Everglades Family Vacation: Ch 1

             Alice was not afraid of anything. That is, until the accident…

It was a warm September day when 16-year-old Alice Thompson and her family decided to take a day trip down to the Everglades from their home in Jacksonville. Mom and Dad had started thinking about the trip a few weeks ago when they saw that Alice and her brother Joey had a teacher workday off from school. Mom, Dad, Alice, and Joey all piled into the car and set off on what they hoped would be a fun family adventure.

              The trouble began not long after they left home. Dad realized that he had left the pocketknife that he always carried on his dresser. “Damn it, Marie, I can’t believe I forgot it! But it’s too late to turn around now, we’re already 20 minutes down the road and traffic looks backed up the other way. If we want to get to the Everglades at a reasonable hour, I guess I’ll just forget it,” Dad huffed. “Honey, I know it’s frustrating, but it’ll be okay. It’s just a pocketknife,” responded Mom. “Just a pocketknife?? Do you know how long I’ve had this? 25 years! That’s how long! I don’t go anywhere without it! Just forget it,” exclaimed Dad. Alice and Joey exchanged glances in the backseat. They had been dealing with this sort of thing for long enough to know not to get involved.

               After two and a half hours, the car finally pulled into the Everglades National Park Visitor’s Center parking lot. Alice and Mom got out and walked around to stretch their legs. The family went inside to fill up their water bottles, use the restroom, and get a map of the park. Dad loved maps. After chatting with one of the park rangers for a few minutes, the family got back into the car and went to drive to a nature trail.

               Twenty minutes into the park, Mom spoke up. “I think we might be going the wrong way. I haven’t seen many other cars on this road for a while.” “Oh Marie, stop being so paranoid. I know where I’m going,” Dad responded. Alice and Joey glanced at each other but quickly turned back to look out their respective windows.

               After another ten minutes of driving, Dad pulled into a small parking lot with two other cars parked. “See, Marie, I knew exactly where I was going!” “Honey, it doesn’t look like this is a very popular trail,” said Mom nervously. “Come on Mom, let’s just get out and explore. If it looks spooky we can just turn around,” said Alice. Joey and Dad agreed, and the four of them set out on a small trail lined with fallen pine needles.

               With Joey in the lead and Dad bringing up the rear, the pack ventured into the woods. At a few points, there were small wooden footbridges but most of the trail was dirt and matted pine needles. About 45 minutes in, Alice spoke up. “I’m hungry; do we have any granola bars?” “Here you go, honey, but we only brought a few so you might want to eat it slowly,” said Mom. The group forged on farther and farther into the woods.

               An hour of walking had passed when Joey stopped suddenly. “Look!” he exclaimed, “There’s a marsh and there’s a boat right there with oars and everything! Can we go in?” Mom and Dad looked at each other and Dad said “Sure, Joey. That sounds like a fun idea.” The four of them stepped in to the boat and the boys took the oars. They started to row the boat down a small river.

               “Mom! Dad! Stop the boat!” screamed Alice. “What is it?” responded Dad. “There’s something in the water! I just saw it swim past us and I think it went under this thing!” Alice screamed frightened. “Oh Alice, don’t worry abbot it. I’m sure it’s just the boat making waves as we move,” said Mom. All of a sudden, an eight-foot alligator lept from the water on to the boat, thrashing around, flapping its tail and chomping its teeth. With razor-sharp claws, the alligator swatted at Joey and knocked him back into the murky water. Mom screamed and the alligator thrashed at her too. Falling into the water, Mom screamed but was quickly pulled under by another alligator. Joey was flailing around, so Dad tried to reach in to get him, but between that and the heavy alligator, the boat tipped over, knocking both Dad and Alice off. With three of them in the water and Mom dragged under, the alligators swarmed the boat. Dad’s final thought before he got dragged completely under water was “I wish I had gone back for my pocket knife.”