Chapter 12 the birthday of the wild
Jack woke up and felt something different in the air. He didn't have a calendar made of paper, and his "Calendar Tree" had been snapped by the tornado, but Jack kept the count in his head. He had been on the island for a long time. Today was a special day. Back in New York, this date meant big parties, expensive gifts, and a giant cake made by the best chefs.
Today was Jack’s 19th birthday.He sat up on his grass bed and stretched. His muscles felt tight and strong. He looked at his hands—they were rough and scarred, but they were the hands of a man who knew how to build a life from nothing."Happy birthday, Jack," he said quietly. His voice sounded calm. He didn't need a party. He decided that today would be a day of self-enjoyment and a great adventure.Jack didn't want a normal breakfast today. He wanted to find something special. He grabbed his wooden spear and walked toward the part of the jungle where the "Honey-Fruits" grew.On the way, he saw a beehive high up in a tree. Usually, Jack stayed away from bees because he didn't want to get stung. But today, he wanted a gift from the forest. He climbed the tree like a monkey, moving carefully. He used a piece of damp moss to cover his face and hands. He quickly reached into the hive, grabbed a small piece of honeycomb, and climbed down fast.He sat by the stream and dipped his morning fruits into the fresh honey. It was the sweetest thing he had ever tasted. "Better than any birthday cake," he thought. He felt a rush of energy. He was ready for his big adventure.Jack decided to climb the highest mountain on the island. He had seen a peak that was always covered in mist, and he had never been to the very top. He wanted to see his whole kingdom from the sky.The climb was hard. The rocks were slippery and the vines were thick. At one point, a large lizard scurried across his path, startling him, but Jack just laughed. He wasn't the boy who was afraid of bugs anymore. He used his strong arms to pull himself up ledge after ledge.After two hours of climbing, he reached the top. The air was cool and fresh. When the mist cleared, Jack gasped. He could see everything. He saw the beach where he first landed. He saw the Black Cave that was now his home. He saw the green forest stretching out like a carpet.He felt like the king of the world. He stood on the edge and shouted as loud as he could. "I AM ALIVE!" The echo came back to him from the valleys below. It was the best birthday present he could ever receive.On his way down the mountain, Jack found a path he had never seen before. It led to a narrow canyon. He followed the sound of crashing water and found a secret waterfall. It was much bigger than the one he usually visited.The water fell from a high cliff into a deep, emerald-green pool. Jack didn't hesitate. He took off his deer-skin tunic and dived from a rock. Splash! The water was ice-cold and felt amazing on his skin. He swam behind the waterfall and found a small hidden shelf behind the curtain of water. He sat there, watching the world through the moving liquid glass. He spent the afternoon swimming, diving, and just enjoying the sun on his face. He didn't have to worry about work or survival for a few hours. He was just a teenager having fun.As the sun began to set, Jack’s stomach growled. For his birthday dinner, he wanted a real feast. He went to the tide pools near the rocks. He found three large lobsters hiding in the crevices.Back at the cave, he started a big, bright fire. He roasted the lobsters over the flames. He also found some wild roots that tasted like potatoes when they were cooked in the hot ashes.He sat by his fire, eating his feast with his hands. The meat was juicy and sweet. He felt full and happy. He looked at the tiger’s grave nearby and felt a sense of peace. He had lost a lot on this island, but he had found himself.As the night became dark, Jack walked out to the beach. He lay down on the cool sand and looked up. Because there were no lights for thousands of miles, the stars were incredibly bright. They looked like diamonds scattered on black velvet."19 years," Jack thought. "The first 18 were easy. This last one was the hardest, but it was the best."He realized he didn't miss his phone or his car. He missed his parents, but he knew he was a son they could be proud of now. He wasn't a "Golden Boy" anymore. He was a survivor.He watched a shooting star streak across the sky. He didn't make a wish to be rescued. He didn't make a wish for money. He just closed his eyes and thanked the island for letting him stay.He walked back to his cave, crawled into his grass bed, and fell asleep with a smile on his face. It was the most realistic and best birthday he had ever had.
