Chapter 23

By the end of the day, Alvin was putting the finishing touches on his driftwood hut. It looked pretty good, if he said so himself. Now it was time to help poor Brittany. “Okay, Brit,” he announced. “I’m all done. If you want, I can help get you started.”

But then he saw Brittany’s shelter.

It wasn’t a hut. It was a masterpiece. Somehow Brittany had created this amazing tree house with different levels and rooms and an extension that connected to her hot spring. She’d even made her own hot tub!

“Whoa,” said Alvin, awed. “You know, maybe you are kind of the smart one. That tree house is awesome.”

“Thank you, Alvin,” said Brittany. She knew she’d won. “And yours … is … well, you did your best. Anyway, no reason we can’t be comfortable and stylish while we wait for Dave to show up, right?”

Alvin suddenly felt uncomfortable. He’d been thinking a lot about Dave. What was worse, he’d been thinking about how he’d treated Dave when they were onboard the cruise ship.

“Um, Brittany, I think I know why Dave hasn’t come,” he admitted.

“You do?” said Brittany eagerly. “Why?”

Alvin took a deep breath. “Because he’s not even looking,” he said.

“Alvin, why wouldn’t he be looking for us?”

“Because I drive him crazy. You know the way Simon’s been driving me crazy? That’s what I’ve been doing to Dave. For years. No wonder he hates me.” He sat down in the sand, more depressed than he’d ever been.

But Brittany refused to accept this. “What do you mean? Dave’s not coming for us? We’re stuck here forever?”

Alvin put his head in his hands. He knew it was true. And it was his fault.

Brittany actually felt sorry for Alvin. “Don’t worry, Alvin,” she said, more sweetly than usual. “I’m sure Dave will come. I mean, he certainly loves Simon and Theodore.”

Alvin sighed.

Neither Alvin nor Brittany realized that Theodore had been walking by at just that moment—and had heard everything. He scampered through the jungle looking for Simon and finally found him as night was falling.

The stars were coming out, and Simon was gazing up at them as Theodore, clearly upset, ran up to him.

He had tears in his eyes. “Simon? Is Dave ever going to find us?”

Simon didn’t respond.

“Simon?”

Again there was no response.

And then Theodore figured out the problem. “Simone?” he said, trying to sound French.

“I’m sorry, were you speaking to me?” Simon said at once.

“Yes! About Dave! Where is he?”

“I see you are sad, mon ami, my friend,” sympathized Simon. “And I hate to see you sad. I shall make it my business to find this Dave friend of yours.”

“You really think you can find him?” asked Theodore.

“I know I can!”

Theodore looked so relieved. Everything was going to be okay.

“And then,” said Simon, “I will find this Simon you keep speaking of!”

This was getting worse and worse! What were they going to do?