Alligator Bait

She woke up with the sun shining directly in her eyes, floating in a small aluminum boat with something wedged under her butt. Her hair was wet with that bottom of the boat dirty water that her head lay in. She had not a clue where she was or how she got there. Or why, even. She knew her name was Lexie. That was a start. So we got the "who" down.

Grabbing the sides of the boat, she pulled herself up into a sitting position and tucked her legs in Indian Style, for comfort. Well, the most comfort you could get in a...she peered at the boat she was sitting in...a canoe? She shaded her eyes as she looked around, trying to figure out where she was. Long grass rose up almost all around her. There was no current. Her boat just floated in the reeds. She couldn't see anything else.

It was hot. Sweltering. She pulled her t-shirt over her head and carefully dipped it in the water. Once it was wet, she wrapped it around her head. It didn't appear there were too many people around for her to worry about sitting in a canoe, in what she thought was probably the Everglades somewhere, wearing only blue shorts and a black bra with a white t-shirt wrapped around her head. She sensed no one else around, but that could be deceiving in a place like this. In actuality, any number of people could be scrutinizing her every move from the reeds and high grasses surrounding her. Taking stock of her situation, she found that whoever had left her here also gave her a long wooden pole. It was clamped to the side of the boat, the entire length. She also found a Ziploc bag of sugar cookies, and stowed under her butt was a bag of marshmallows.

She stared at the marshmallows. Publix brand. She knew the cookies were Publix; the best sugar cookies on earth. She'd spot them anywhere. They were best cold, but she would happily eat them any time. She shook her head quickly back and forth, to get her senses back. Here she was, in a canoe, in the middle of the Everglades and she was drooling over the kindness of the dork who put her here giving her Publix sugar cookies. Was she crazy?

Sweat was pouring down her back. The sun was relentless. Her t-shirt was almost dry already. Ugh. She needed to do something about this situation. She could feel the bugs starting to hit her body and knew the mosquitoes would find her very soon. Not good. She put her t-shirt back on. She lifted her head and startled some birds nearby with her cry, "You coulda given me a hat and some bug spray!!"

Lexie unclamped the pole from the boat and carefully put it in the water, testing the depth. She felt something bump the pole in the water and suddenly realized what the marshmallows were for. Putting the pole in the boat, she ripped open the package and grabbed a couple. A black bump appeared in the smooth surface of the water. Gator. She threw one marshmallow as far as she could away from the boat. Putting the other two marshmallows on the seat next to her, she grabbed the pole again and slowly tried the water again. It grab mud about 3/4 of the way in and she pushed, gently moving the boat towards what the hoped was land...away from the marshmallow she threw. She heard the water splash a little and when she looked back, the marshmallow was gone. Reaching down, she grabbed another and threw it as far behind her as she could.

After around thirty minutes of this - push, throw, push, throw - she heard a swamp boat somewhere in front of her. She sat with a thump and pulled her t-shirt off again, tying it to the top of the pole. Raising the pole above her, she waved it back and forth, hoping the swamp boat driver would see it and head her way. She considered yelling, but then realized there is no way they would hear her over the sound of the air fan that propels them. Just think...it's strong enough to move them quickly thru the water. How loud and powerful is that fan?

Waving furiously, she wasn't sure if the boat was moving toward her or away. Tricks of the open swamp. She let the pole slip thru her hands until it hit mud again and pushed her way towards the sound. People must be that way. She hoped she was making the right decision. Dry land could be just about anywhere...even just a few feet on the other side of any of these reed patches. She untied her shirt and put it back on again, noting the bites on her belly.

A massive bump jolted her back to reality. The boat swayed seriously side to side. She struggled for a moment to recover her balance. She looked about in the water and saw a black shadow swimming around. Bump. She reached frantically behind her for the marshmallow bag; her hand fell on cold aluminum. Bump. She turned in fear and scanned the boat. Bump. Where were they? Bump. Each time the boat shook a little more. Bump. Each time her heart beat harder. Bump. Tipping so far that time, a little water seeped in, Lexie screeched. She leaned forward to try to set the boat upright again. Bump. She felt herself flying forward out of control. Her screech turned into a full blooded scream.

The sound she heard wasn't what she expected. She expected splashing and a grunt, but instead heard a loud, unexplainable rumbling. She hit the water...THERE, that was the splash...she went under quickly. She felt something furiously grab the neck of her shirt and pull. She squirmed and pushed away as hard as she could. It held fast and pulled again. She fought the pull, but it was much stronger than she was. She felt a bit like a rag doll, being flopped this way and that. Exhausted, she still struggled and twisted only to find herself lifted out of the water. The only thing she saw was the gaping mouth of an alligator snapping only inches from her face. Hands grabbed at her arms and legs. The one holding her shirt moved to her waistband. She was hauled into the swamp boat along with a gallon of water. Spitting and coughing she collapsed on the floor of the boat.

Lexie opened her eyes. Several people were hovering over her. They were still in the boat, moving fast.

"Geez, Lexie. Are you OK? What happened back there?"

She swiveled her head toward the voice and her eyes focused on her best friend, Emily. She coughed as she tried to speak. "Wha...what?" It all came flooding back to her. Jeremy had picked up Emily and Marco in the swamp boat and took them for a ride, leaving Lexie in the canoe. She had lain down and fallen asleep sunning herself. She'd freaked out and almost got eaten by an alligator because of it.

It happens that fast. Lexie realized that life was precious and she was going to act accordingly from now on.