Toy Soldiers
A vivid dream I had on my first night of sobriety. Written in under 5 minutes.
I️ was meeting with a client who was visiting town to finalize a deal. They were staying on the west side so we met at a restaurant near the beach.
They were two middle aged women. Looking to turn their trip into a fun adventure, they asked me for a few good spots to go out later that night. I️ made a couple recommendations in the city, a few upscale bars on the west side, and as I️ handed her the napkin she urged me to join them with a twinkle in her eye. I️ told her I️ wasn’t in the mood to go out, but as I️ was saying that I️ was reminded of the perfect spot.
“You should go to Fire Island”, I️ said.
It’s a mythical place where people gather around from all over the world to watch young surfers, “Toy Soldiers”, they call them, surf the biggest waves known to man. The island was filled with beautiful women, old European cars and men dressed in nice suits with briefcases smoking stogies.
There was once was a toy soldier named Young Jack. Jack was 9 years old, had long bleach blonde hair and sun-glazed skin, and always one of the youngest in the water. He was fearless. Jack would admire all the older soldiers, often watching from the shore as he glared out to see them snag big wave after big wave. He would run around the island barefoot chasing around the locals and visitors alike.
During the last weeks of summer, all the soldiers knew that the biggest swell of the year would be coming, and for the first time in history we would see waves over 100 feet tall. While most surfers were scared to get in the water, a few paddled out. Fearless young Jack who wasn’t allowed out under such strict conditions, grabbed his board and snuck out into the most northern part of water. Waiting for that perfect ride, he stayed silent while the others rode wave after wave.
After some time you could hear the people on shore scream out to the soldiers. “Get in! Fast! The mother of all waves is coming”. The soldiers turned around to see the biggest wave to ever strike the island. Most of the soldiers paddled in ferociously, making it back before it came close to shore. Others weren’t so lucky, or afraid. They strapped in and wanted to make their name among the legends. Young Jack was no where to be found.
As the wave got closer and closer, the soldiers began dropping in, quickly losing grip and flying under the mouth of the wave. As the wave started to crest, it looked as though every soldier had either backed out or was in serious danger after being thrown 15 feet from their board. All the people on the shore watched and worried. And then, something appeared. One of the locals yelled “Its Young Jack! He’s riding it!”
Little Jack at only four feet looked like a speckle on this giant monsoon. The place lit up and Jack became a legend that day. Forever worshipped by the locals. Susie, one of the older girls and widely considered the most beautiful blond bombshells on the island, made Jack a man that night and the two became inseparable lovers.
One night, Jack was running around the dirt parking lot playing hide and seek with his friends. As he was hiding behind an old 1950 black Mercedes Benz, he saw two European business man attaching bombs from their briefcases to some of the cars. Jack — frightened, started to run barefoot across the parking lot to warn the others. It was too late. As Jack finally neared the restaurants, he heard BOOM! The bombs had exploded and everything in sight was up in flames.
All the restaurants caught fire and the trees began to burn. Smoke covered the air and you could barely hear the waves crashing. Young Jack knew he had to make it out into the water to survive. As he kept running, he saw one of the older soldiers driving a car that had somehow survived, and he leaped into the back.
Jack’s whole world had turned upside down. He peered down beneath the seats and found a 1942 black and grey pistol in the back of the car, and then leaped out. Young Jack was always fearless, but he was also impulsive. Without waiting another minute, there was another BOOM! This time, Jack was gone forever.
Jack became a man of legends at Fire Island, and soon the place would dry up and would be rebuilt. It would never be the same as it once was, but Young Jack and the other spirits would remain forever.
“You should go to Fire Island”, I️ said, and watch as the Toy Soldiers surf the biggest waves in the world.
