THE CAY - 40 YEARS LATER

By Tim Rohr

I can’t remember the last time I read a book cover to cover in one sitting, but I just read this one. In fact, I think the last time I read a book cover to cover was this same book probably 40 years ago after I found myself similarly “stranded” on a Caribbean island, St. Croix, or at least that’s what it felt like then.

I came across this book, "The Cay" (pronounced "Key") the other day at the local community college in the adult education department where my specially challenged son, William, is being tutored. As we were getting ready to leave, William noticed a table with rows of books on it. We walked over to see what was there. All the books were turned spine up except for this one. It was face up. I immediately recognized the title and the cover. The books were for the taking so I took it.

Today, William and I had some challenges and afterwards I decided that I was just going to sit down and catch up on some reading. I had forgotten that I had this book but noticed it on the table when I sat down. So I said, "why not?" I picked it up intending to just read for a few minutes. That was four hours ago and I just finished the last page.

The story had great meaning for me 40 years ago, and it had great meaning for me today. 40 years ago I was the young boy on the island, but today I was the old man with the young boy (William). In fact, the boy, like William, is handicapped and initially dependent on the old man, whose name, by the way is Timothy. Timothy dies in a hurricane, leaving the boy, Philip, blind and alone on the island. But before he died, Timothy had taught Philip how to take care of himself. Philip does take care of himself and is eventually rescued. 

And that’s my plan for William.