The Pond Out Back

         Hardly anything disturbed the stale, scummy waters of the pond. With no outlet to the distant Gulf of Mexico, the local fauna enjoyed its private little world. The stench was nauseating, but the mosquitos and dragonflies loved it. Frogs and turtles perched on half-submerged logs covered with algae and fungi. Small water moccasins snared any unaware amphibian. All stayed clear of the one huge snake that dominated this swamp's food chain. Another denizen had just moved in, though. Ducklings followed their mama in a zigzagging column away from their usual feeding ground, a sandy beach newly cleared for construction of a house...

"Mommy, mommy, come see the gator!"

"Hon, did you tell Mikey he could stand on the balcony?"

"No, he's supposed to be inside. I already had to send Thomas to his room."

"Feeding the ducks again?"

"Yeah. I'm thinking we should take away his PS2, too."

"If it happens again."

"Mommy, the gator's eating the big snake!"

"Get your little behind inside, Michael Richard Greene!"

"Don't yell at him, Babe. Let's go see. Oh my Gawwwwd, what is it? I've never seen a snake so fat."

"The gator is dragging it back to the pond, see. He'll roll it to tear a chunk off. Go on inside, Mikey."

"You're right, Babe, he just broke off the tail section near the big hump."

"It must've just eaten a dog or something. Get Thomas out here. I want him to see why he can't play near the edge of the pond."

"Thomas, come out back! Your father wants you to see something!"

"Hon..."

"Thomas, I mean now! Put down the game!"

"Hon..."

"What's wrong, Babe?"

The gator retreated into the pond with a nice chunk of snake. Soon it would return for the bulk of its kill. Ahead on the beach next to the human box house was the remainder of the engorged snake. Part of its recently-swallowed meal hung out of its torn abdomen hole. From the thin layer of green pond scum, the gator could smell the pooling puddle of red. A half-munched leg stuck out. The sock didn't taste all that great, but the snake's juices had started to tenderize the flesh nicely. The gator decided to come back to this beach again soon. It wasn't often he got stuffing with his dinner.