Encountering a Shark and Almost Becoming Bait: My Story

Traveling with my family in a car for 24 hours can get a little annoying. Well, my father takes turns with my step-mom with driving. His long range saw blade chain saw; slaughtering ear drumming machine can give anyone a splitting migraine. To this day I can't even handle listening to a snort and a whistling nose at night. I would be out of there. I was stuck in the car. I couldn't escape the nauseating sledge hammering of my brain.

Florida was our destination, but thankfully we stopped at a couple of places. First stop, Jekyll Island, Georgia. It was perfect. I quickly dashed from the car. It must have been the salt in the ocean air because my headache was cleared instantly.

I found that I was a bit bummed because the ocean water was filled with jelly fish. Would you blame a ten year old for being bummed out about this? I figured I wouldn't argue this time especially when a guy wincing in pain with a reddish raw leg hopped past us. The greatest experience about Jekyll was seeing for my first time, dolphins swimming together. My heart sank, maybe one of these days I'll swim with them.

The next morning I was back in the torture chamber. God must have heard my prayers because Daddy had been fully rested up and he stayed awake thru the duration to our next stop to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and then it was Orlando, Florida. Finally, we registered in our hotel, and I practically drug my dad to the beach.

My main prerogative was the waves. Everyone's favorite, and these were bigger than I thought. I searched the beach to find a vendor rental. Boogie boards! Excellent! My step sister and I rented our boards and took off into the warm water. Every wave I rode my partner was practically keeping up with me, but finally she was done for and I kept thriving without any rest. It was my father's turn and instead of boogie boarding we fought the waves to get further out. I guess after while my father needed a break too. I knew my step-mom wouldn't be interested. She worshipped the sun mainly.

The next day we went back out again. I tried racing again to enjoy the adrenaline of nature's roller coaster. Unfortunately the parents disapproved they assured me that the ocean wasn't going anywhere. We rented the board and off the same sequence happened as yesterday. My partner exhausted went to rest. My father didn't want to play in the waves this time. I might have been alone, but that wasn't going to deny me any fun.

Instead of using my board I fought the waves and swam out far. A man and a boy were out there too. I twirled in the water, flipped backwards, and floated on my back. I relaxed there I could of slept on top my position and looked back at the beach. An eerie feeling swept over me I turned my head around and my jaw dropped. Something in the distance stood out of the water. I saw the movie, Jaws what kid hasn't I fought the music theme out of my head. I slowly moved backwards like a snail my eyes locked on the target. The fin was facing me so, I was being watched too. I prayed for my life while I drifted further towards shore. My heart in my throat I glanced over my shoulder to see if I was getting closer. I was making progress so, my hope was building. I turned my heart to face the giant before me waiting to devour me at any time. It wasn't there! I didn't know how to be relieved or more worried it could have been circling me by now. I swallowed hard and kept moving slowly like before. I scanned my eyes back and forth making sure I didn't see any more evidence of the predator. It seemed like an eternity, but the waves greeted me again and I was more than happy to meet them again. I made it to the shore-line thanking God for protecting me and promising everything under the sun to him.

A blurry figure was getting closer to me and yelling my name it was my dad. He swore that I was dead and never to do that again. What was I thinking? I told him I wasn't wearing my glasses and I couldn't see I thought they were watching me. I didn't tell him what almost happened to me.

Our family made it to Orlando, Florida. My step sister and I wanted to snorkel so; we went on a shuttle to Typhoon Lagoon. I wasn't sure if I could go thru with it, but I was willing to try. I wasn't going to be alone this time. I felt more secure with snorkeling with sting rays and smaller sharks. We arrived at the Lagoon excited to snorkel. When my father looked at me and his eyes followed the red trail of blood running down my leg. I had a small scab on my knee before and I must have bumped it somehow and tore it off. My dad's eyes reflected in horror, "You are not going snorkeling now!"