Fire On The Mountain

Jack’s Journal Entry #2

Dear journal,

            Today was a successful day. After finding out where we were after our plane got shot down mercifully by the enemy, we discovered that we were indeed on an island. We also, no matter how much it hurt me, we chose a boy named Ralph as our leader. I have grown a liking to him and I think we will be friends. On top of making this decision no matter how disobedient the kids are, we have also made a rule that during the meetings, whoever holds the conch is the only one who can talk. Personally, it is not my favorite rule however I guess it is a good way to create order. I am in charge of the hunters and being the only one with a knife on the island, this decision was wise.

Today we have had a meeting and talked about what we should do about us being stranded on the island. One of the younger boys was officious to tell us about his encounters before he saw us. But he ended up cracking and telling us that he saw a large beastie in the forest. The other kids laughed at him however all I cared about was going and killing it. The choir is my group and I am in charge of them. I expect to bring loads of meat for the group. I can assure you that we wont starve. Ralph told us not to worry about the snake because they are only in big countries like Africa and India. After the younger boy was finished making a fool about himself, Ralph told us that we should find a way to make a signal for ships to come and rescue us. He was positive that his dad was going to rescue us but I am excited for our adventures on this island. When the errant kids settled down, Ralph suggested that we make a fire atop the mountain as a signal. He said that the smoke would be seen from miles away and that we would be rescued in no time. 

With that mention of fire, the boys capered with ebullience and ran up the hill. I followed and pushed my way to the front. When we got up there, I ordered the boys to find wood and things to make a fire. We worked, making trips up and down the hill gathering leaves and branches for the fire. 

By the time Ralph made his way to us, the pile was stacked up higher than some of the boys in our group. We tried to find out ideas in order to make the fire start. Ralph tried to use a couple of sticks to make the fire however it didn’t work. I asked if anyone had matches and naturally, that was the one thing that no one had. We were left thinking. We had this huge pile of debris and nothing to start a fire with. Then one of the boys said to use Piggy’s glasses. When I went over to take them, he shooed me away, telling me to use something else. “Shut up!” I yelled at him as he went on about how he couldn’t see. I ended up having to pinch them straight from his face. 

The smoke started instantly it grew and grew and I blew it to a bigger and bigger flame. It soon started roaring and raised up 20 feet. We all stood gazing at what we had created. “Get more wood!” I shouted as it started to die down from the wind. As they tossed more objects into the fire, it grew however the wind picked up causing it to go side ways. Suddenly, something awful happened. The flames spread over the side of the mountain like a blanket on a cold winter day. 

It spread like a forest fire and looked like the devil’s home. “This fire isn’t right. Now look what you guys have done. With the brief mention of fire, you all ran like children on to the mountain. Now look what you have done. It’s a god forsaken forest fire that diminishes the side of the mountain!” Piggy said stupidly. “Shut up! Oh and you had it hard, you merely sat here while we worked” I yelled. The crowd went into roar as the shouted. All of a sudden, someone asked where the boy who talked about the snake went. No one could find him.

“He was standing right over there,” a boy said looking into the deep depths of the flames. Ralph stumbled, “Piggy! It was your job to take names!” He made some excuse about how no one was in order and that they were impossible to take control. We are looking for the boy who cried snake. Still. This is a reason why I can’t trust Piggy.