Chapter 41- The Island Paper

When Danny sat next to Willow at the breakfast table, he noticed she didn't try to change seats this time.

Danny leaned closer to her. "Whatcha reading?"

"Newspaper," she said, handing it to him.

It was obviously written from an old typewriter on 8 by 10 paper, with black ink and no pictures:

Boon and Gloom from the Spoon

Your Island Paper Since 2023

Editor in Chief: Lulu Falconeri

Reporters: Lulu Falconeri, Molly Lansing, and Rocco Falconeri

Researchers: Lulu Falconeri and Molly Lansing

Local Woman Rescued from Abandoned Mine Shaft, President Davis Orders Capping

Carly Corinthos, age 49, followed daughter through the woods early Tuesday morning. "I just wanted to talk to my daughter! But it seems when I even try to do good, something bad happens to me!" Ms. Corinthos told reporter Falconeri Tuesday afternoon. "It wasn't even the fall that hurt me, it was the snake bite." She went on to state an arbitrary claim that President Davis placed a curse on her three years prior.

As she followed her daughter she stepped onto uneven ground and heard a loud CRACK before the ground caved beneath her. It wasn't long before a timber rattlesnake slithered over and bit her calf. Ms. Corinthos later expressed her concerns that the president will bring harm to Spoon Island. She was only in the shaft for an hour before soldiers and police officers banded together to rescue her.

Reporter Falconeri interviewed President Davis late Tuesday Evening. The president denied the notion of placing a curse on Ms. Corinthos. She immediately blocked off the mind shaft and ordered construction workers to begin capping right away. "We need to make necessary precautions to prevent this from happening again," President Davis said. "My grandchildren were hunting for leaves for a school project this morning and I don't want this to happen to a child next." President Davis was well known in Port Charles for not taking risks and putting safety first.

Is Ms. Corinthos really cursed or is she simply seeking attention? Inquiring minds continue to speculate, and one may never learn the truth.

~Lulu Fanconeri, Editor in Chief~

Danny flipped through the pages to find headlines such as: Nurse and Former Hitman finally wed; The Economy Opens Up, Will Funds be Distributed Fairly?; President Davis: A True Leader or a Dictator?; Drafted: The Army Calls on More Soldiers; Therapy is now Open. But Only to Children; The Almighty V and the Marchesis: A Disturbing Memory or a Frightening Future? And near the back were crossword puzzles, word searches, and a new comic strip by Molly Lansing entitled: Ellie and Mac with hand drawings.

"I didn't know Aunt Molly joined the new newspaper," Danny commented, taking a bite of toast.

"I didn't either," Sam said sitting beside Scout. "I don't think Grandma will be too happy with some of those articles…"

"Well, that's why you shouldn't follow the news blindly…" Drew rolled his eyes. "They tend to skew things. We need to think critically."

"What does critically mean?" Scout asked.

Drew leaned forward. "It means we need to study and research things. Don't always accept what someone says at face value. Even if they're popular and well-respected. Because in the end we're all fallible human beings and no one has the full picture. And anyone who claims they do, you should question."

Scout frowned. "Like the Almighty V?"

Drew nodded. "Yes, like him."

Danny stared at the paper. "It's so weird, this is more like a school newsletter… no pictures or anything."

Sam's stopped mid-chew of her toast and her eyes grew wide. She swallowed fast. "That reminds me. I have a surprise for you guys." She left and the table and hastened downstairs.

Drew raised an eyebrow. "I wonder if this is what your mother has been hiding from me…"

Sam returned grinning with her hands behind her back. "Okay, everyone… say cheese!" She revealed an old-looking, wide black camera.

Everyone leaned closer to the table and smiled looking over at Sam. The camera flashed and a small picture popped out. Sam pulled it out and started waving it in the air.

"Isn't this great?" Sam smiled. "Spinelli and I found an old broken Polaroid camera at Wyndemere. We fixed it up and we were able to re-create a couple. We're each keeping one and we gave one to Lulu... but after reading those articles I'm quickly regretting that…"

"Did the Almighty V invent cameras?" Scout asked.

Sam frowned. "No, sweetie. He didn't."

"I remember seeing those in really old movies," Danny said.

Drew laughed. "The 90s weren't that long ago, bud."

"So, this was the project you guys were working on?" Willow asked.

"Yes!" Sam said brightly. "We want to make more and sell them. And we're hoping to make more useful things. Make a little business of it."

"I like it," Drew said. "That's a great idea."

"Danny, Willow, Scout, on the couch," Sam said. "I want a picture of the three of you."

Danny plopped down on the couch and Scout sat beside him. Willow sat on the other side of Scout. Danny lifted Scout a little, so she was on Danny's right thigh and Willow's left thigh. Then he wrapped his arm around Willow and smiled.

Sam snapped the photo and beamed. "This is perfect."

"Here…" Drew squeezed Sam's shoulders and took the camera. "I'll take one of you with the kids."

Sam joined them on the couch. She sat between Willow and Danny with Scout on her lap. She wrapped her arms around Willow and Danny and pressed her cheek against Scout's as she smiled.

Everyone retreated to their rooms to get dressed for the day. Danny pulled on his jeans. To think less than a month ago he was still wearing V-Town uniforms.

Knock. Knock.

He heard the front door open and muffled voices. He slipped on his t-shirt, then started to open his door.

"I hope you don't mind me coming here." It was Elizabeth. "Jason actually suggested it."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "He did? Okay… Can I help you with something?"

Elizabeth sighed heavily. "My parents just arrived… yesterday… out of nowhere."

"Really? That must have been a surprise. I take it they didn't live in Port Charles?"

"No… they left us when I was fourteen… I'm sorry, I know this is awkward. We haven't always gotten along."

"It's okay," Sam said. "I like to think we've moved past all of it."

She nodded. "Jason thought I should talk to you because you and your mother haven't always seen eye to eye. You know what it's like to be without your parents and feel hurt by them. How did you forgive them?"

"Well, first of all I realized they are human and make mistakes like the rest of us," Sam said. "And that my mom did give me up for all the right reasons. Well, technically her father forced her to. And I learned to give them the benefit of the doubt. To actually listen to what they have to say. Because I've made just as many if not more mistakes than they have. And after I got over all that, I had my parents who love me and want the best for me."

"I want all of that. I do. And they said they wanted to explain. But they weren't there for so much. And I don't want them to hurt my boys."

"Well, it can't hurt just to hear them out, right?" Sam said. "If they just spew nonsense tell them to hit the road. But maybe they had good reasons for not being there for you. Maybe they really do care. You won't know if you don't find out."