He was used to this world now as it was day three. No longer did he believe that it was all a dream for he had accepted his fate. Jack Kennedy was stuck in another world where humans are but a myth.
This land was populated by evolved animals and took over as the dominant race. Well, races.
A few more differences could be said, but this world was just like Jack's in more ways than one. Everything was honestly normal; there was history, music, and the usual political garbage.
If anything, Jack could simply believe that he was home. Yet every time he saw the people of this place, he would wake up to the truth. Sometimes he wondered if this was how it should be. What if God had a plan for him? Questions upon questions. Yet not a single answer.
He'd figure out how he got here next time, today was his first day of work and you best believe Jack would give it his all.
With his mental war set aside, Jack met up with his senior, Bethany Barwick. Beth brought Jack to the far side of the amusement park where a large building stood. He saw countless mascots walk out.
Guess this was where all the costumes were stored.
Inside was quite the horror story. Costumes, both old and new displayed everywhere. All stared at Jack with soulless eyes. The fact that these were hollow and empty creeped him out greatly. It would be far better if these costumes had people in them. With the way they are now, it looked like someone's nightmare. Maybe his, that's why it left him with a bad taste in his mouth.
Must be fear.
Thankfully, Jack didn't need to stay any longer. Beth and Jack met up with Lucy who was eagerly waiting for them.
The assistant manager helped with the other mascots and made sure everything was in order. And no doubt she was there as well to make sure that Jack was comfortable and ready to fill the world with joy. Jack shivered slightly at the thought. It was his first day, so no surprise that he was nervous. Hopefully, Lucy could fill in the blanks for him.
"Mr. Kennedy!" Lucy greeted him with her usual peppy self. "I'm so glad that you got here in time. Beth made a great tour guide, I assume?"
"Shut up, monkey."
"Glad to hear it, Beth! Now Mr. Kennedy- Can I call you Jack? Now Jack, it took us a whole night, but we've finally decided on your role as part of this beautiful town!"
As if on cue, a couple of staff members pushed Jack into the changing room. The sounds of struggle could be heard from behind the door. Jack also spouted questions upon questions as he was placed in an awkward situation. Never before had his privacy been so rudely invaded. It was quite embarrassing as an adult to have others dress you. Well, some people were in the same boat as him, but those were professionals like models and actors. Well technically, Jack could be considered an actor, albeit a lesser one at that.
Either way, he still had his pride and sense of decency. Being half-naked and left only in his boxers filled him with a sense of shame.
The door opened soon after, and Jack stepped out of the room in his new costume. Lucy smiled proudly while Beth simply stared in silence. Clearly uninterested.
Though his costume wasn't exactly what Jack expected. He thought it would be flashy in a way, or very over the top.
No, it was simple.
In a way, it could be considered flashy. A crimson red blazer with a purple vest and a white dress shirt. His pants were the same color as his jacket, and his shoes were just black. If anything, he almost looked like a clown. All he needed now was some makeup and a big red nose. Either way, his clothes made him look like he was part of the amusement park.
His hair was also painted blue with a washable dye. Jack hoped it was washable.
"Something is missing," Lucy hummed.
Beth gave her a small gag. Seemed like the fox had enough of Lucy, so Beth walked off into the changing room to get into her costume.
The rest of the staff were silent to allow Lucy to think. And as if a light bulb had just brightened up the room, Lucy realized what was wrong with Jack's costume. She rushed over to an empty mascot and removed a very colorful tie.
Jack went still as Lucy approached. She helped him with the tie. Never did Jack realize how small she was. Now that he thought of it, although apes and monkeys were the closest things to a human, a lot of them were shorter than him. Well, Maria was short as well. If Jack had to guess, height and sizes were still the same in a way. A cat was smaller than a dog, a wolf is bigger than the two. One could even expect that a gorilla would tower over a human.
Though it was faint, Jack noticed a hint of pink on Lucy's cheeks as she helped him with the tie.
Once she was finished, Lucy took a step back to see the whole picture. Jack now looked like a proper member of Happy Town. All he needed now was a smile.
"There, you are ready for your debut! Now, Beth will be your partner from now on, so you don't have to worry about anything!"
"What!?" The building shook from both the door slamming open and Beth's outburst. "What do you mean I'm his partner!?"
Jack had to take a step back as the fox mascot made her way over to Lucy. The massive head nearly blindsided Jack.
Lucy pressed her palms together and gave Beth a look of doubt. It seemed like this partnership stemmed deeper than Jack thought. "Miss Barwick, it has come to our attention that your work results are below expectations. We also received countless complaints about your work ethics being contradictory to our goals."
Beth ripped off her mask just to meet Lucy properly. "I do everything for this damn place, my work 'ethics' are as decent as your dolled-up face!"
Lucy went stone-faced as she and Beth glared at each other. "I don't like your tone, Miss Barwick."
"I thought you were used to it by now, monkey."
If she was bothered by the aggressive way Beth spoke, Lucy was very composed and calm. Casually, Lucy took Beth's mask away. "Miss Barwick, I only put up with your shenanigans because Miss Smith believes you could do better. If you want to disappoint her, then go ahead."
Silence reigned upon them. Lucy waited for a response, but Beth only glared at her. Once Lucy saw that there was nothing left to say for the fox, she handed back the mask with a very deceptive smile.
"Now, you are to keep Jack close and not let him out of your sight. Nothing will change with your daily routines, simply that the two of you shall now work together from starting today. If you don't have any questions, then I suggest you go and brighten up everyone's day!"
Beth scowled at Lucy, she made sure that Lucy saw it before Beth wore the mask again. With that done, the fox walked toward the exit, a rack of costumes suffered as Beth cleared it away from her path.
"We'll just clean that," Lucy faced Jack with that same smile she gave Beth. "Now, you don't have to do much, just ask Beth if you have any more questions. But if that fox ever gives you trouble, you can always talk to me…" She fidgeted a bit on the spot. "A-and when you're free, maybe the two of us can talk about ways to improve Happy Town? Or better yet, improve your performance? I have loads of ideas that Miss Smith would be interested in."
"Yeah, sure. I better get going, don't think Beth likes to wait."
"Oh, right, yes. Well, good luck out there! And make some people happy!"
That was the last thing Jack heard as he exited the building. Outside he found Beth next to a cart with some balloons. As he approached, her grumbling and complaining could be finally heard. It would seem she despised Lucy so badly, Beth insulted Lucy with every word she could think of. Even words that weren't appropriate for their main audience in Happy Town.
He cleared his throat to catch her attention. Jack stuttered back as Beth turned immediately. He was sure she was about to pounce on him but somehow kept herself still. "Finally, come help me move the helium tanks."
"Oh, yes, on it." Jack made himself useful. Beth struggled with the tanks, most likely because of her unhealthy build. So he had no complaints whatsoever. Anything to help out.
Once the helium tanks were ready on the cart, Beth started to walk away. After a few steps, she faced Jack with the empty eyes of her mask. "Are you just gonna stand there, monkey? We got money to make."
Quickly, Jack pushed the cart and followed the fox around the amusement park.
Beth didn't explain much, she just led Jack around the park. Wherever they went, there was always a kid who wanted a balloon. His job was simple as well, accept the payment and give the customer a balloon with a happy smile. As for Beth, all she did was just stand there.
At first, Jack didn't mind, but the fact that he was the one doing all the work started to bother him. Well, it was small work that didn't matter much. Still, the least Beth could do was try to attract some customers. Between them, she was the one in a costume. She should pretend to be happy.
"What's your problem?"
Jack flinched as Beth questioned him.
"Hey, were you listening? You've been glaring at me since we left the damn warehouse. You got a problem with me, ape?"
Jack sighed. "I don't have a problem with you. I just find your lack of being a team player kinda selfish."
"What does that supposed to mean?"
"Listen, Beth, selling balloons and getting selfies and family photos with people is an easy job and all, but you barely helped me with anything."
Beth pressed a finger on his chest, right on his colorful tie. "Do I look like I care? I bet Lucy is putting you up for this because she wants me gone. Yeah, that's right, I know about her plan to get me fired from this job. And I know that you're a part of it, freak."
"Woah, I have no idea what you mean. And calling me a freak isn't nice. How would you feel if I called you scrawny?"
"You're lucky I'm in this damn costume, or else I would've clawed out your eyes."
There was no point in fighting. It wouldn't benefit him in any way as it was just his first day at work. Though he was reluctant for one, it looked like Beth was eager for a fight and to let loose. By far, she was the closest to a wild animal Jack had ever met.
Primal in a way.
A bad idea as she looked stressed out of her mind behind that mask. Jack should've held his tongue, but honestly, there was no turning back now. He couldn't just allow this fox to do as she pleased with him.
Jack sighed as he attempted to make himself look small. That was difficult as he was taller than this fox, if anything, Beth was shorter than the average human.
"Beth, I don't know what's going on with you and Lucy, but we gotta… work together. Like it or not, you and I are partners. The least you could do is be presentable and not pretend to be some kind of statue."
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Beth was about to make a snarky reply, but Jack held up an open palm.
"I'm not done. If you think Lucy has some schemes just to get rid of you, then I am going to tell you that I'm not part of whatever it is she's planning. I just want to get through the week and earn some cash, not join whatever drama it is that's stirring."
For a moment, Beth stood there silently. Jack knew she was deep in her thoughts. If it was to form a rebuttal or an argument, Jack wouldn't know for sure. He had just appeared recently so it wouldn't make sense that he was part of Lucy's plans. Though Jack was doubtful of that idea. He had seen the two argue, but it didn't tell him much if Lucy did want Beth gone. Either way, he didn't want a part of it.
"Fine," Lucy groaned audibly. "I'm gonna help out as much as I can. But I better take most of the tips if we get any."
He wasn't desperate at the time, so Jack merely accepted the deal as there isn't much of an issue on the table. They were just tips, and by the end of the week, he's gonna earn that paycheck that would be worth the trouble.
Thankfully he got through with her.
Beth barely did much at first, just some simple and very unenthusiastic dances. But after a few families took notice, something changed with Beth as she grew more jolly with her movements. It was honestly cute in a way how much effort she gave just so the children could smile.
The two attracted all kinds of attention. Jack sold balloons once a family was entertained by Beth's little dance. They even earned some tips. For some reason, Beth was surprised by the amount they got. So much so that she started to do card tricks which in itself surprised Jack.
He didn't realize how dexterous Beth was despite the massive hands of her costume. Seemed like she had done this before as she played with the deck like an experienced performer. There was even an amazing trick she did where she asked Jack to check his pocket. How she got the card there is a total mystery to him.
As for Jack, many took photos with him throughout the day. Some families were excited to meet him as he was not like anything they'd seen before. There was a moment when Jack was about to reveal his true name but Beth managed to interrupt him. So his alter ego was now known as Hugh Mann. Very on the nose, but still within the ideas of this amusement park. Especially now that Jack discovered that Beth's character was named Felicia Fox.
After a long morning, the two were back at the warehouse. Both in their casual outfits and out of their costumes. More like a prison for Beth who practically ripped the costume off her.
"So, how much did we earn in tips?"
"About thirty."
"I'm taking twenty, you take the rest," Beth said as she swiped away her share.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"Lunch, meet me here after an hour."
"Oh, can I join?"
Beth scoffed at the idea. "I tolerated you enough, I need a smoke right now or else I'd lose it."
He would've left it at that, but they were partners. Their free time was perfect for a little bonding. Anything to get on Beth's good side. He was stuck with her until he got back home to his world. And she tolerated him, so Jack needed to tolerate her as well. She was rude and- if he had to guess- was prone to violence.
It would require a miracle just to survive this every day. So that's why he needed to take the initiative and deal with the issue now.
"We're gonna be stuck together every shift, I think hanging out would help us both tolerate each other." He hoped that he could convince her with that logic.
It would seem that she considered it for a moment. Though she held her glare on him, it looked like Beth was deep in thought. For the second time today, Jack had her questioning if it was worth it. Hopefully, Jack convinced her with his points.
Before Jack could even ask again, he felt a familiar hand wrap around his wrist. "I hate this idea, so you're paying for lunch."
"N-no need. I brought enough for the two of us."
"Were you expecting to have lunch with Lucy?" Beth gave him a sly grin. "What, can't compete with the other apes you have to settle on a monkey?"
Jack frowned deeply. "No, I thought Cooper was gonna show up today and I wanted to repay him for everything."
Her grin grew. "You prefer feathers over fur?"
"I don't swing that way," Jack scoffed. "Maybe I'm trying to seduce you, oh fair lady of Happy Town."
Beth laughed loudly. It sounded more like an evil cackle if Jack was being honest. "Tough luck, buster, I don't swing that way either. Hell, you're not even my type to begin with."
The two came to a stop, and Jack realized that they barely moved away from the warehouse. Only now they were behind it. Beth finally released Jack's wrist and walked over to an old and withered cart. She took a seat on it which surprised Jack that it didn't break apart. He didn't want to make a joke about her weight, but perhaps that was why this cart was still standing.
Anyway, Jack walked over to her side but chose to sit on the concrete instead. He'd rather not test the limit of that old object.
He brought out his lunch soon after and revealed to Beth that he had prepared some sandwiches and two bananas. Yes, bananas. At this point, Jack would believe that Maria started to give him bananas as a joke instead of being… well, offensive.
There was enough for the two of them just as he claimed it to be. Beth bit into her share eagerly and hungrily as if she nearly starved to death.
"Bacon?" Beth muttered as she took another bite. "Drinks are on you by the way. There's a vending machine inside, we can get some before we start."
"I am already sharing my lunch with you. Can't you pitch in for the drinks?"
"I wanted to be alone, think of it as you paying me back for helping you today."
Jack growled softly as he finished his sandwiches. "No way, if anything, I'll just buy myself a drink."
"Wow, leaving your partner behind? Like last-" Beth froze mid-bite. Her eyes widened as if she made a mistake. Jack only stared at her strangely for a moment.
"You alright, Beth?"
"Here…" She handed back her second sandwich. It was half eaten, but Jack didn't complain. "Lost my appetite."
She said as she fished out a pack of cigarettes. Jack scooted away so he wouldn't catch the smell. Bad enough Beth stank of nicotine, it would be worse if he was the same.
"You don't smoke?" Beth asked curiously. That was the first time he had seen her express another emotion other than anger.
"No, I deal with my stress in other ways," Jack answered as he continued with Beth's sandwich.
"Why not? Once this thing hits your lungs, you'll feel a lot better."
"I'd rather keep my lungs healthy, thank you very much."
She shrugged her shoulders at him. "Your loss. But if you ever feel like trying, just hit me up."
"I doubt that would ever happen." Jack pushed himself up once he was done with lunch. "I'm gonna go to that vending machine, want anything?"
"I thought you didn't want to share?"
It was his turn to shrug his shoulders. "Well, think of it as a peace offering. And tell you what, I'll buy us both drinks tomorrow as well."
"You're a nice guy, Jack, it'll kill you one day for sure." A very strange thing to say. But it sounded like she meant well.
There was even a small smile on her.
Jack entered through the back entrance. He was reluctant to continue as he was met by more empty costumes. It was freakier than those in the main area. He avoided any form of touch as much as he could. These mascots were so old and dusty that they reeked of age. One slight disturbance would punish Jack with a cloud of dust.
A mistake he made twice in a row.
Soon enough he was free of the forest of old and withered. He feared that he was developing claustrophobia. Hopefully, that was just an inside joke he made and not the truth.
There were some staff and other mascots in the main area. Half of them were just on a break as well. None paid him any mind as Jack walked through the room and towards the vending machine.
Certainly, there were some familiar brands, but what interested him more was the new ones. A very curious array of flavors. Certainly in this world, the range of fruits used for juices and sodas is plenty. Eucalyptus was there as well. Is that not poisonous? Well, either way, he wouldn't try that drink even if it was the last one on the planet.
"Jack, I see you're on your lunch break!"
He nearly jumped out of his skin as Lucy suddenly spoke from his blind spot. The assistant manager happily held a Tupperware bowl of what he believed was fruit salad.
"Have you eaten?"
"Oh yeah, just finished actually. Now I'm grabbing a drink."
"That's good," Lucy sounded like she was in pain, Jack didn't know why. "Well, what will you do after? There's still some time before you go back to work."
"I don't know, maybe hang out with Beth?" It was just part of his plan to survive around the fox. "Gotta get used to her even if she's a bit rude, but that's just how it is. I mean, if I had a choice on who to work with maybe."
"You don't have a problem with her? Nothing at all? She wasn't lazy like she always is? Did she hurt you?"
Jack eyed her carefully. Her questions were a bit specific as if she expected all of that to happen. Well, she knew her better than him. But that does make him question something. If she knew that there was a possibility, then why did she place him with Beth?
Was he a part of Lucy's scheme just to get rid of Beth? No, that can't be. If Lucy wanted it, she could get rid of Beth easily. Lucy had more power than Jack believed. So it was strange that he was partnered up with Beth even though it didn't seem fitting at first. Hugh and Felicia didn't seem like the perfect pair in Jack's opinion. One looks like a clown while the other is apparently a farmer. Well, Jack wasn't one for storytelling. Either way, from his point of view it was an odd combination. Other mascots that got paired up matched at least.
Back to the subject at hand. Seemed like Lucy wanted Jack to suffer, but the reason why escaped him. Best to avoid Lucy until he figured out what her plan is with him.
"Listen, Lucy, I better get going before Beth gets mad. I prefer her normal jerk level."
Lucy stepped a little, her smile faltered for a second. "Sure, I-I will see you later then! My door is open if you need anything!"
Jack walked away once he bought drinks for two. He didn't look back as he wondered about his theory. He only had one person to turn to about Lucy, and he isn't available. Cooper, the owl with a questionable state of mind.
"Hey Beth," Jack handed her a can of soda. "Do you know where Cooper lives? I need to ask him about something."
She stared at him curiously. There wasn't a hint of malice in her eyes, simply raw curiosity. "I crash at his place when I have work, if you got a car then I can definitely tell you where. Beats taking the damn bus."
"Sure, maybe we can go after this?"
She let out a sly chuckle. "Wow, eager to get a kiss from a pretty lady like me or Cooper? I don't know Jack, this makes you look desperate." After another short chuckle, she faced Jack with the usual blank look of hers. "So what is this about exactly?"
Jack was hesitant at first, but there wasn't much of an issue with the truth. "Lucy is just weird honestly, and I think Cooper could give me the answer I want."
Beth shot up onto her feet as her face formed a scowl. "I freaking knew it! She is trying to get rid of me!"
"I doubt that, this is more about me, Beth." He clarified. It looked like Beth was ready to cause some trouble. The can in her hand was crushed from her little outburst, the contents spilled onto the concrete. "You realize that if she wanted you gone, Lucy could do so easily without me."
This thankfully calmed the heated fox. Her rage cooled as she returned to a talkative state. "You sure? If so, then why the hell would it be about you?"
"I think she wanted me to have issues with you, I just don't know why."
"Whatever it is, it isn't some big conspiracy for sure." The two relaxed and sat down in their respective places. "But I'd watch out, I haven't liked that monkey ever since she got promoted."
"This makes me curious, how long have you been working in Happy Town?"
Beth was taken aback by his question. Seemed like she had not expected him to take interest in her or anything. "Oh, I, well," She cleared her throat. "I've been working here ever since I ditched high school. Fifteen, that was how old I was, now I'm twenty-three and still stuck in this place. So, eight years."
"Are you… happy here?"
"I don't have any other skills honestly, in the words of my mother, I'm just a damn disappointment." She sighed. "Listen, I know you don't care so I'll just shut the hell up."
For a moment, Jack remained silent. He didn't know how to respond to her and it would seem she was reluctant to share her life. He watched her as she smoked on the dumpster, eyes glued on the ground. She didn't even look at him anymore.
He swallowed a lump in his throat as an idea came to be. And with a quick hand, Jack swiped the cigarette out of Beth's hand. Before she could rip him into shreds for stealing what's hers, Jack took a long drag of poison in his hand.
Beth froze there as Jack suffered the result. He felt like he was about to cough out his lungs from how violent it was. He regretted the action greatly.
"Easy there," Jack felt a hand on his back. "That was the dumbest move I've seen yet, should've taken it slow."
"I know…" He wheezed. "This hurts me so much."
After a second to recover, Jack faced Beth with a determined look. "You're not the only one who's useless. I have a Ph.D. in philosophy, I spent years getting that useless paper only to realize it didn't matter in the end. Then I got myself stuck with a desk job pushing pencils before I left it all behind."
Somehow, just as he predicted, Beth smiled. This was what he needed, a chance to see her smile to strengthen their bond. "Guess we're both disappointments. At least I didn't waste my time in some crappy college for an even crappier piece of paper. You still got it by the way? I know a few things that could turn that piece of nothing into something useful."
He laughed as he shook his. Jack returned the cigarette to the rightful owner. Though he had a taste of it, Jack vowed to never try it again. His experience traumatized him greatly to the point he couldn't even hold the toxic object in his hand. "I'd rather keep it around. Can't waste the money I spent it on."
The two shared a laugh. Though they weren't on good terms at first, Beth and Jack managed to form a bond with each other. One that Jack hoped would last long enough until he got back home.
Though he didn't belong here, it didn't mean that he couldn't enjoy his time until the chance to leave this all behind arose.
Until then, he'd make some friends. Though he feared that he'd leave them all behind. He just didn't belong to this world, and it pained him the longer he thought about it.
Jack and Beth returned to work soon after. The two went around Happy Town and sold balloons and earned tips. As they did so, Beth no longer ignored him. They chatted whenever they had time alone. There wasn't much to learn about. Jack and Beth had only a few things in common. She teased him about his Ph.D. and asked if he could give her some quotes.
So Jack recited the words of many known philosophers from history. "I think, therefore I am." Said and written by René Descartes. Beth didn't care about who it was but was still nice enough to praise Jack for his good memory. It was a quote that many knew of, famous and above others. He knew more quotes but doubted that Beth was in any way interested in them.
The work was short and the money was earned. The two cleaned up and dressed in casual clothing. Jack and Beth rushed out of the amusement park as the two wanted to avoid Lucy for now.
On the drive back into town, the sight of Whispering Woods filled Jack with a sense of security. This place was his home now and he felt safer here than anywhere. Throughout the ride Beth had not spoken a word, instead, she decided to jam out with some music from the car's radio.
Beth guided the car to Cooper's place.
The car parked right in front of a building with a sign that read, "Trusty's Corner". Jack eyed it for a moment and realized this place was an arcade.
Beth led Jack further into the arcade, the moment the doors opened, Jack was greeted with an empty room. The sign at the door said this arcade only opened on weekends. Made sense, kids are usually free at that time.
At the counter was another avian, this time a crow.
"Hey, Jose!" Beth slammed her palm on the counter. "Is Cooper here?"
"Wala siya dito," Jose answered blankly. He was too engrossed in his magazine to even care about Beth's deep glare.
"English, moron."
"Coop is elsewhere, nasan? I don't know." Jose noticed Jack soon after he closed the magazine. "Who's this?"
"My co-worker, also Cooper's friend."
Jack at that moment spoke up. "Yeah, I'm Jack Kennedy, nice to meet you."
Jose stared for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. "Jose Roxas, but you can call me Trusty. If you're looking for Cooper, he ain't here. No clue when he'll be back honestly, that guy disappears sometimes."
"You're not worried?"
"If he doesn't show up after a week, I'll be worried," Trusty said calmly. "If you have nothing else to do, you can play with the machines. If not, then feel free to just hang around." Then he smiled at him. "And a friend of Cooper is a friend of mine, so don't be shy if you need anything."
With that, Trusty returned to his magazine.
Beth turned to Jack with a solemn look. "Sorry, guess you will have to ask him those questions tomorrow. Wanna hang out instead?"
"Maybe next time, Beth. I gotta go home and prepare tomorrow's lunch."
"Oh," That honestly sounded like Beth was disappointed. "Well, I guess I better see you at work. And Jack? Bring some cheese."
Jack gave her a thumbs-up before he walked out the door. Beth stared at the entrance as she heard the car start up. Soon the engine was but a distant memory as Jack went home.
"Interesting pal you have there, Beth."
"Shut up, Jose!" She snapped at Trusty.
"He looked weird, skin condition?"
"Don't you have a crappy story to write? Leave my friend alone."
This earned a chuckle from Trusty. "Friend? That was quick, guess this Jack guy is something special. And for your information, The Thief And The Magician will be the best damn story this town will ever read."
"Sure it will," Beth turned away and started to make her way to the door behind the counter. "Is it done by the way? I'm actually itching to read something new."
"It'll be done when it's done. Also, what can you tell me about Jack?"
Beth gave Trusty one last glance before she stepped out of the room. "No clue, he just showed up."
Trusty stared at the door for a moment. Deep in his thoughts for a whole minute. With a sigh, he returned to his magazine and continued where he left off.
Jack spent the night preparing lunch for himself and Beth. Hopefully, he could convince her into being his friend. That way she won't harm him by accident, or intentionally. Tomorrow he'd need to find Cooper so he could get some answers about Lucy. The monkey worried Jack a bit. And nothing scares a man more than a fear of the unknown.
Hopefully, Cooper will shed some light. And maybe Jack and Beth could finally be friends after tomorrow. Just a little bit of hope to keep him going.