FUN ISLAND EXPRESS said the sign at the end of the pier. Nick's father paid the $35 ticket fare, and asked the attendant, "That's $35 for admission to the park and the round trip to and from the Island, right?"
"From? Oh, yes, I suppose it is--I mean, they don't charge them to leave the Fun Island. Hehe," laughed the attendant.
"Dicky, darling, you say good bye to little Nickie, and I'll get us some bottled water. Our mini-vacation begins in half an hour at the Spa!" Vickie, Nick's step-mom reminded her husband.
"One regular, and," she added with a whisper, "one from the Fountains of Oblivion."
The attendant chuckled, took a blue bottle out of the refrigerator, and then bent down and brought up a clear bottle with a grey label, "So, he really thinks the kid is coming back?"
"He won't after he drinks that! How much? I haven't got all day."
"$2.50 for the regular, $198.00 for the Oblivion. Aw, just make it an even $200.00, I'll even eat the state bottle deposit. After all you not only got us Nickie, but those other kids from his school."
He nods toward a group of thugs sitting on a bench at the end of the pier. She smiles, and says, "How about a free bottle?"
"Sorry, lady $200 or pop's will be back to pick up long ears. And he might have a few questions about where you sent his offspring."
"You're blackmailing me? Here's the money, I'm outta here!" she grabs the bottles with a sneer and heads over to Dicky and Nickie.
She puts her plastic smile back one, and hands Dicky the grey labelled bottle. She bends down to Nickie, and says, "Goodbye, Nickie-Wickie," Nick rolls his eyes, "you have a fun time on the Island now!" She pecks at his forehead with an air kiss.
"Come along, Dickie, we'll be late for the Spa!"
He follows and takes a drink of the Oblivion water. Then stands still with a dazed look on his face. "Where am I?"
"Dickie, darling, you're at the pier. We just dropped y-- a boy off at the pier, so he can catch a ferry."
"What boy? And my name's Dickie? Sounds like a silly scarf--hm," he mutters. Vickie takes his bottle from him and gives him her blue regular water bottle. She tightens the cap on the clear bottle and slips it in her purse. She leads Dick back to the car.
Nick heads toward the bench at the end of the pier. He is surprised to see most of his school's "problem children," better known as the "Juvie Crew," since they would all probably end up in Juvenile Detention. There was Damon "Nasty" Canastes in a white muscle tee, torn pleather pants, and vinyl biker boots with a cigarette tucked behind his ear. Next to him was Willson Woodrow, Tuan Ping, Nguyen Nguyen, and Debbie Nurenberg. There was also Hulk Brannigan, who was already 6 feet tall, and at age 14 was the oldest 5th grader in the school (he'd been held back 3 times).
Nick said, "Hi!" and waved. No one acknowledged his presence.
The whistle blew on the ferry. "All aboard!" shouted the ferryman.
The Juvie Crew rushed on board. Nick followed at a slower pace. He glanced over his shoulder hoping that at least one of his friends would be joining him.