CHAPTER 6

A NEW BEGINNING

Roy stood at the mouth of the cave watching the sun come up. "The storm has finally moved on."

Mary Ann walked over to stand next to Roy. "It's so quiet now. Looks like a beautiful morning."

"We should get an early start and see if anything survived the storm."

"I would be surprised if anything made it through that," Mary Ann said.

"Let's get going and find out. I'm anxious to get out of this cave and to get some exercise."

"I agree with that. I'm not used to sitting so much." Mary Ann stretched her arms over her head.

As they walked toward the beach, they saw how much destruction the storm had caused. There were no flowers left on the bushes and several trees were uprooted. Roy and Mary Ann had to climb over the palm trees that had fallen onto the path leading back to their huts.

Mary Ann pointed at the coconuts scattered on the ground. "At least we won't have to worry about climbing any trees for coconuts for a while."

After being stuck in the cave for so long, Roy and Mary Ann were happy to be outside and feeling the sun on their faces. Joy turned to disappointment when they reached their destination. The storm had wiped everything away. The huts were completely gone, and not even a single bamboo shoot remained. Their kitchen, table, and chairs did not survive either. Only sand remained.

Mary Ann sighed. "I know it wasn't realistic, but I was hoping something would have survived."

Roy scanned the now empty space. "It looks like we will be starting from scratch again."

"It's like none of us were ever here." A tear rolled down Mary Ann's cheek.

Roy wrapped his arms around her. "It'll be all right, my dear."

"It's just… first we're shipwrecked, then our friends disappear, and now our home is gone." Mary Ann buried her face in Roy's chest and cried as he gently rubbed her back.

Once all her tears had been spent, Roy gently wiped the tears from Mary Ann's cheeks.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I'm so embarrassed."

"No need to be embarrassed. You've been through a lot lately and a good cry will help release some of your stress."

Mary Ann tried her best to be cheerful. "Well, at least we know how to build the huts now. So, it should be easier this time."

"I can always count on you to look on the bright side of every situation my dear." Roy smiled, then looked back toward the clearing. "Let's see, first we need to clear the area up of any debris. We should scout the area to see if there is anything we can salvage. Then we can worry about gathering new materials to construct the huts."

It didn't take long to clean what little debris there was in the area before scouting the surrounding areas.

Mary Ann held up an object. "Hey, look. One of the hammocks survived."

"Well, that's a start," Roy said as he searched around a nearby fallen tree. "Aha, I found the other one."

They worked hard all day, stopping only to have a quick lunch of fruit.

"We better get started gathering building material," Roy said.

After a short hike, they found a stand of bamboo trees. Roy cut down the stalks with his saw while Mary Ann dragged them into a pile.

"I think we have enough, Roy."

Roy wiped the sweat off his brow with his sleeve. "I would like to cut a few more stalks. I thought we could put in a floor this time."

"Wow, a real floor?"

"It'll take a few more days than we had planned, but I thought we might as well take the time. If you don't mind the extra work."

"Oh no, I don't mind at all. It'll be wonderful to walk on something besides sand. And to get into bed without it all over my feet will be heaven."

They headed back to the cave before it was too dark to see the path. They stopped at a stream to wash off the sweat and grime of the day.

"Roy, what's that?"

Roy looked up to see Mary Ann pointing to an object upstream. He investigated and laughed as he picked up a bottle. He held it up for Mary Ann to see. "It's a bottle of Mr. Howell's bubbly. The rain must have dislodged it from his hiding place."

"We'll have to save it for a special occasion," Mary Ann said as they continued toward the cave.

Over the next week, they woke early each morning to work on the huts.

"I've been thinking," Roy said as he used vine to tie two wall frames together.

"Now that's a surprise," Mary Ann teased.

Professor smiled and shook his head. "If you don't mind, we could sleep in the hammocks until we have the time to build new beds. We can then concentrate on the other things we need. Like the kitchen area, a new washing machine, and of course a table and chairs."

"I guess I can sleep in one if you can. It'll save time from going back and forth to the cave each day too." Mary Ann looked around. "It's going to look so different."

"Yes, it is."

After a few more days of work, they were putting the finishing touches on their new hut.

Thoughts of Skipper flooded Roy as he hung the hammock. "I miss the Skipper at times like this," Roy confided. "Not so he could do the work. He was a good friend and he taught me many things. I'm sure you noticed when we were first shipwrecked that I wasn't that competent at building huts."

"I don't think any of us was good at much when we were first shipwrecked," Mary Ann said.

"When I was young, I was preoccupied with my studies. My father thought my education was more important than learning how to build a table. Since being here, I found that I enjoy building. There's something satisfying about seeing the finished product that you built from scraps of wood. I'm thankful to Skipper for taking the time to show me simple building skills. If he didn't love the sea so much, he would have made a fine teacher."

"He certainly taught me a few things," Mary Ann agreed. "I mostly miss my talks with Mrs. Howell. When I first met her, I was almost too nervous to talk to her. She was so elegant. Our lives had nothing in common. But she was so sweet to me. She did her best to teach me about life away from the farm."

"She certainly did her best to look out for you," Roy said.

"I could never be as sophisticated as her, and I wouldn't want to be, but she did teach me many things I might need if I ever move to a city."

"I believe everyone contributed in their own way to our little community," Roy said.

"There! I think it's finished." Mary Ann placed a blanket on each hammock. "Home sweet home."

"One more detail," Roy said as he hung their new 'wall of Jericho'. With hands on his hips, he looked around the new hut. "I think we did a good job."

"Just in time. I'm ready for an early night," Mary Ann yawned.

"Good idea. We've worked long hours to get this finished. I'll step outside to wash off while you get ready for bed. Just let me know when I can come back in." Roy stepped out the door.

Mary Ann changed quickly and peeked outside to let Roy know he could come back in.

As Roy walked in, he heard Mary Ann cry out.

"Mary Ann!" Roy rushed around their wall to see Mary Ann sitting on the floor. "Are you all right?"

"Yes." Mary Ann grabbed Roy's extended hands. She tried not to notice that his shirt was fully unbuttoned. "I fell out of the hammock."

Roy tried unsuccessfully to hide a smile.

"Don't you laugh at me," Mary Ann scolded. "It's too tall and it wouldn't stay steady while I tried to climb in."

"I'm sorry. Are you sure you're not hurt?" Roy asked.

"Just my pride. Could you hold it steady while I get in?" Mary Ann asked.

"Of course."

Mary Ann struggled with the hammock a second time.

"At this rate, we'll be here all night." Roy bent over and picked Mary Ann up.

"Oh!" Mary Ann wrapped her arms around Roy's neck.

Roy gently laid her in her hammock. He held on to her until he was sure she was not going to fall.

"Are you comfortable?" Roy asked.

"Yes, thank you."

Roy spread a blanket over Mary Ann, then bent down and kissed her on the forehead. "Goodnight my dear. Sleep well."

"G…Goodnight." Mary Ann stammered as her cheeks turned bright red.

Mary Ann listened as Roy got into his hammock. Hmmm, he had no trouble getting in. She smiled into the darkness. Of course, it was nice having him help me. And I've never been tucked into bed so nicely.