleaning all the debris from his home.  He scrubbed, repaired walls, did a little electrical and even installed a new toilet, cause dang, he didn’t even want to touch that old filthy thing let alone use it. 

By the time he was done, he had lost count of how many dirty water buckets he had carried up the ladder to toss over the side.  He was plum wore out, but thankful for everything his father had taught him about carpentry, plumbing and electrical.  And the best part was, not a single critter in sight.  At least not the four legged kind.

This will be great, he thought.  Summer is coming and it will be cooler down here until there is enough money to build up onto the platform.  Walls and floors would come in time, after he had sold his first book.  No matter what, he knew it would never be like home, but it could turn out to be a great adventure for the next phase of his life. So as long as he kept thinking this way, he would be okay. 

“Be positive,” his mother would say, “and everything will always work out in your favour.”  So that is what he was going to do from now on.

Ian rewarded himself with an hour of fishing for all his hard work.  His most favourite thing to do other than work on his skills.  He caught about eight fish and was satisfied with that, even though it meant he couldn’t eat any of them for his dinner.  No stove or oven, meant no hot meals for him for quite a while.  Why didn’t the ad say there was no cooking implement of any kind!  He placed the fish in the shipping box and went downstairs to enjoy his light supper of bread and jam.  Which for a frugal person like himself, was a good enough supper for now.

Back up on deck, he watched his very first sunset from his new home.

When the night began to get too cold to stay outside, he looked up into the sky and said good night to his parents.He imagined them standing side by side and smiling down at him. His parents faces were something he never wanted to forget and he started this ritual a few nights after they were gone. He didn’t know if he would ever be loved as much as they loved him. He had hope that someday, when he was ready, he would find a love as great as his parents. When his painting skill had reached a higher level, he wanted to paint a portrait of them, to hang above a fireplace in his brand new home. All he currently had was this rough sketch that his mother had done when he was just a baby. It was old and faded but he cherished it all the same and it helped him to remember his parents and his wonderful childhood. What he wouldn’t give to have them back on earth and in his life.

With sleep beginning to take him over, Ian climbed down the ladder into his brand new home, for his very first night, in his brand new life. He crawled into bed, closed his eyes to dream of days past and a life filled with love and happiness.

**To the reader:  at this point I am just building a back story for the beginning of his life.  Everything takes off in Chapter 6 – Ian Meets Maya.