watching the sun close up shop for the night by going behind the curtain that is the horizon known as the Gulf. This evening, unfortunately for some, due to the placement of the sun, they didn’t get a clear view. I personally didn’t mind this, but this was the first time I had ever heard anyone let out disapproving sighs, just short of boos, when it came to a setting sun.
Seconds after the sun had gone to bed, Becky reinforced the idea that she wasn’t interested in me. “Thanks for stopping by. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
As I was stammering through another answer, Bahama made a beeline towards the end of the pier, dodging the legs of tourists and locals in the process. Before I could say a thing or even gasp, she leapt into the water. I knew Bahama could swim, but I didn’t hesitate, running towards the point of the pier where she had jumped in. I briefly remember that during my dart towards Bahama that Becky was watching me run, another one of my awkward moments.
Becky ran behind, and was able to make sense of what was happening before I could. While I was running, if you can call it that, I heard Becky say that the Gulf was only a few feet all around, meaning I could jump in if I had to with no real fear. That information helped calm me down as I reached the end of the pier. As I looked down I saw two creatures, not including Bahama, near a bubbling manmade spring. I have no idea how Bahama knew they were there, or if she did before she decided to jump in. My heart stopped beating as fast when I noticed Bahama was neither trying to attack the creatures, or being attacked by them, instead just swimming with them.
“Those are manatees; we’ve sort of adopted them as mascots. They come up to the pier around this time about once a week. I guess your dog just wanted to introduce herself.” I later learned that these fountains are a bit of a controversial subject in the Keys. Many people, particularly longtime residents of the Keys, don’t think that natural things should be at all manipulated by manmade objects, such as this fountain. Fresh water fountains attract manatees.
Of course, now I was embarrassed again. Between nearly breaking thousands of dollars of art and now Bahama jumping into the water, perhaps scaring away the “mascots” from ever returning again, it had been quite the last half an hour. Thankfully the manatees seemed hardly interested at all in Bahama. I guess when you have people reaching into the water to touch you day after day and swimming with all the other animals in the gulf, a little dog isn’t going to be much of a bother. Still I felt my damage was done.
After Bahama had her fun, she swam back to the shore, and shook herself dry and returned to my side as if nothing had happened. Becky, who had laughed during the entire ordeal, told me repeatedly not to worry about it. “If anything, you gave all these people a good show,” many were still staring at Bahama and me.
Before I came close to destroying anything else, man-made or living, I thanked Becky for her hospitality, and made a brisk walk for my car. For good measure, Bahama took a long pee on a lizard statue right next to the parking lot. I didn’t dare turn around to see if Becky was still watching.
12
I called a bed and breakfast in Key West, Frank and Jean’s, where I made plans to stay. In my mind, choosing a bed and breakfast, as opposed to a traditional hotel, had a more romantic quality about it. Fortunately for me, Key West is pretty animal-friendly, at least for the independently owned places, so I had a few choices to pick from. But, Frank and Jean’s won out in the end. Lucky them.
I always
Seconds after the sun had gone to bed, Becky reinforced the idea that she wasn’t interested in me. “Thanks for stopping by. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
As I was stammering through another answer, Bahama made a beeline towards the end of the pier, dodging the legs of tourists and locals in the process. Before I could say a thing or even gasp, she leapt into the water. I knew Bahama could swim, but I didn’t hesitate, running towards the point of the pier where she had jumped in. I briefly remember that during my dart towards Bahama that Becky was watching me run, another one of my awkward moments.
Becky ran behind, and was able to make sense of what was happening before I could. While I was running, if you can call it that, I heard Becky say that the Gulf was only a few feet all around, meaning I could jump in if I had to with no real fear. That information helped calm me down as I reached the end of the pier. As I looked down I saw two creatures, not including Bahama, near a bubbling manmade spring. I have no idea how Bahama knew they were there, or if she did before she decided to jump in. My heart stopped beating as fast when I noticed Bahama was neither trying to attack the creatures, or being attacked by them, instead just swimming with them.
“Those are manatees; we’ve sort of adopted them as mascots. They come up to the pier around this time about once a week. I guess your dog just wanted to introduce herself.” I later learned that these fountains are a bit of a controversial subject in the Keys. Many people, particularly longtime residents of the Keys, don’t think that natural things should be at all manipulated by manmade objects, such as this fountain. Fresh water fountains attract manatees.
Of course, now I was embarrassed again. Between nearly breaking thousands of dollars of art and now Bahama jumping into the water, perhaps scaring away the “mascots” from ever returning again, it had been quite the last half an hour. Thankfully the manatees seemed hardly interested at all in Bahama. I guess when you have people reaching into the water to touch you day after day and swimming with all the other animals in the gulf, a little dog isn’t going to be much of a bother. Still I felt my damage was done.
After Bahama had her fun, she swam back to the shore, and shook herself dry and returned to my side as if nothing had happened. Becky, who had laughed during the entire ordeal, told me repeatedly not to worry about it. “If anything, you gave all these people a good show,” many were still staring at Bahama and me.
Before I came close to destroying anything else, man-made or living, I thanked Becky for her hospitality, and made a brisk walk for my car. For good measure, Bahama took a long pee on a lizard statue right next to the parking lot. I didn’t dare turn around to see if Becky was still watching.
12
I called a bed and breakfast in Key West, Frank and Jean’s, where I made plans to stay. In my mind, choosing a bed and breakfast, as opposed to a traditional hotel, had a more romantic quality about it. Fortunately for me, Key West is pretty animal-friendly, at least for the independently owned places, so I had a few choices to pick from. But, Frank and Jean’s won out in the end. Lucky them.
I always
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