Alligator Driftwood

The creature had washed up on the sandy Lake Huron shoreline exhausted and in need of rest. He had traveled from the far reaches of the earth and wanted to explore the Great Lakes one by one. But little did he know they were so huge! A bask in the sun would do him good and then he would have to look for food.

As he slept he heard footsteps and the sound of voices. Opening an eye, humans - at first blurry- came into view.

"What's that?" The woman asked, pointing right at him. The creature transformed into a wooden alligator, hoping to look like driftwood, although a scan of the shoreline assured him he was the only huge log on the beach and would look conspicuous.

"Let's check it out," the man said. Their steps drew closer and the alligator waited for them to pass on by.

The woman knelt down beside him. "It looks like an alligator, doesn't it! Look at his eyes and long snout."

"It does, indeed," the man said. "Let's snap some photos."

Click. Click. Click. Click. Heavens, the alligator wondered, how many times are they going to circle around me? Don't they know I could snatch one up in an instant!

"I love this driftwood," the woman said, patting the wooden head. "Can we take it home? It would be quite a conversation piece."

Was he going to end up in someone's garage or as a flower border if he didn't change back to his true form? But he was so exhausted. He'd have to sleep for a week for all it would take out of him.

"Nah, it's too big for me to handle," the man said.

Dropping her camera to her chest and letting it hang from the strap, the woman said, "I guess you're right. But I was going to paint it pink. "

PINK! The alligator transformed back to his natural state and slipped back into the fresh water lake, happy to put a distance between himself and the woman. Pink, Sheesh. He was a male piece of driftwood. Couldn't she tell?

The two stood in the warm sand with their mouths open. "Did...did you see THAT?" the woman asked.

"Uh-huh? Did you snap the alligator's photo before he disappeared?"

"No. I was too stunned."

"I didn't get a shot either. So, let's not tell anyone what we saw. We can show them the driftwood photo and tell them we imagined it to be a real alligator. We don't want people thinking we're nuts."

"Sounds good to me," the woman said. "Maybe we've had too much sun."

****

I hope you enjoyed my flash fiction. :D

Hugs, JJ...who is musing the winter away.