In 2023, Carteret Writers will be 40 years old (though we hardly look a day over 18). To begin celebrating our organization’s long and storied history of supporting, connecting, and inspiring local writers, we asked our members to think back to some of the best stories, poems, and essays of the year before the group was founded. Member Jessi Waugh and her son Bradley offer an imaginative response to the 1982 bestseller The Indian in the Cupboard in the form of a short story in three parts. Stay tuned for the next three weeks to read Jessi’s serial The Legos in the Cupboard. Thank you, Jessi and Bradley,  for your submission.

Chapter 2

Bradley laid his hand on the smooth wood surface of his desk and turned on his lamp. He opened his fist slowly, one finger at a time, peering at the mystery within. There was a tiny cut on his palm, oozing blood. What had cut him?

There was the Lego vehicle, but instead of being hard plastic blocks, it was one solid piece of machinery of welded steel, sleek plastic, and real glass windows. Bradley lifted his palm to eye level, peering inside the Adventurer.

A man looked back at him – angry and alive.

“Aaaahhhh!” The Lego man screamed at the giant eye outside his window.

Bradley couldn’t make a sound at all.

He wanted to reassure the man, but the words wouldn’t come out. Instead, Bradley froze and stared. The man stopped screaming and stared back, a contest of disbelief that could have gone on indefinitely, if Bradley hadn’t heard the front door open and shut. They were back. No way he was sharing this miracle with Gavin. Thinking fast, Bradley scurried underneath his desk, where no one could see him.

“Shhh! It’s ok. I’m your friend,” Bradley told the Lego man. “I won’t hurt you.”

Bradley could hear the panicked breaths of the small man in his palm.

“My name’s Bradley,” he told the Lego man. “I made your vehicle and brought it to life, I guess, in my new cupboard. I don’t know how, but a few minutes ago, you were a plastic toy, and now you’re real.”

The man was taking the measure of Bradley, sizing him up, and what a gargantuan size Bradley must be Finally, the man spoke.

“I’m Naurie, commander of the Adventurer. Pleased to meet you, Bradley. I have no idea how I got here, or how you got so big, but I live my life for the next thrill, and nothing scares me.”

Bradley thought that Naurie had looked a little scared, but he didn’t want to say so.

“Cool name,” Bradley said instead. “Would you mind coming out of that vehicle so I can see you better? It’s pretty dark under here.”

Bradley wished he could put Naurie near the lamp but was too worried Gavin or Mom would come in and discover him.

Naurie opened the door, which swung smoothly on hinges that had not been there ten minutes before. He stepped out bravely but stumbled on the subtle creases in Bradley’s palm. Bradley reached out a finger to help support Naurie and was surprised to see Naurie grab hold with only one arm. His other arm was missing.

“What happened to your arm?” Bradley asked before realizing that the question could be considered rude, the kind of thing Mom was always saying not to ask strangers. But what he meant was that he hadn’t realized his Lego man was missing an arm.

“A shark got it in the Pacific Ocean five years ago, on a secret mission to stop the enemy. But you think this looks bad, you should’ve seen the shark!” Naurie laughed in a voice that showed no fear, a voice loud enough that Bradley worried it might carry down the hallway.

“Shhh!” he said. “There’s an enemy here, too – Gavin. I don’t want him to find you.”

Naurie tilted his head in understanding. “Gotcha, top secret. Ok. What’s our mission?”

“Mom, can we go to the beach?” Bradley called through the house.

“Sure. Gavin and I were just discussing the same thing,” Mom called back. “Get in your swimsuit and bring your body board. I’ll meet you at the car.

Bradley changed clothes and threw his board into the back of Mom’s car. In his pocket was the amphibious vehicle, with a small brave man inside.

When they got to the beach, Gavin darted into the waves with his board, riding as well as a kid twice his age. Bradley followed with his board, but he wasn’t interested in catching waves. He was interested in the secret mission.

When they were out deep enough and had a good amount of distance from Gavin, Bradley released Naurie and the Adventurer. Immediately, Naurie took off, blasting his twin engines across the surface of the sea. When he got a few feet away from Bradley, which took longer than Bradley imagined, Naurie dived under.

Bradley had made the Adventurer to go underwater, but he wasn’t sure how it would perform. He hoped it didn’t leak and that Naurie knew what he was doing. Bradley waited for Naurie to surface, scanning the sea for the tiny figure. Luckily, it was not a windy day, and the waves were low and calm. Bradley spotted Naurie come back up after a few minutes and swam over to him.

“How did the Adventurer work, Naurie?” Bradley asked. “Did you see anything cool? Did you complete the mission?”

“No. I just saw legs, and the sand and shells at the bottom. I didn’t see any treasure like we discussed. The Adventurer is a fine machine. You said you made it?”

“I did! All by myself! I never imagined that someone would really drive it, though, and in the ocean! This is the best day ever! Now go look for treasure again, Naurie. Please!”

“Aye aye, Captain!” Naurie saluted and propelled the Adventurer back underwater to the depths of the seafloor.

Bradley had brought his goggles, and he pulled them over his eyes and ducked underwater.

The Adventurer was resting on the seafloor, and Naurie was nearby, walking on the sand in his diving suit. Bradley was so intent on watching Naurie that he didn’t notice the shark until it was too late.

The shark was swimming along the seafloor – long, gray, and sinuous. Its body swayed with the waves, moving directly towards Naurie.

Bradley popped up for air then dove back under and shouted, “Naurie! Watch out! Shark!” He had never attempted to speak underwater before, and the words came out garbled and unclear, “Nauuugggh wauughhouuu harrrrr!”

Still, Naurie turned and saw the shark coming toward him. He hurried to the Adventurer, but it didn’t matter anymore. Now, the shark was coming for Bradley.
Bradley’s eyes widened within their clear plastic goggles, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure what to do. Should he try to save Naurie, or should he escape? Then, he remembered all the other people in the water and made the best choice he could.

Bradley surfaced, yelling, “Shark! Shark! Get out of the water!”

This time, his words rang out loud and clear, and people scurried to the beach, dragging their loved ones. Gavin, fortunately, was already on the shore, where he had just rode in a wave.

Bradley swam toward him, all the while feeling the shark right behind him. He didn’t dare turn around and look, but he knew it was there, inches away from his feet, mouth open, about to sink its sharp tearing teeth into his unprotected little ankle.

He reached the beach without being bitten, his mother rushing up to grab him.

“I don’t know if Naurie’s alright,” Bradley said, fighting back tears. “Naurie! Naurie!” he called over the crash of the waves.

“What?” His mom said. “What are you talking about? Who’s Naurie?”

Bradley didn’t answer. She wouldn’t have believed him if he’d told her.

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