Guiding light

Depth of feelings

Tyler

Jake's family reminded me of a buzzing beehive. His father walked up and down while talking on the telephone and joined a few times the conversation we had with his mother in the meantime. His little sister Jeanette kept nagging him to draw her different kind of animals, but I wasn't left out of the fun, she handed me a pink scissor and told me to cut the animals Jake drew. After some time I've realized that my new friend was fooling around drawing more and more complex animals to f**k me up. His mother noticed it and with a quick swing of her rubber slippers she hit the back of Jake's head from the kitchen.

- Auch! What was the chancla for mama?! - he asked and with her hands on the small waist his mother Paloma answered.

- Don't mess with the poor chico! You finally found someone who stands you! Don't lose him! - Jake rolled his eyes and his little sister immediately copied it and ram to their mother to show her the new skill she learned. When Paloma saw it another slipper hit Jake's head. Their father got almost hit by the slipper while walking up and down and he stopped, glancing carefully into the kitchen to see if there is more ammo his wife can throw. Once he saw the path was clear, Phineas walked into the kitchen and kissed Paloma's cheek. He put the phone down and picked Jeanette up rubbing his nose against hers while the lottle girl giggled. She looked really similar to their mother, black hair, tanned skin but had Phineas's green eyes. After dinner Jake invited me to his room and once ot was only the two of us he started questioning me.

- So, you said you were there once. What did you see? - I felt that he will be disappointed.

- The truth is that I met a peculiar girl there, but I really don't want to get into details before I got her agreement. It's her story and I want to help her, but I don't know if it's my place to share it. - Jake grinned.

- Oh! I get it, well we really should respect the lady's privacy. When are you visiting her again?

- Good question... The truth is that we have met only once, but the way the people who are living there treated me an outsider and her was more than hostile. - Jake looked pensive and after a while he said.

- Does she worth the trouble? I mean, if you only met her briefly... - I've nodded.

- She saved my life, the least I can do is to try to help her. Specially after leaving in such a hurry last time.

- So what you can share and we know so far are the followings. - Jake sat crossing his legs in front of me and counted.

- There was a huge accident at the coast of Howling island ten years ago. People there are hostile towards outsiders and treat this girl poorly for me for a yet unknown reason. The survivors heard singing and people got obsessed with that voice so badly that they literally walked to their deaths.

- Yes. Also, she lives in the lighthouse. Her job is to save people from another accident.

- Oh that's how she saved your life! I see! If you think about it it's pretty logical. People there treat her hostile probably because something happened in her past, maybe she had something to do with that accident.

- Or they simply blame it on her because they need a scape goat and they are hiding something bigger! - Jake clapped and jumped up. He brought a white board and started to write out ideas on it.

- This is how we are thinking my friend! What could be so valuable to hide, to scare everyone away and what does your girl has to do with it? That's our question one, the question two is "Is your girl behind something shady and that's why they keep her there?" - I felt a little uncomfortable with Jake claiming Perdita as a bad person but I had to stay objective.

- I don't think that's the reason, but I might be a little biased.

- That's why I put it up as an option. To be honest, the first question seems to be more real. I mean, if someone does something bad for your people, and you are generally aggressive fellas, why didn't they chase her away or killed her? No, there must be something more behind this. But without more information that's all what we got. I'd love to meet her as well in the future if you are okay with it.

- It's not up to me. The bigger problem is that I have no idea how to visit her. My father won't lend the ship to me to adventure to the most dangerous island in our neighborhood. That's how we make pur loving if something happens to the ship we'll be in trouble. - Jake started to walk up and down just like his father did before and I saw the resemblance.

- We should buy a smaller ship. A safe one obviously, but only for research purposes. - I've started laughing.

- Yeah, let me know when you found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! Do you know how much a ship costs! We won't be able to buy one in the grocery store. - Jake headed towards his door and said.

- Follow me and watch the master. - I jumped up and followed my new friend. In the living room Phineas and Paloma were watching a movie om Netflix. When we walked in, Phineas stopped it and smiled, while Paloma furrowed at her son.

- I know this glance, what's your idea Jake? - Phineas asked and excitement sparkled in his eyes. Jake resembled his father more than I first anticipated. Paloma looked at her husband and sighed murmuring something in Spanish.

- I have a good story for us to uncover dad. But we need your help and mama's money! - Paloma's eyes widened and she started speaking really fast in Spanish, I couldn't understand a single word but it sounded like repetitive gunfire. Jake's answers as well. Phineas got up and stood next to me, leaning down a bit and whispered.

- This is completely normal. Don't call the police, none of them is going to kill the other.

- What are they talking about? - I asked and he shrugged.

- I've given up to understand these people long ago! - I couldn't help but smile at him. After a few minutes of heated discussion Paloma looked at me.

- One question.

- Pleased to her madam. - she blushed a bit and turned to Jake.

- Why can't you be like Tyler? - Jake shrugged.

- Cause you are my mother. I got my temper from someone and that's definitely not him. - Jake said nodding towards Phineas who was standing by my side, rocking himself on his heels and smiling softly. Paloma rolled her eyes and asked.

- Is that little girl in big danger? - I sighed.

- Yes, unfortunately.

- Does she have a family? - I shook my head and Paloma looked at Phineas.

- Hand me the checks amor. We are buying a little ship tomorrow.- Phineas nodded and pulled his check stack from his pocket. He signed one and gave it to Paloma with a kiss.

- I left the amount blank. You know how much we have for these kind of things. - Paloma pinched his cheek and got up.

- It got pretty late. I'll drive you home Tyler, come! - I thanked the dinner, the help and everything and headed out still in disbelief while I heard Jake telling his discovery the equally fired up Phineas.