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judge me by what other people
have done," Jade commented, dully. "I'm not like them."
    "Really? My impression of you is that you
are."
    Jade looked up at him, her eyes filling with
tearss. "Do you think it's easy having to put up this appearance?
Nothing in my life is sacred. Because of Dad's business and how it
effects our local economy, I am followed constantly by either
people who want me to get them a high-paying job with dad's
company, or his competitors trying to weasel trade secrets from me.
Like I would know anything, right? I've never even stepped foot
into my father's office. The people in my life are closed off and
superficial, wondering how to outdo each other. And look at me!"
She was shouting. "I am subject to constant ridicule because I am
not a size 2! I look like a hippo next to other girls my age and am
too fucking scared to get liposuction! My whole damn life is
nothing but a huge joke that is the same size as my gigantic ass!
They wouldn't even know I was gone; that is how unimportant I am to
everyone."
    Griffon was quiet for a moment, debating on
the words to use. He decided on honesty. She might as well get used
to it. "Listen, kid, you are what you are, and only you can make
the choice to break away from that life, if you really hate it. Get
involved in your dad's business, if it interests you. Find a hobby.
Volunteer. Go to school, get a career to call your own and make a
name for yourself apart from your father. Work on your attitude.
You are only limited by your own self-awareness, desires, and
imagination. As for your body," he cleared his throat, "it is
absolutely lovely. Mature men tend to like curves and something to
hang onto. So what if you have some padding? I don't know if my
opinion counts for anything, but I believe it is exactly where it
should be. There is nothing more beautiful than a woman who is soft
and smooth in all the right places."
    Jade blinked at him. "You like my body?"
    "Yeah," Griffon grunted. "I just don't like
the attitude. That negates how pretty you are every time."
    The silence was uncomfortable, interrupted
only by the crunching sound under their feet and the growling of
thunder in the distance. Wordlessly, Griffon climbed the banana
palm and sliced off half the bunch, watching as Jade reached to
catch them. The weight threw her off balance and she fell backwards
with a yelp.
    "Jade! Are you okay?" Griffon yelled,
scurrying down and kneeling at her side. Worry etched his face as
he helped her to a sitting position. "I'm sorry. I didn't know the
bunch was so heavy."
    "I'm okay. Just a little bruised in an
already-tender area," Jade said, as she reached to rub her flanks.
She grinned. "You are actually acting like you give a shit, Griffon
Badger."
    "Busted, okay? Don't tell anyone. I have a
reputation to hold onto," Griffon grunted, helping her to her
feet.
    Jade hugged him. "Not a word. Thanks. I don't
hate you as much when I know you might care a little."
    Griffon grunted again, lifting the bananas to
his shoulder. "Pick up those leaves that I cut, and let's get back
to camp before that storm hits. It looks like monsoon season might
be pretty nasty this year, and we don't want to be caught
unprepared. And watch out for that anthill. Damn things hurt like
hell when they chomp on you."
    The next five days were spent in the
backbreaking work of gathering wood and food, building fish traps,
looking for bird eggs, and bottling precious rainwater in plastic
bottles and containers found washed up on shore. A few hours rain,
followed by hours of thick, muggy heat and swarms of biting insects
brought Jade to a place of agitated depression, and her desire to
maintain a 'decent attitude' grew short. Sunshine helped with her
mood, and Griffon was more than happy to allow her a couple of
hours a day to bask under a clear sky, whenever it presented
itself.
    Any hint of pleasant weather became a thing
of the past by the sixth day. The days remained hot and muggy, but
under a constant