The Jigsaw Jungle Read online

Claudia: Tonight?

  Luis: Can I come over? Can I bring my camera?!

  Claudia: Um, yeah, sure, I guess.

  Luis: Great. See you in five.

  VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

  INT. PAPA’S KITCHEN—NIGHT

  Claudia and Papa are sitting at the island, working the Star Wars puzzle. The box shows Luke and Obi-Wan in the landspeeder, with C-3PO and R2-D2 in the back. They are all surrounded by Stormtroopers.

  Claudia keeps looking up at the camera.

  CLAUDIA

  Why are you always filming things?

  LUIS (O.S.)

  I’m taking a class on cinema verité.

  CLAUDIA

  What’s that?

  LUIS (O.S.)

  It’s a style of documentary filmmaking. The camera is acknowledged, which means you don’t have to pretend it’s not there.

  PAPA

  It’s a French thing, right? Started in the 1960s?

  CLAUDIA

  You’ve heard of this?!

  Papa shrugs.

  PAPA

  Your grandmother used to drag me to all these weird foreign films.

  LUIS (O.S.)

  Yeah, it started in France. It’s all about finding truth in images and everyday interactions. There’s usually not even any voice-over narration.

  CLAUDIA

  Then how do you know what’s going on?

  LUIS (O.S.)

  You have to figure it out yourself by what you see and hear. As a filmmaker, you really find your story in the editing room and have to piece it all together. It’s super cool!

  NOTE TO READER

  I’VE GOT TO be honest with you. When Luis started going on and on about all this “cinema verité” stuff, I did not think it sounded super cool. I thought it sounded super dorky and weird. And a big waste of time. What if you spent hours filming “everyday life” and nothing interesting ever happened?!

  I mean, who really wants to watch someone working a puzzle? But I felt bad I’d been rude at the movies and I’d thought about what Kate said about taking it as a compliment if someone wanted to interview you. And Luis had helped find the Star Wars puzzle. So I figured I could deal, even if his filming was a little annoying.

  VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

  INT. PAPA’S KITCHEN—NIGHT

  Claudia and Papa are still working on the puzzle.

  LUIS (O.S.)

  And so, for this class I’m supposed to film all my footage this summer, and then we’re going to work on editing it in the fall.

  CLAUDIA

  Hmm.

  Luis steps closer, filming over her shoulder.

  LUIS (O.S.)

  Hey, I remember this scene! It’s from the original movie—right before Obi-Wan uses the Jedi mind trick on the Stormtroopers. “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”

  Claudia looks up him and smiles.

  CLAUDIA

  Yeah. Dad used to use the Jedi mind trick on me with cookies. When there was only one left on the plate, he’d wave his hand and say, “You do not want to eat this cookie!”

  LUIS (O.S.)

  Did it work?

  CLAUDIA

  Yeah. I’d laugh so hard, I’d always end up splitting it with him.

  Luis laughs. Papa smiles too.

  LUIS (O.S.)

  That’s awesome.

  CLAUDIA

  There are only a couple of pieces left.

  Luis zooms in. One is the gold piece that says “Find the time capsule” on the back. Sure enough, Claudia snaps that piece into place as C-3PO’s head. There’s now only one piece missing from the puzzle, from the side of R2-D2.

  But the final piece in Claudia’s hand is not blue or white or silver. It’s black. Black as night. Darth Vader black, with random specks of white.

  Papa hovers by her side.

  PAPA

  What are you waiting for?

  CLAUDIA

  It’s the wrong one. It’s not going to fit.

  LUIS (O.S.)

  Try it anyway.

  Claudia does. It doesn’t fit. She tries it again.

  CLAUDIA

  See?!

  She flips it over in frustration. On the back is written: “Entrance to Skylab.”

  CLAUDIA (CONT’D)

  It says something!

  PAPA

  Let me see.

  He picks up the piece.

  LUIS (O.S.)

  Hold it up so I can get a better shot.

  He zooms in even closer.

  PAPA

  There’s an R near the round part here . . .

  CLAUDIA

  That’s called a tab. The empty parts are pockets.

  LUIS (O.S.)

  “Entrance to Skylab.” And the letter R. What does that mean?

  CLAUDIA

  I don’t know.

  PAPA

  Skylab?

  Claudia picks up her phone and types quickly.

  CLAUDIA

  It’s an old space station from the 1970s.

  PAPA

  Oh yeah. It’s at the museum in the city.

  CLAUDIA

  From the video! Dad and I made it out of a cardboard box. Which museum was it?

  PAPA

  Air and Space.

  Claudia puts down her phone.

  CLAUDIA

  Where’d you put the junk mail?

  PAPA

  What?

  CLAUDIA

  Just tell me.

  PAPA

  In the recycling. With the newspapers. Over there.

  He points to a magazine holder in the corner. Claudia rushes over and starts sorting through it.

  LUIS (O.S.)

  What are you doing?

  CLAUDIA

  There was a flyer. Blue. It came the same day as the puzzle piece.

  She’s throwing paper everywhere.

  PAPA

  Claudia, what are you talking . . .

  Claudia holds up a blue piece of paper.

  CLAUDIA

  Family Fun Night. Tomorrow. Six p.m. At the National Air and Space Museum. And it’s postmarked from New York. I thought it was junk, but no. Dad sent this too. Look!

  MAIL

  FAMILY FUN NIGHT

  at the

  National Air and Space Museum

  Independence Avenue at 6th Street SW

  Washington, DC 20560

  Come learn about flight, space travel, and more at the second annual community event.

  For all ages

  Admission: Free

  Thursday, July 9, 2015

  6:00–9:00 p.m.

  PUZZLE

  EMAIL

  From: Claudia Dalton

  Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2015 9:42 PM EST

  To: Jeffery Dalton

  Subject: Star Wars Puzzle

  Dear Dad,

  WE FOUND IT!!

  The piece you sent was from the puzzle of Luke and Obi-Wan in the landspeeder. We did the puzzle and we found the next piece.

  Entrance to Skylab.

  I remembered Skylab from our old home movies. But I still didn’t know what it meant. Until I realized you sent us another clue—the flyer!

  When I saw your message, I got goose bumps. Literally. Luis did too. Oh, I don’t think I’ve told you about him. He’s the boy who lives across the street and wants to be a documentary filmmaker. He taped the whole thing and said it was the best footage he’s ever gotten.

  And of course we’re coming to the museum event tomorrow. Papa’s going to drive us. 6:00 p.m. You’re gonna be there, aren’t you?! Remember when we made that cardboard Skylab together?!! It was so much fun.

  See you tomorrow!!

  Love, Claudia

  NOTE TO READER<
br />
  I WAS TOO EXCITED to sleep, so I told Papa we should watch the old VHS tape of Star Wars to celebrate finding the puzzle. Only took me a minute to dust off the VCR in the attic and hook it up to the TV. (Nana saved everything!)

  But when we popped in the videotape labeled Star Wars, it wasn’t what either of us was expecting.

  VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

  EXT. UPTOWN THEATER—NIGHT

  On the street outside the Uptown Theater in Washington, DC. This is an old-style theater, complete with marquee lights. Jeff and Brian, both about twelve years old, stand in a long line. It’s the mid-1980s and they’re both wearing jean jackets.

  PAPA (O.S.)

  And here, Jeff and Brian are waiting to see Star Wars on the big screen for the very first time!

  BRIAN

  My dad actually took me to see it when I was three.

  JEFF

  Do you remember it?

  BRIAN

  No.

  Jeff punches Brian’s shoulder.

  JEFF

  Then it doesn’t count!

  Brian grins. Both boys are excited. Someone in a Darth Vader costume walks by. He’s followed by a Luke and a Leia in full costume.

  JEFF (CONT’D)

  Sure you don’t want to join us, Dad?

  PAPA (O.S.)

  Nah, I’m meeting a buddy at the bar across the way. There’s a game on. I’ll be back at 9:15 p.m. to pick you up.

  JEFF

  Okay. See you later!

  They wave at the camera.

  * * *

  —————

  EXT. UPTOWN THEATER—LATER

  Again, on the street outside the theater. People are streaming out of the 7:00 p.m. screening.

  PAPA (O.S.)

  And now we are waiting for Jeff and Brian to appear, pumped up after watching the destruction of the Death Star!

  He begins to hum the Star Wars theme to himself. He catches a glimpse of Jeff and Brian in the line of people. But Jeff walks quickly, staring at the floor, and Brian has to struggle to keep up with him.

  BRIAN

  It’s okay. I don’t care. You know my uncle—

  JEFF

  I don’t want to talk about it.

  PAPA (O.S.)

  Talk about what?

  Jeff looks up, surprised, almost as if he had forgotten his father was going to be there.

  JEFF

  Nothing. Let’s go home.

  PAPA (O.S.)

  I thought we were going to go get ice cream?

  BRIAN

  It’s okay, Mr. Dalton. Jeff isn’t feeling well.

  Jeff stares at the sidewalk, avoiding everyone’s gaze.

  PAPA (O.S.)

  Is everything okay?

  JEFF

  It’s fine. I just have a headache. Where’s the car?

  The screen goes black.

  NOTE TO READER

  I WAS CONFUSED WHEN the tape ended. Was this the movie my father had wanted me to watch? If so, why? It was just him and a friend at the movies. It didn’t mean a thing to me at the time, except “Star Wars puzzle.” But later . . .

  You’ll see.

  VOICE MEMO

  Walter Dalton’s Cell Phone | Wednesday, July 8, 2015, 10:45 p.m.

  [RECORDING BEGINS]

  I don’t know about this, Lily. Claudia is convinced she’s going to see her dad again tomorrow. And . . . I don’t know. Something seems off. Why make this so complicated? Why not just tell us what’s going on?

  But you should have seen how excited Claudia was. Her eyes shining, her ponytail bobbing up and down as she ran around the room, leaving her mother the most incoherent voice mail message I’ve ever heard. I don’t know what Jenny will think. We missed her call today, and she’s asleep now because of the time difference.

  Claudia also found an old videotape in the puzzle box. It was a home movie of me taking Jeff and a friend to the movies. I didn’t even remember it, but watching the video made me a little sad. Why didn’t I go to the movies with Jeff? Sure, I’m not a science fiction fan—give me a good documentary, please—but really. It wouldn’t have hurt me to watch Star Wars one more time.

  Anyway, I said I’d take Claudia and her little friend to the museum tomorrow, so I’d better get some sleep. We’ll see what happens . . .

  [RECORDING ENDS]

  DIRECTIONS

  YOUR TRIP TO:

  Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

  20 minutes 8.8 miles

  Driving time based on traffic as of 5:15 PM on July 9, 2015.

  Current Traffic: Heavy

  Turn right onto W Masonic View Ave

  Turn left onto Russell Rd

  Turn left onto W Braddock Rd

  Turn right onto Valley Dr

  Turn left onto Dogwood Dr

  Turn right onto N Quaker Ln

  Merge onto I-395 N toward Washington

  Use the two left lanes to take US-1 N exit toward Downtown

  Continue onto US-1 N/14th St SW

  Turn right onto Independence Ave SW

  Your destination will be on the left.

  Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

  600 Independence Ave SW

  Washington, DC

  RECEIPT

  Museum Store

  Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

  601 Independence Ave SW

  Washington, DC 20001

  Order #: 68261

  Date: 07/09/2015

  Time: 8:35 PM

  3.99

  1 Astronaut Ice Cream (chocolate)

  3.99

  1 Astronaut Ice Cream (vanilla)

  3.99

  1 Astronaut Ice Cream (strawberry)

  11.97

  Subtotal:

  1.20

  Tax:

  13.17

  Total:

  Thank You For Shopping With Us!

  EMAIL

  From: Claudia Dalton

  Date: Thursday, July 9, 2015 10:15 PM EST

  To: Jeffery Dalton

  Subject: Skylab

  Dear Dad,

  I waited. I waited for you for THREE HOURS at the entrance to Skylab. But you didn’t show up! From 5:45 p.m. until the museum closed at 9:00 p.m. Why would you do that? Why would you send me that flyer and the puzzle piece and tell me to watch those videos if you didn’t want me to come? If you didn’t want to see me?

  Luis waited with me the whole time, clutching his video camera. He thought he was going to get a shot of us reuniting, you know, like they show on the news. Instead, I spent the entire time walking in and out of that stupid space station, looking at the packets of freeze-dried food, the sleeping bags Velcroed to the wall, and the huge tube-shaped shower, until I had memorized every square inch.

  Papa came to get us when it was time to go. He had bought some astronaut ice cream and wanted to sit on the front steps of the museum and eat it before we drove home. We sat by a statue out front, a big stainless steel arrow with spiky stars at the top.

  I knew Papa was trying to make me feel better, but the ice cream was disgusting. I always think it’s going to taste good—I mean, it’s freeze-dried ice cream!—but then it’s always so gross and powdery. It gets my hopes up and then disappoints me. Kinda like you.

  Love, Claudia

  VOICE MEMO

  Walter Dalton’s Cell Phone | Thursday, July 9, 2015, 10:22 p.m.

  [RECORDING BEGINS]

  Oh, Lily, of course he didn’t show. I’m so sad for Claudia. She was so disappointed. Wish I could do more for her than buy ice cream!

  Which was awful, by the way. I always think that freeze-dried stuff is going to taste good, and it never does.

  [
RECORDING ENDS]

  TEXT MESSAGE

  Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Thursday, July 9, 2015, 10:25 p.m.

  KATE

  How’d it go at the museum?

  Did he show up?

  No

  I’m so sorry

  Sigh

  Wanna talk?

  Not really

  Okay

  Call you tomorrow

  NOTE TO READER

  AFTER I EMAILED Dad, I went up into the attic, sat on the old couch, and stared at the shelf of puzzles. I pulled the Skylab piece and the folded list of all 105 puzzles out of my pocket. I pretty much always had them with me. The piece and the list felt like a link to my father.

  But what was I doing? Why was I still sending him emails if he wasn’t going to answer? Maybe it was pointless. Maybe I should give up.

  I twirled the puzzle piece between my fingers, looking at the black background with the white dots. What could it be? Which puzzle did it belong to? I had been so excited when we figured out the Star Wars puzzle. I wanted to have that feeling again.

  Skylab.

  Star Wars.

  Stars . . .

  And that’s when I realized what it was.

  PHONE TRANSCRIPT

  Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Thursday, July 9, 2015, 10:37 p.m.

  Luis: Hello?

  Claudia: They’re stars!