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 3
Bradley wanted to go back in the water to check on Naurie, but his mother would not let him swim for at least thirty minutes.
“If you saw a shark, then of course you can’t go in the water, Bradley. Why don’t we just pack up and go home? And look, your hand’s bleeding.”
Bradley glanced down – the wound Naurie had given him was seeping slightly, just a pinprick of blood, but it could have been what lured the shark. He pressed the thumb of his other hand into the cut and maintained pressure until the bleeding stopped.
“No, I don’t want to go home yet. Please let’s stay, Mom. I’ll wait.” And to make Mom agree, Bradley walked over to his brother.
“Hey Gavin, want to build a sandcastle by the water? I’ll dig, and you can shape it however you want.”
He knew if he and Gavin were playing nicely, mom would stay and read her book, and he’d get a chance to search for Naurie.
By the shore, Bradley and Gavin made a colossal castle. There was a moat, tunnels, towers, a bridge, parking spots – it was fit for a king. But all the while, Bradley was worrying about Naurie.
Had the shark eaten him? Did he have enough power? Enough air? Was he lost?
Every five minutes, Bradley asked his mother if he could go back in the water, and every five minutes she said, “Quit asking me every five minutes. I’ll tell you when it’s time.”
Then, she told him it was time.
Bradley darted right into the water, with Gavin by his side. He’d had awhile to think on the beach, weighing the possibility of telling Gavin so he could help with the search. Was it worth it to keep Naurie his secret, if it meant Naurie wouldn’t return? Bradley wanted to be the one to save Naurie, but what was more important – Naurie’s safety or Bradley getting to be the hero?
Bradley pulled his body board beside Gavin’s.
“I have something to tell you, Gavin. I don’t want to tell you, but it’s important. Can you keep a secret?”
“Yes.”
“Ok. Well, this is really important. One of my Legos came to life. I took him into the ocean, and now I don’t know where he is. He’s in my amphibious vehicle, you remember it? Can you help me look for him? I last saw him when the shark attacked.”
“OK!” Gavin said, diving under to start the search. For once, Bradley was grateful for such a nice little brother.
But despite their best efforts, Bradley and Gavin did not find Naurie. Bradley was teary-eyed when Mom called them back to the beach.
“Time to go, boys,” she said. “I’m hungry, and I didn’t bring my lunch. I have to make dinner, too, and fold laundry, and vacuum, and water the plants, and get the mail, and take out the trash, and wash the dishes, and Gavin wanted to bike ride more. Lots to do.”
Bradley was furious. Mom was always leaving her lunch at home, and all those things were not as important as Naurie.
“Moooommmmmm! Nooooooooo! We can’t leave yet!” Bradley’s face turned red, and tears streamed down his cheeks. How could he leave Naurie? He couldn’t make it on his own!
In his anger, he walked over to the sandcastle and kicked it down.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing to my castle?” a small voice called out.
It was Naurie! He was in one of the tunnels, and Bradley had half-buried him in the sand. But Naurie shot up through the collapsed castle with the Adventurer’s drill bit, like a crab poking through the sand.
Naurie stepped out of the Adventurer, holding something in his one arm. It was a shark’s tooth.
“I got this for you, straight from the shark’s mouth,” he said, grinning ear to ear. “See, I told you I could handle any mission.”
Bradley was speechless.
Gavin came running over to pick up beach toys as mom had asked, but he stopped when he saw the Lego vehicle.
“Is that him?” Gavin asked in awe.
“Yeah,” Bradley said. “He’s OK!”
Bradley picked up Naurie and the Adventurer, showing him to Gavin and introducing them to each other. Then, he slipped the Legos back into his swim short pocket.
“I’m ready to go, mom!” he said, bouncing back to the car with Gavin.
After getting cleaned up, Bradley and Gavin met in Bradley’s room, and Bradley explained what had happened with the cupboard.
“Gavin, I know this looks cool,” he said, “but I don’t think we should keep Lego people alive.”
“Why, Brad?” Gavin asked. He was thinking about bringing to life his jet and its pilot.
“Because it’s not safe for them. I almost lost Naurie, and he’s so small, I worry he’ll get hurt.”
Gavin was disappointed, but he understood. He was smart for a five year old.
“But maybe someday, Brad?”
“Yeah, maybe someday.”
Bradley placed Naurie and the Adventurer back in the cupboard.
“Thanks for the shark’s tooth, Naurie, and thanks for being my friend,” Bradley said to the small man in his velvet box.
“I had a great time,” Naurie said, “but I am ready to go home. See you next time!”
Bradley locked the cupboard and turned the key. When he opened the doors again, the Legos were just plastic blocks. Not real. Not awesome. Not Naurie.
Bradley placed his new shark’s tooth in the cupboard and closed the door but did not lock it. Instead, he gave the key back to his mom.
“I decided maybe it’s not so bad to share with Gavin,” he said. “But please keep the key in case I need it again.”
“No problem. I’m glad you two boys are getting along.”
She hugged Bradley, and when Gavin came up, they all joined together in a big hug. “Love you guys,” Mom said.
“Love you, too,” said Bradley and Gavin – to Mom, and to each other.
