Chapter 8: Jack's shameful tears : Ralph’s Journal

The Beastie had been spotted! I didn’t actually fully believe in it until I looked it right in the eyes. We all frantically ran away, to reach the bottom of the mountain where the other boys were waiting.

We saw the Beastie! We told everyone, and they suddenly looked frightened and started talking to each other. We run back to the edge of the island so that we can gather a meeting.

When everyone is in their spots, Jack starts talking about how we spotted the Beastie. He doesn’t allow me to say anything. I am forced to sit down and listen to him babble, he makes me sick. Jack starts talking about something that greatly alarms me. I always knew that he was a bad person, but I wasn’t expecting the words that came flying out of his mouth, harsh, rude, and in spite. He told everyone that I was a coward, that I stayed further back when we inched toward the Beastie, and that I was a horrible leader. How I never paunched a pig, how I was friends with Piggy, and how I wasn't at all a prefect. He talked about how he could be a leader, and how great he would be. I couldn’t believe it. He was acting the exact opposite of demure.

Jack casted a vote. Whoever wanted him as leader should raise their hand.

No one raised their hand. I could see the anger building up in Jack’s face, and then it turned into sadness and shame. Tears started to build up in his eyes, and he placed down the conch and starred at everyone. He was going to create his on tribe. He didn’t need us- apparently. He ran as fast as he possibly could, into the forest.

I called out to him, but he only yelled No in response. I knew he would be back though, guilty and sorry.

I start feeling very sad and bad about this. Maybe everything he said was true about me. But no one voted me out. Everyone thought otherwise. Or maybe, they just don’t like Jack at all! I don’t really know what to make of this.

Things start falling apart, I’m always a bit gloomy, and everything seems to be a bit more carefree. A few people went to join Jack- but I wasn’t surprised. I expected more to join later. Piggy tries to cheer me up with his idea: To build a signal fire on the beach! It gets me a bit more pumped, and I want to do it. We start moving down the fire.

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Piggy and I are sitting down at the beach, talking about who left with Jack. Neither of us had seen Simon lately- but I didn’t think he was the kind of person to leave us for Jack’s tribe. But Piggy doesn’t seem at all shocked. I just hope Simon is somewhere else besides with Jack, I didn't think he was that demoniac to leave us. Loud, shrieking noises and chants come out of nowhere, as if they were the air. Then Jack and his tribe (which is smaller than I thought) came running towards us and they grabbed some of the burning sticks off of the fire. I am not surprised; they probably don’t know how to make a fire without the specks so they came to steal ours. But what did surprise me is they went for the fire.

I was sure they were heading for the conch, as soon as I saw them- that was what I thought. I’m not quite sure why, I just had a feeling. They announce that anyone can come for the feast they were having tonight, and they might let them, they might not.

Trying to recruit members, I’m sure. I don’t know what will be the future… I frown at the thought of it. There seems to be some sort of taboo surrounding me, and it was to not mess with Jack.