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Part 4
The Gathering Storm
Ominous dark clouds hover over the deserted island in the distance. Steadying herself against the shaking of the boat, Alejandra, the Senior Experience Producer for the Fool’s Paradise travel and adventure app, masks her concern.
“No worries, everyone! Jedd was in charge of checking the forecast. This was the perfect weekend for the trip.” She smiles a little too manically. “Right, Jedd?”
Jedd, the ever-sleepy Safety and Logistics Manager, opens his eyes, frowns a little, then transforms that frown to a vigorous nod as Alejandra looks him over. “Totally,” he says. “Sunny skies all the way.”
“They better be,” the Marketing Manager, Kimmy, adds. “We can’t market this as a tropical paradise adventure if every photo is dark and rainy.”
Alejandra eyes Kimmy’s flimsy white sundress and gold sandals. “Kimmy, did you not get the memo on suggested adventure wear? The emphasis was on practical and protective.”
Kimmy shrugs. “This is my tropical beach look.”
“Ri-ght, but you do realize this is neither a fashion parade nor a vacation?”
*** abbreviated version for website ***
When It Rains, It Pours
Dawn finally rises over the storm-ravaged island. The team lie huddled together in the ruins of their shelter. A piece of roof flaps wildly above them. Rain still hammers down around them, forming huge muddy swamps as far as the eye can see.
Kimmy awakens first. Her ‘tropical island outfit’ is mudstreaked and unrecognizable.
Jedd sleeps a little away from the group, face up to the rain, hands locked in a meditative pose. As Kimmy starts her morning groaning, he opens one eye and speaks.
“How was your night al fresco?”
“I found it kind of invigorating myself,” Alejandra says with a big smile, joining them.
“Sure, it’s super restful not knowing if you’ll wake up alive.” Kimmy smirks.
Alejandra stands up and squeezes water from her t-shirt. Kimmy looks over at Desmond, eyes still closed. She whispers loudly.
“Dessy went off somewhere in the night. I saw him. Why would he sneak around in this hellhole?”
“The guy probably took a leak,” Jedd replies.
“He was gone way too long for that.” She hisses. “He’s a total weirdo, c'mon. You know it. Look at him. What’s he even doing here? What does he even bring to the team?”
Desmond opens one eye and closes it again. He rolls over. He looks sad.
Kimmy jumps to her feet.
*** abbreviated version for website ***
Peering Over The Edge
The others rush to the edge of the mudbank to peer down at the just-fallen Kimmy. She’s nearly 50 feet down and half-buried in mud, but moving.
“Kimmy?” Alejandra shrieks, her voice lost in the wind.
Silence.
“Kimmy?! Are you okay?” Jedd booms.
“I don't even know how to answer that!” she faintly yells back.
“With a yes or a no,” Desmond offers helpfully.
“My ankle hurts and… Oh my god. Oh my god! Oh my god!”
Alejandra’s eyes widen with concern. “Kimmy, what is it?”
“Snake! Snake! Snaaake!”
All eyes land on a long, patterned snake coiled right beside her.
“Okay, Kimmy, just breathe. Calm, deep breaths. It is okay.” Jedd yells.
“It. Is. Not. Okay.”
“Snakes are creatures of Mother Earth and can sense your fear. Give off calm vibes. Send it love. Make the situation light. Transmit confidence with your energy.”
“Jedd? Shut up.”
*** abbreviated version for website ***
The Eye Of The Storm
The four team members stand at the edge of the ridge that Alejandra is frozen on. Tiny figures in a giant, unforgiving landscape. The storm rages on, each burst of wind threatening to dislodge everyone. Jedd puts a hand out to touch Alejandra’s arm.
“The z… zip… zipline,” she manages to force out. “I needed to make the zipline.”
Jedd’s voice is one of pure concern. “It’s okay. We understand. We get it. Stay calm. Breathe in with me now for 1, 2, 3. And breathe out. For 1, 2, 3.”
She follows Jedd’s lead. Kimmy and Desmond watch as Jedd expertly guides Alejandra through his calm breathing technique. He manages to get her to step back, inching closer to them and away from the edge.
“You got this!” he exclaims.
Finally, she finishes joining them back on safer ground. Tears are visible in her eyes even through the downpour.
“I’m sorry.” She says. “You were right, Kimmy. It’s uh… Maybe not the best location.”
“You think?”
“Kimmy, come on.” Jedd says. He pats Alejandra's arm.
“No, she’s right. I had tunnel vision. I just…” Alejandra stops, struggling to find the right way to say what she needs to. “I just… really need this app to be successful to keep my job.”
The group looks at her with expressions of shock and realization. Alejandra covers her face in her hands.
“The truth is, I was on track for a serious promotion in January… but I messed up on the last project big time. The boss gave me one more chance with this… and I promised him I would deliver. My whole career in vacation planning has been leading up to this. I told him that this location would be the standout of the adventure section within the app.”
She looks at them all tearfully.
*** abbreviated version for website ***
Credits
Writer
DALLAS CRISCOE
Editor
CHARLES BERGMAN
Contributor
DIAN HOLTON
Contributor
Designer
LAURA LAVENDER
Contributor
VONETTA DEVONISH
Contributor
JASON STEVENS
Creator
About
Delivered by our SOURCE Newsletter, Short Stories explores the drama of work through real and fictional storytelling. All characters and storylines are fictional unless otherwise specified. To sponsor, collaborate or report an issue, please use the suggestion button in our main nav.
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