Summary-
Chapter 1 Now and thenA 17 year old boy stood on the crow's nest starring out at the sea before him. Heaving a sigh he glanced down at the crushed bow on the boat. It had been 6 months since the island adventure. He always felt a pang of sadness when he thought of it. They lost so many people that day. And he lost his 'father-figure' Mr. Hayes.
He tried not to think about it. He hadn't heard of what had happened to anyone since they reached New York. He was still on the Venture, along with Englehorn and a few other crewmembers.
The one he really wondered what happened to was Ann. She reminded him so much of someone. Some one he longed to forget. But as much as he wanted to forget her, he was afraid that if he forgot her then she might have forgotten him. If she was even alive. Who knows what they did to her when…
Maybe it would be easier if we started from the beginning.
March 3, 1919
The first day they met had started off ordinarily for him. His mother made him breakfast and walked him over to the neighbors so the could watch him while she worked.
She'd brush his brown hair out of his eyes and kiss his forehead. "Be good. I'll see you at 5." She always said this. Every time.
He was the only one who stayed with the neighbors, the Rames, until that day. That day when he walked in there was a little girl with black hair and green eyes sitting on the couch. She was starring at the floor as if it could answer every question in the world.
In his 4 year old brain the only question that seemed important then was why was she sitting in his seat?
"Who are you?" he demanded walking up to the girl.
She gave such a start she fell out of her seat.
"I's Linny." She said in a sad little voice rubbing her backside.
"You's was in my seat." He said.
"I's don't see your name on it!" she exclaimed.
"Well that's cause you don't now my name!"
"Well what's is it's?"
"Jimmy."
Such was the beginning of a life long friendship.