The Jigsaw Jungle by Kristin Levine
Absolutely nothing.
I’ve never been so disappointed in my entire life.
I didn’t know what to do. Maybe it was the wrong puzzle. Maybe we were supposed to do one of the giant ones after all. But it didn’t matter. We were out of time.
And then I remembered. We hadn’t watched the video labeled “Hains Point.”
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
EXT. MINI GOLF—DAY
A bunch of boys are standing at the mini golf counter, picking out putters.
PAPA (O.S.)
Smile, boys!
The boys turn to look at the camera. Jeff is standing next to Brian, who slaps a third boy on the back.
BRIAN
Happy birthday, Jason!
* * *
—————
EXT. HAINS POINT PARK—DAY
Hains Point is a big, open park on the Potomac River. There are half-eaten plates of cake discarded on a picnic table. Behind the table, The Awakening rises out of mulch. The group of boys from mini golf play on the enormous hands and face.
The camera watches the boys for a moment, then turns up to the sky. A plane flies overhead, low as it approaches the airport. For a moment, the roar of the engines overpowers everything else.
But once the plane is gone, we can hear someone screaming.
The camera whips back around to the statue. Jeff is on the ground, next to the huge metal head, clutching his wrist.
PAPA (O.S.)
Jeff!
He runs toward his son, forgetting the camera is still recording. The next dialogue is heard over a view of mulch.
PAPA (O.S.) (CONT’D)
What happened?
BRIAN (O.S.)
Dwight pushed him!
DWIGHT (O.S.)
I didn’t mean . . . I barely touched him!
BRIAN (O.S.)
You called him a—
JEFF (O.S.)
Oww!
More scrambling. We catch a glimpse of Jeff on the ground as the camera swings forgotten on his father’s arm.
PAPA (O.S.)
Call an ambulance!
BRIAN (O.S.)
You’re gonna be okay. It’s fine.
The camera swings again. Brian is kneeling on the ground next to Jeff, his hand on his uninjured arm.
PAPA (O.S.)
Stupid thing is still on.
The screen goes black.
NOTE TO READER
THEN I FELT even worse. The video didn’t help. My father never mentioned he had broken his wrist. I guess there were a lot of things I didn’t know about him.
Luis went home, Papa went to bed early, and I sat there in the kitchen. Just sat there, thinking about how much I hated my father.
VOICE MEMO
Walter Dalton’s Cell Phone | Thursday, July 16, 2015, 9:30 p.m.
[RECORDING BEGINS]
Oh, Lily. You should have seen her face. She was so disappointed. We did the last puzzle and . . . nothing.
The thing is, even if we didn’t find anything . . . it was fun. I really had fun with Claudia. And watching those videos, yeah, sure it’s been painful. But, oh gosh, I wish I had taken more. I can’t get enough of them. And that was all Claudia too. I would have dumped them in the trash without her.
I know Claudia thought following these clues would help her find her father again. But remembering all those things, all those nice memories—her watching the videos and learning all those new things about him—it’s kind of like we already did.
I hope I can help her see that. I’m too tired to try now. All that driving and walking. Can’t keep up with a couple of twelve-year-olds. But maybe tomorrow. I miss you.
[RECORDING ENDS]
TEXT MESSAGE
Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Thursday, July 16, 2015, 10:15 p.m.
KATE
What happened? Did you find it?
No
[missed call from Kate]
What happened?!
It didn’t lead anywhere
Sorry, too frustrated to talk
Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!
Let me know if there is anything I can do
TEXT MESSAGE
Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Friday, July 17, 2015, 12:04 a.m.
MOM
I’m boarding my plane in a minute
Know you’re probably asleep, but
I just wanted to say I love you
See you later today!
PHONE TRANSCRIPT
Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Friday, July 17, 2015, 12:15 a.m.
Claudia: Hello?
Luis: Claudia?
Claudia: What?
Luis: I can’t sleep.
Claudia: Neither can I.
Luis: I don’t understand.
Claudia: I don’t either!
Luis: [SILENCE]
Claudia: I’m sorry, Luis. I don’t mean to be grumpy. It’s just . . .
Luis: I know. I’m exhausted too. Let’s talk in the morning.
Claudia: Okay. I really appreciate your help.
Luis: I know. Sweet dreams, Claudia.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
INT. PAPA’S KITCHEN—NIGHT
The camera films the empty kitchen. It’s dark and late. Claudia walks into the frame. Her eyes are red as if she’s been crying.
CLAUDIA
It’s 1:17 a.m. and I can’t sleep and I’m making this video for you, Dad. Just to tell you how much I hate you. You tricked me! Just like Obi-Wan tricked the Stormtroopers.
She gestures to the puzzle.
CLAUDIA (CONT’D)
It was all just a stupid game, wasn’t it? Even if it had led to a time capsule, how would that ever have anything to do with where you are now?! I’m such an idiot!
She picks up the puzzle and crumples it in her hands. The pieces break apart easily, like crushing cornflakes in a bowl. Claudia takes the pieces and throws them everywhere, throwing as hard as she can, until they’re scattered all over the kitchen.
Then she puts her head down on the island and starts to sob. The TV, left on in the background, drones on as she cries.
INFORMERCIAL TRANSCRIPT
INT. GYM—DAY
A smiling man and woman in workout clothes pose in front of a sleek-looking treadmill.
MAN
The EXERPRO 2000 is a piece of exercise equiptment like no other. No longer will you envy others with their fit bodies.
WOMAN
And there’s no long hours at the gym either. From the comfort of your own home, you can use the EXERPRO 2000 to transform your body—and your life!
NOTE TO READER
WHEN I WOKE up the next morning, I was still in the kitchen, my face pressed against the island. The sun was shining through the open blinds, directly into my eyes.
I sat up and realized there was a puzzle piece stuck to my cheek. Carefully, as if removing a Band-Aid, I peeled it off.
It was a standard puzzle piece. With two pockets and two tabs. Gold. Probably part of C-3PO. I twirled the piece in my fingers, staring at it. The piece was so old, there were cracks in the cardboard on the back. Lots of cracks. They looked like lines.
No, wait.
They were lines. Pencil lines.
I was suddenly wide-awake. I scrambled around on the table, reaching for more pieces. There were two within hand’s reach. The first had nothing on its back. Just the cardboard, gray and faded with age.
The second had more pencil lines. As if someone had drawn them there on purpose.
I jumped up and switched on the overhead light, picking up the pieces, putting them into the lid of the box. One of them had a small N on it with an arrow pointing up. As if it were a compass rose. As if it were part of a map!
I searched under breakfast bar stools, under the TV, flip
I dumped the pieces onto the table and started working. When I was done, Luke, the droids, Obi-Wan, and the Stormtroopers stared back at me.
I went to the recycling bin again and found an old cereal box. I ripped it open to make a huge cardboard spatula and slipped it carefully under the puzzle, turning it over.
From: Claudia Dalton
Date: Friday, July 17, 2015 6:48 AM EST
To: Jeffery Dalton
Subject: The Map
Dear Dad,
I can’t believe it. I thought . . .
Last night, when I couldn’t sleep, I thought about the time I had the flu and you stayed up all night with me. We watched one infomercial after another, electric grills and blenders and jewelry and exercise equipment. The actors were all so happy, so sure their product would solve all our problems! I guess I kind of thought finding the time capsule would be like that.
I know that’s stupid. Still, I wanted so much to find it. And now I think I have! Drawn on the back of the very first puzzle. Nana and Papa’s backyard, with the cherry tree and the fishpond and an X marking the spot.
It’s almost 7:00 a.m. Late enough to wake Luis up, I think. And Papa. We have some digging to do.
Love, Claudia
PART 3
The Big Picture
NOTE TO READER
SO NOW COMES the part we’ve all been waiting for. Here’s how we found the time capsule.
PHONE TRANSCRIPT
Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Friday, July 17, 2015, 7:01 a.m.
Luis: Hello?
Claudia: Come over now.
Luis: What?
Claudia: Come over now!
Luis: What time is it?
Claudia: 7:02 a.m.
Luis: It’s too early.
Claudia: It’s important. I found the map.
Luis: Map?
Claudia: To the time capsule!
Luis: What?!
Claudia: Come over.
Luis: On my way.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
EXT. PAPA’S BACKYARD—MORNING
The sun is shining, melting the ice in a pitcher of lemonade on the picnic table. The camera is on a tripod with a wide view of the backyard. There’s ivy, grass, an empty fishpond, and a cherry tree, just like on the puzzle map. Claudia and Luis are standing in the ivy between the pond and the tree.
They’re both digging with old spades and have been for a while. Claudia’s face is red, and wisps of hair, escaped from her ponytail, stick to her cheeks and forehead. Luis takes the hem of his shirt and uses it to wipe the sweat from his face.
LUIS
Where’s your grandfather?
CLAUDIA
Doughnut run.
They both look at the hole they’re digging. It’s about two feet deep and maybe four feet wide. Luis kicks at the loose dirt they’ve piled around the hole, making sure they haven’t missed anything. He sighs.
LUIS
I’m gonna get some lemonade.
CLAUDIA
Pour me a glass.
She puts her foot on the shovel and leans her weight onto it. There’s a loud clank.
CLAUDIA (CONT’D)
Oh!
Luis turns back to look at her.
CLAUDIA (CONT’D)
I think I found something!
They both kneel and begin pawing through the dirt with their hands. After a moment, a corner of a white box appears, sticking out of the dirt. They keep digging and uncover a black handle. Claudia grasps the handle and pulls as hard as she can. With a loud slurp, the box finally breaks free of the clay earth and Claudia falls back into the dirt.
Luis offers her a hand and helps her up. They’re both filthy, dirt on their knees and hands, smudged on their sweaty faces. Together, they lift the white metal box onto the picnic table.
The box is about the size of a briefcase. Luis brushes off a chunk of dirt to reveal a sticker that reads SAFE4EVER—Waterproof & Fireproof Box. Next to the handle is a five-letter, alphabetic combination lock.
LUIS
What’s the code?
CLAUDIA
I have no idea.
From: Claudia Dalton
Date: Friday, July 17, 2015 9:45 AM EST
To: Jeffery Dalton
Subject: The Box
Dear Dad,
We found the time capsule, but it’s locked! Please, Dad, I’m tired. Mom will be home in a couple of hours. Just send me the code.
Love, Claudia
TEXT MESSAGE
Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Friday, July 17, 2015, 9:55 a.m.
KATE
Kate, we found the time capsule, but we can’t open it
It has an alphabet lock
26 letters. Five positions
Papa says that’s 26 to the 5th power
11,881,376 possibilities
Why send you clues if you can’t open the box?
I know!!
It doesn’t make sense
What are you doing now?
Just eating doughnuts
Yummy
Remember how you used to bite into doughnuts to make a letter C?
Oh
What?
The letters!
What letters?
The letters on the puzzle pieces. We didn’t know what they meant
Oh!
I’m going to send you a pic of all the pieces
PUZZLE
PHONE TRANSCRIPT
Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Friday, July 17, 2015, 10:21 a.m.
Claudia: Hi, Kate. You’re on speaker. Luis and Papa are here too.
Luis: Hey, Kate.
Papa: Katie-pie!
Kate: Hi, guys.
Claudia: We’ve got the pieces. I think the letters on the corners must be the code for the combination.
Kate: But there are six letters, and you said it was five-letter code.
Luis: I don’t think the X counts. That was “X marks the spot.” We already used that one.
Claudia: So that leaves five letters: R-I-B-A-N.
Kate: Did you try that?
Claudia: Yes. Didn’t work in that order.
Papa: Even with only five letters, there are 119 more possibilities.
Claudia: We don’t have time to try them all. Mom will be back at 5:32 tonight!
Luis: We need to think. Your dad sent the letters; maybe he sent the order too.
Kate: Question—how many horns were on Uncle Beazley?
Luis: Three. He was a triceratops.
Kate: And how many pieces of The Awakening were there?
Luis: I don’t know. Four?
Claudia: No, there were five. Head, foot, hand, arm, knee.
Kate: So what if the I on the Uncle Beazley clue was the third letter? And maybe the N from the Awakening clue is letter five?
Claudia: Kate, you’re a genius!
Papa: I’m an old man. I need to write this down. So you’re saying the clue is: “Blank, blank, I, blank, N.”
Kate: Yes.
Claudia: We just need to fill in the other blanks.
Kate: And there’s only one bob on a pendulum, so B must be the first letter.
Papa: So, “B, blank, I, blank, N.” Two left.
Luis: The entrance to Skylab was on the second floor. I remember because I kept looking over the railing to see if there was anyone who might be your father. So R is the second letter.
Claudia: And there were four horses in a row on the merry-go-round. Which makes A letter number f
Papa: B-R-I-A-N.
[LONG PAUSE]
Kate: “Brian”?
Claudia: It sounds familiar.
Luis: Uncle? Cousin? Friend?
Claudia: Friend! Papa, wasn’t Brian the name of Dad’s friend in those old home movies?
Papa: Yes, yes, it was!
Kate: Why did he pick his name for the code?
Claudia: Only one way to find out.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
EXT. PAPA’S BACKYARD—DAY
Claudia sits in front of the white box on the picnic table. Papa hovers behind her. Luis is filming. Slowly, Claudia brushes the last of the dirt off the lock and begins to turn the letters.
B. R. The third dial is a little stiff, but she manages to turn it. I. A. Her fingertips are sweaty, slipping as she tries to turn the final dial. She goes past it at first, all the way to O. Then she turns it back one. N.
Papa takes a deep breath. Luis takes a step closer.
LUIS (O.S.)
You ready?
Claudia nods and flicks open the lock. The top pops up. Luis walks around the table so that the camera can also see into the box. There’s a pile of papers.
LUIS (O.S.) (CONT’D)
Is there a mixtape?
CLAUDIA
No. Just a bunch of papers.
PAPA
What are they?