Drop a Line to Baxter's Island
Want to write? I'd love to hear from you. It gets lonesome out here sometimes, and a letter from a stranger feels almost like a visitor coming up the path.
But fair warning, mail comes to Baxter's Island by boat, and only when somebody's heading this way. Might be a while before I can write back. Weeks. Maybe months. Don't take it personal, that's just how it is in the scrub.
If you're lost, if you got questions about the critters, if you just want to say hello, I'd be obliged to hear from you. Pa says a letter is a handshake across the miles. I like that.
-Jody
📬 BY POST
JODY BAXTER
c/o BAXTER'S ISLAND
NEAR VOLUSIA, FLORIDA
(Look for the big clearing with smoke)
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is Flag still alive?
A: I get this one most. Flag... Flag ain't with me anymore. He grew up, and growing up changes things. He's out in the scrub somewhere, living wild like he was meant to. I like to think he remembers me. Fodder-wing says he's seen him with a family of his own. That helps.
Q: Are the Forresters really that mean?
A: Lem and Gabby can be rough, yeah. They've done things I won't write about here. But Fodder-wing is different, he's the best friend a boy could ask for. His brothers ain't all bad, neither. They're just... scratchy. Like sandspurs. Annoying, but they belong here too.
Q: Can I visit Baxter's Island?
A: You can try! Fair warning, it's hard to find. Head toward Volusia, then keep going past where folks usually stop. Follow the creek south until you see a big clearing with a cabin and smoke. If you see gopher holes everywhere, you're close. If you see Old Slewfoot tracks, you're too far. Bring food to share. Pa loves company.
Q: How do you get internet out there?
A: We don't. This website gets made when I go to Volusia with Pa. Mr. Danforth at the general store lets me use his computer. I write everything ahead of time on paper, then type it up when I get to town. That's why I don't post often, only when we make the trip.
Q: What's your favorite thing about the scrub?
A: The quiet. No, wait, the sounds IN the quiet. The wind in the pines. The loons at dusk. The jays chattering. Pa's voice telling stories. The scrub ain't silent. It's full of whispers if you listen.
Q: Is Ma really as strict as you make her sound?
A: She's strict, yeah. But she's got reasons. Lost babies, hard life, endless work. She loves me the best way she knows how. She shows it by keeping me alive, fed, and clothed. That's her way. I'm learning to see it.