Shoes for Chuck

“Wilson! Where have you gone? How many times do I have to tell you to stay in bed until I get up?” Chuck raves madly, pulling his dirty hair, eyes flitting wildly around the stony cave, searching for the mischievous ball. After throwing the straw bed Chuck finds Wilson and can’t help from jumping in joy at the sight of his friend.

“There you are, why did you go and worry me like that?” Chuck does this every single day and has been for the last three years… he never left, he’s been on the island for 10 years. The escape attempt was all a fever dream. There simply wasn’t enough rope to build the raft and a porta-potty didn’t wash up on the beach, even if there had been enough rope a cargo ship wouldn’t have spotted him. The last 10 years of solitude have taken their toll on Chuck, his body has an appearance similar to shoe leather with a bit of dirty blonde hair on his head. The island has become his entire world, The only real connection to life outside the island is the deflated ball named Wilson. Chuck has nearly forgotten about the outside world as a result, all he remembers is his girlfriend Kelly. Every year he has an anniversary for their relationship.

“Wilson! Can you believe it’s that time of year again? Oh I’m so excited I hope Kelly likes dinner tonight. You think Kelly would prefer the blue fish or the pretty white fish?” Chuck stares out at the water deep in thought, wind whipping his dirty blond hair around. After taking several moments Chuck trudges through the water to the only smooth, flat stones on the island. Several hours go by without movement, sun slowly crawling towards noon. Without warning Chuck launches the spear into the air and spears a fish.

“Wilson I did it again!” Chuck fumed. The fish was speared to a part of the sea floor that’s layered with razor sharp shells that can slice through flesh like butter.

“I knew I should have gotten the blue fish. To hell with it all!” Chuck storms back up the beach to the cave, grabbing the tree bark he had been using as shoes for occasions just like this.

“No Wilson, I wont slip and fall again.” The first time Chuck tried to fish with the bark shoes they had flipped off. His feet lacerated from toe to heel, causing an infection so severe it caused him to have a fever where he dreamt of freedom of the island. Sometimes before Chuck retreats to his cave, he sits and stares out at the ocean, remembering that strange dream. Wishing he had left the island. But he always dismisses the thought, he knows that nobody would find him out in the great big ocean.

“Wilson, please stop yelling at me I know the dangers” Chuck takes several moments of silence, listening intently to the ball. “That was one time Wilson, it’s not like I purposefully forgot to include a heel strap. I think I’ve learned from my mistakes.” Chuck slides the sandles onto his feet and carefully makes his way to his spear….

“Jenny, what the fuck are you doing you dumbass! Wake the fuck up! We’re supposed to be flying a plane! not sleeping!” Waking with a start Jenny knocks her head on the window visor, spilling cold coffee all over the man.

“I w-w-wasn’t sleeping s-s-s-sir… just r-resting my eyes for a bit is all”

“It doesn’t matter! Your plane leaves in twenty minutes. Go do the flight checks… if I catch you sleeping again you’re fired.” the man storms off wiping the coffee off of his expensive suit, silently cursing.

“Who pissed in his Wheaties this morning?” the copilot asked, watching the man walk off the plane.

“He’s always been like that, I can’t tell you how many time he’s threatened to fire me for sleep-” Her phone alarm goes off, signaling the fifteen minute mark. “Shit Mark, we better get these flight checks done!” Jenny reaches for the controls but finds everything already in place and ready. “Nevermind, you had it. Nice job Mark”

“Thanks Jenny, I appreciate the compliment… so is there any chance after we land we cou-”

“No Mark, I will not get coffee with you at any point. We have had this discussion many times, I am not interested in being with you or anybody else right now. Maybe in a few years… okay?” Mark deflated with every word, nearly in tears he walks out of the cabin, not saying a word.

“You’re clear for take off.” Sighing, Jenny takes off, not giving Mark a second thought.

“Wilson… Do you hear that?” Chuck strains his ears, listening to the high pitched whine. “Shit… it’s getting louder… Wilson please tell me that you hear that!” rain water pounding his face, ruining the anniversary.

“Mark where the fuck did you go?” they had only been flying for 6 hours and the plane was out of fuel, in the middle of a storm. None of the instruments were working, either spinning wildly or not moving at all. All of the warning lights blinding her. “Mark! Get in here you fucking idiot!” punching the call button to calm the passengers she said in her calmest voice “Please everybody put on your seatbelts, we’re just going through some really rough turbul-” The plane dropped, engines cutting out. The plane in free fall Jenny did the only thing she could… she ran for the back of the plane. None of the other passengers really noticed what was happening, or noticed her sprinting for the back hatch latching herself to the door.

To be continued!