The Little House
on the Little Island
My parents met in high school. Her name was Bella Swan, his Edward Mason. They wanted to get married after they graduated, but their parents would not allow it. So instead, they ran away together three weeks before graduation. They flew to Brazil to elope. From there, they explored the Atlantic Ocean. Three months later, almost simultaneously, my parents discovered a remote island and realized my mother was pregnant. They spent five months making the island their home and awaiting their baby's arrival. The baby was unexpectedly born a month early, and my mother died giving birth to her.
My parents had decided the baby's name would be Alex if it were a boy and Alice if it were a girl. My father could not change the baby's name (it was the last decision they made together), but he wanted their baby to be named after its precious mother. That is how my name became Isabella Alice Mason.
There is nothing particularly interesting about growing up with your father on your own private island. Each day consists of the same pattern.
First, I wake up in my room. I love everything about it; my room makes me feel calm and safe. It's on the second floor of our house, along with my bathroom and workroom. Basically, the whole top floor is mine. I get dressed and then clean up my room. Second, I make breakfast. I love that time of the day. The weather is not yet hot and the animals aren't up yet. I find it peaceful and relaxing. Because of that, I usually take my time in the mornings picking fresh fruit. With the fruit, we have some type of
fish or meat that Dad fishes and hunts for twice a week. After Dad and I eat, we spend about three and a half hours doing chores. My jobs are washing, mending and making clothes, and cleaning our home. Dad's are fishing, hunting, gathering firewood, and making lunch.
After we finish eating lunch, we spend the rest of the afternoon learning. Sometimes we will go for a hike and Dad will teach me about the animals, trees, and plants. Other times we go swimming so he can show me all of the different types of fish. Dad teaches me about different games and sports. Once, he even showed me how to fix a broken leg. Then Dad will leave me to practice or think about that day's lesson while he cooks dinner. Sometimes I'll help him and other times I'll go for a swim. After we eat and clean up, we talk or play a card game until finally, we go to bed.
It's not like we're completely uncivilized. Three or four times a year we go to Brazil for a week. While we are there, I am tutored twelve hours a day, we visit Dad's old friends, and he buys supplies. I love my life on the Little Island.