To Garry Marshall:
Thank you so much for given the world smiles, affection, love, tenderness, loyalty and a perfect devotion to an art: Show us, on a screen, that it is still possible to have happy endings… believe in fairy tales! We will say a prayer for you!
The alcohol from the previous night made them sleep until the afternoon. Paul was the first to rise from the sand. The sore body remind him that alcohol in a weakened body, never gives good results!
"Did I sleep in the sand? Oh boy, my head…"
"Good morning, Paul!"
"Please Joseph… speak lower. I think my head will burst."
"I'm with you, my friend… Too much alcohol, last night!"
"Let them sleep a bit and we'll see the trap, I'm starving." Joseph said, and reached out to help Paul get up. They returned an hour later with three fish and a bunch of bananas. Michael was putting wood on the fire and Clarisse was joining the bottles to fetch water.
Paul went to say good morning but Agnes don't let him open his mouth.
"When we care about someone, we do not leave her distressed, not knowing what to think ..." She turned back and entered the shelter. Clarisse looked at Joseph and them at Paul and said nothing.
"Well… We all are a little worried…" Said Michael.
"Our intention was to let you sleep. Nothing else. Clarisse I'm sorry, I did not want to worry you. "
"I know, Joseph, but given the circumstances, it's scary to wake up and not know where you are ..." Joseph approached and hugged her.
"Sorry. I do not do it again."
Paul perfectly understood the words of Clarisse and followed Agnes to the shelter.
"May I come in, please?"
Agnes wiped the tears that ran down her cheeks.
"Of course. Here, I'm not no one!."
"Agnes, please do not say it again!" He came and sat beside her.
"I do not need your pity!"
"My pity? Pity? Are you kidding me? I'll do anything for you, to be near you, to have an excuse to touch you ... Pity? No! What I feel is love!" Agnes looked at him unable to speak. Paul knelt in front of her and grabbed her face with both hands, while looking into her eyes. His thumb wiped her tears that continued to fall, then touched her gently on the lips, in her jaw line, until the hand stood in the back of the neck ... Softly, he approached and kissed her!
Clarice was to enter the shelter but when she saw them, she immediately turned back. Flushed, she grabbed the hand of Joseph and pulled him...
"I have to tell you something ..." curious, Joseph followed.
Two hours later, and after brunch, they were all next to the boat. Even Harry was worried about the possibility of staying on the island.
"We have to try ..." said Paul, without taking his eyes off the boat. "It seems fragile but will get us out."
Joseph and Harry just tie the sail to the mast.
"A sail made of woven leaves ... This is going to happen" and Joseph smiled slightly.
"Joseph, I think we should make the cabin bigger… Or even two cabins. One on each side for distributes the height… What do you think?" Harry looks almost shy.
"You are probably right. So… Let's do it. But we must hurry, it's almost night. Help with the sail…"
Carefully they took the sail from the mast, wrapped it and they kept in the shelter, Along with the leaves to cover the cabins. Not want to risk a normal storms that ravage the island, delayed them the exit. Then they cut bamboo to make the structure of the second cabin and fixed on the boat. They put the chest in the first cabin, to be the largest. Within the chest will some coconuts, fruit and water. The remaining coconuts go in the second cabin. Harry put three strips of liana in front of the cabin to prevent the coconuts from roll.
Paul and Michael were left with the arduous task of climbing the coconut trees. The women were in charge of finding fruit and check the traps. They were determined: the next day would leave the island!
Clarisse put on a large sheet, figs and bananas. Agnes was to prepare the three fish that were in the traps and put them to grill. Silvia poured the rest of the alcohol from the night before, to use the bottles.
"So boys, it everything all right?" Said Clarisse teasing Joseph.
"We are doing fine, thank you my dear!"
Clarisse smile and sat next to Joseph.
"I'm exhausted! Get me out of here, please!" She whispered in his ear.
"I will, my love, I will!" Joseph put his arm around her shoulders, pulled her to him and kissed her on the lips. Clarisse closed her eyes, smiled and leaned against his chest.
"I believe you!"
The next morning begin with a huge thunderstorm! The wind and the rain cracked on the shelter and made some leaches to fly away.
"This isn't good! This isn't good at all!" Said Silvia.
"I don't think so…" Before Michael finishes the sentence, Agnes and Paul come into the shelter.
"Can we come in? Please?" Asked Agnes.
"I don't think our shelter can take it any longer. Harry refuses to leave the shelter…" Said Paul.
"Come, please. I don't know if this one could make it either." Clarisse looked at Joseph and squeezed his hand. A thunder made everyone jump.
"Ho my… That was close. All we need is a thunderstorm… Please God, gives a break, please!" Joseph put his arms around Clarisse shoulders and kissed her forehead.
"It won't take long. You'll see!"
A few minutes later, Harry also came to the shelter but no one said anything. Waiting almost in total silence the storm passed. Half an hour later, the only thing who remembered the time was the water that soaked the entire surface of the island and the complete mess caused by the wind. Joseph and Paul were the first to rush to the boat and did not hide the cries of joy when they saw that the boat was intact.
"We will begin to bring everything to the boat. I want out of here as soon as possible!"
"Me too, Joe. Me too ..." And Paul embraced Joseph unceremoniously.
In less than an hour, the boat had the sail set and the coverage of the cabins and was loaded with all they found. The women entered first and the men pushed the boat into the water, minutes later and with the help of wooden planks to imitate rowing, they passed the first waves towards the sea.
Everyone was scared. They left the comfort of the island and now there was no return. Clarisse sat with her back leaning against the mast and prayed in silence. The others imitated her. Although some were not particularly believers, this was a good time to strengthen the faith! At Michael's insistence, Silvia spent most of the time in the cabin. Joseph chose to immediately divide the bottles of water for all, that each one made the management who they wanted from their water. Harry and Agnes did not approach one another. In fact, they not even talked yet but, the environment in those floating bamboo trunks was calm and serene.
The hope to return home and the fear of being in the middle of the Atlantic in a boat made of bamboo, tied with ropes that were lying on the beach and hundreds of meters of liana, made unstable emotions. Night fell quickly and the wind began to blow with some force. Harry returned to remove the sail, and pinned her to the ground, next to the mast. Clarisse distributed some fruit and headed back to the cabin. They divided the blankets and prepared for the first night at sea.