Gerilyn Fitka

I'm Ralph again and, as I look back on the adventure of the island, I get tears in my eyes. Still after 30 years I feel the sadness I felt when Piggy and Simon got killed. But I also get tears of happiness because I got rescued before Jack and his tribe had a chance to kill me.

After we got rescued by the soldiers and their ships I sat on the ground and cried because I was so happy to be alive. I was also very sad that Jack had Piggy and Simon killed.

When asked why I was crying, I said,"We are hungry and thirsty. We haven't eaten in over five days." I said this because I was afraid of what Jack and his tribe would do to me if I told the truth. When I looked at Jack he had a very mean look on his face. He scared me a lot.

Before I knew it the soldiers had brought us food and water. I ate thankfully but also very savagely. Jack and his tribe ate only a little of the food but they drank a lot of water. When we finished the men took the leftovers away.

Then we went to the ship and started our journey back to England. I was very scared to be caught alone with Jack or any of his tribe because I was afraid of what they would do to me. So I always stayed around the soldiers. When they asked why I was always around them I said I was interested in what they were doing. Then when it was time to go to bed I asked if I could have my own room because I didn't want to be alone with any of the boys.

After about three to four days of traveling on the ocean we finally reached our destination, England. On arriving, the soldiers asked where we lived and who our parents were. We told them and they brought us to a social services station where we were to be held until our parents picked us up.

When the soldier who brought us to the station left the same insecurity I felt before came back to me. Even though there were a lot of workers in the station I was still scared of Jack and the other boys.

After my parents came to pick me up, we went home and I immediately took a long hot bath and completely relaxed for the first time. After my bath we ate supper and I told my parents about my adventure. I changed the story of how Piggy and Simon got killed though because I was afraid of their reaction. I thought they would make me tell the police, and Jack and his tribe would end up in jail.

During my first night of sleep at home I had a nightmare about Jack and his tribe. I was running through the forest, trying to escape from them. When I got past the trees and into the scar, they caught me and started chanting their stupid chant,"Kill the pig, cut his throat!"

My mother came in the room and woke me up. She asked what was wrong and why I was crying. I was so fed up with all the pain and suffering that came with the deaths of Piggy and Simon I told my mother the whole story about the way my best friends got killed.

The next day she took me to the police station and I told them about the accidents. They asked me a lot of questions and I answered them the best I could. Then they asked if I knew where the boys lived and I told them what I'd heard the boys say their addresses were.

After a month of arguing back and forth about the accidents, the other boys were all sent away to a juvenile home for their actions. They were also to receive some therapy for their problems.

My parents contacted a psychologist to help me forget about the accidents and continue with my life. I attended the helpful meetings an hour a day every day for two years. Finally, I got over my grief and was able to lead a "normal" life.

I will never forget what happened to my friends or the way Jack treated the boys of his tribe. Nowadays Jack is a good-for-nothing bum who begs for the things he needs to live. The other boys are leading okay lives for themselves. And, as for me, I work for a half-way house that helps other young boys deal with their problems. I am married and have my own children which I am very proud of. I only hope what happened to me doesn't happen to them!