Ocean Eyes

Chapter 3

She stuck out an envelope,
Pope said" That's not gold."
John B said" Holy shit. This is from my dad." I held out my hands as she climbed out, she grabbed my hands and jumped down.
JJ said" Code red. Code red. Square groupers! Square groupers!" We saw a vehicle approaching, we took off,
Kie sadi" Go. Go."
" It's the guys who robbed your house." We hid behind the crypt,
" Light!" I turned off the flashlight,
Pope said" Turn your light off, man!"
" John B? Your light! Do you think it's them?"
JJ said" Homie's got a gun."
Kie said" Screw this."
I said" Just go." Kie and I took off first, the guys right behind us, we headed for the gates.

We jumped the gates and Pope managed to get stuck on them,
Pope said" Guys, I'm stuck. I'm stuck."
JJ said" Pope, come on!"
John B said" Alright, guys..."
Kie said" I got you."
JJ said" Alright, Pope, don't move, okay?" I heard the gun, I pushed John B to JJ, I wrapped my arms around Pope,
Pope said" You're gonna rip me." Kie and I pulled him," Wait. You're gonna rip me!"
Kie said" You're fine." Kie and I ripped him off, and his shorts did not survive,
JJ said" Nice! Come on, dude."
John B said" It's a little tootsie roll." We started laughing,
Kie said" Come on!" Kie opened the door, I jumped in," Stupid!" Pope dived in next, John B took off as I closed the door.

I saw JJ making a sandwich with moldy bread,
Pope said" That bread had mold on it three days ago."
JJ said" I'll just pull off the bad parts. Plus, mold is good for you. It's just a natural organism."
I said" JJ."
" Yup, yup, yup! Hot damn! Let's do it." John B opened the envelope, JJ took a bite and immediately gagged and spit it out, then started picking at the bread, John B laid out a map.
Pope said" Oh. X marks the spot."
John B said" Longitude, latitude. Wait, there's somethin' else in there." He brought out a recorder,
JJ said" What's that?"
Kie said" It's a tape recorder, dumbass." John B pressed play,
His dad said" Dear Bird."
JJ said" Who's Bird?"
John B said" That's what my dad called me."
" I hate to say I told you say, I told you so, but I told you so. And you doubted your old man. I suspect at this moment, you're filled with guilt and self-loathing over our last fight, but don't kill yourself just yet, kid. I didn't expect to find the Merchant either." We all loked at each other, holy shit," You were probably right to call me out. Wasn't exactly father of the decade. What can I say, kid? I could smell the barn. And hopefully, we're listenin' to this in our brand new sugar-shack down in Costa Rica, livin' off passive investments and pulling on permits. If not, and you find this for less than optimal reasons, well, that's what the map is for. There she is, the wreck of the Merchant. If somethin' happens to me, finish what I started. Go for the gold, kid. I love you, Bird, even if I didn't always act like it. I'll see you on the other side." John B clicked it and walked away,
JJ said" Holy shit, he did it! Big John- He found the Merchant-" John B was crying,
Kie said" Can you... can you please?"
" Sorry." Kie walked to him and hugged him.

JJ said" How much was it again?"
Pope said" Four hundred mil."
" Alright, let's talk the split. Now, before we say evenly, may I remind you that I am the only one that can properly defend us from those groupers who were after us. Protection? Not cheap, okay?"
Pope said" You haven't trained. You've done zero training."
" Youtube, bro! That's at least a five percent bump right there."
" You haven't-"
" Any objections? Didn't think so." Kie waved her hand, I raised mine but he slapped it.
" Yeah."
" I don't hear any, so..."
Kie said" What are you gonna do with your 80 mil, Pope?"
Pope said" Pay for college in advance. And also, textbooks. Those are expensive."
JJ said" What about you, Kie?"
" Yeah, what does a socialist do when she's rich?"
" And he's rich?" Bringing me into the conversations unwillingly, I scoffed, rolling my eyes.
Kie said" Just wanna make a double album. About OBX, the pogues. You know, the way Catch a Fire is about Kingston. Record it at Marley Studio, Peter Tosh producing."
Pope said" Peter Tosh is dead."
" Peter Tosh is dead. I know, Pope. Spirit of Peter Tosh will never die."
I said" Restaurant/market. Rub it in my brother's smug, preppy kook face."
JJ said" Actually, I know what I'mma do. I'm gonna get a big ass house on Figure Eight and go full Kook."
Pope said" You're gonna go full Kook?"
" Yup. Gonna get a marble statue of myself, and then I'm gonna get a koi pond." Kie, Pope and I laughed," Put a bunch of those fish-"
Kie said" I'm never visiting."
I said" I need more details."
Pope said" What are you gonna do, JB?"
John B said" To going full Kook."
We all said" To going full Kook!" Raising our cans, clinking them.
I said" We need to make sure JJ doesnt do what he plans."
Kie said" Definitely."
John B said" Your responsibility."
JJ said" What?! No!"
I said" Yes! You cannot get a statue of yourself or a koi pond."
" Why not?"
" 'Cause it's dumb, shithead!"
" You can have your own room in my mansion."
" I can have my own mansion!"
" I'll buy you a... chain?"
" Ew."
" A boat."
" Dammit." I groaned and dropped my head,
" Ha! Statue of myself!" Everyone laughed at me,
" Shut up! JB control him."
John B said" Not a chance."
" Kie?" She just laughed," Po-"
Pope said" Not likely."
" You all suck, actually. I hate you."
John B said" Then you can leave, Twinkle Toes."
" Shut up." I laughed, shaking my head, rolling my eyes.
———
JJ whistled" You guys see that? That's the Malibu 24-MXZ, the world's finest wakesetter. Number one in luxury, quality and performance. 200k, easy."
Pope said" We picked the wrong parents."
Kie said" I hate to break it to you guys, but that's Topper and his girlfriend. You don't have to act like you don't see us, bitch." As they passed us.