Edward and the Island by Charles Martin

Author:Charles Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: metaphysical fiction
Publisher: Literati Press

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Ossie could feel Edward’s stare and tried to ignore it as he talked to a group of girls about pop stars of the 1970’s. Finally, Edward stood and approached. He tapped Ossie on the shoulder and then motioned him to follow.

The two walked toward the lake while Edward glanced around for Tommy. He was talking with Billy, Raul and one of Raul’s cabinmates named Todd as they stood in a suspiciously tight group near the mess hall.

Edward had been curious about what they were talking about, but right now he just wanted to be sure no one could overhear the conversation.

Edward led Ossie toward the water, stopping a few feet away from the waves. Edward took a deep breath while Ossie waited impatiently.

“I wanted your advice,” Edward finally whispered.

“Oh, um, okay,” Ossie answered. “I wondered when this would come up.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you start,” Ossie said.

Edward studied Ossie carefully. Dropped his eyes and took a few moments.

“You don’t seem afraid of God.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m just,” Edward began. “Everyone seems to have trouble here but you and Simon. I understand it with Simon, he’s just a few rungs down from a nihilistic sociopath so I’m not sure anything scares him.”

“I like Simon,” Ossie smirked.

“Oh, I do too, but you see my point?”

“I do.”

“So, how do you do it?” Edward asked. “I mean, after everything you went through back on Earth and then going to heaven, how are you okay being here on the Island?”

Ossie chuckled and then sat down on the sand. He glanced up at Edward before patting the sand next to him.

“Edward, Edward, Edward,” Ossie sighed. Edward sat down stiffly. “You can’t take this stuff too seriously, Eddy.”

Edward smiled at ‘Eddy.’

“Why do I care about anything here?” Ossie said. “Honestly, I thought it was likely I’d end up in the other place, but I knew that the God I believed in would reward me for a good, if unconventional, life. He did, and I’ll one day end up back in heaven. This place? I don’t know what it is, I don’t know why we are here, but I don’t really care.”

“How can you not care?” Edward asked. “How can you not be bitter? I mean, how do you not feel…”

Edward looks around them, then leans in close.

“Betrayed?”

Ossie laughed, loud enough that it embarrassed Edward. Ossie shook his head and playfully measured Edward out of the side of his eye.

“How did He betray us, Eddy?”

Edward sighed and began to stand up, but Ossie grabbed his shoulder and eased him back down.

“I know how tough all of this is on you,” Ossie began. Edward could sense a hidden meaning behind the statement, and then began to grow nervous that Ossie knew.

“But I don’t remember any contracts back on Earth or at the gateway to heaven,” Ossie continued softly, glancing back out across the Island. “God isn’t legally obligated to me and fighting against all of this silliness isn’t going to change anything.”

“But the Bible is a contract, it’s His contract with us.”

Ossie nodded and thought for a few moments.

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