It was a sunny and warm Saturday morning so Charlie and Tyrone packed their fishing poles and tackle and headed down to the river. Tyrone was driven to catch the big sturgeon that has been seen in their area. Charlie was just happy to finally get a day to enjoy the outdoors after working inside all week. The spot that they usually fished at had three other people there already, so Tyrone drove about a quarter of a mile up the road to another good fishing area.
The two of them grabbed their poles and tackle box and carefully made their way down the bank of the river. Tyrone was the first one to throw his line into the water while Charlie was putting a new lure on his line.
“This is great, isn’t Charlie? Hasn’t it been almost three weeks since we were out here?” Tyrone reeled his line in gracefully.
“Yes, something like that,” Charlie finished tying the lure onto his line.
The sky was blue and clear except for a few cumulus clouds and there was a slight breeze. It was definitely a day to relax and enjoy the fresh outdoor air and some fishing. After all, both of them worked hard at the paper factory the past three weeks so they deserved it.
After Tyrone reeled in and casted out his fishing line a few more times, he let it rest in the water and sat down. Charlie moved about six feet away from Tyrone and tossed his line into the water. About twenty feet away from the bank Charlie thought he saw a big fish jump out of the water.
“I might have just seen your big sturgeon Tyrone,” Charlie said.
“Really, where?”
“Out over there a ways,” Charlie pointed.
Tyrone looked, got up, and then reeled his line back in. He moved about three feet more from Charlie and tossed his line back out. Just as Tyrone cast his line though, his foot slipped on the wet rock and he fell into the river. Charlie couldn’t help but laugh, but then ran towards Tyrone once he saw that he was struggling in the water.
“Owe! help me man, something has my foot,” Tyrone thrashed around in the water.
Charlie hesitated but then jumped in to help his friend. When he landed in the water, he could tell that it wasn’t the rocky river floor that he landed on. This was much softer and it moved a little.
“Hey, it let go. Get me out of here,” Tyrone yelled.
Charlie moved and grabbed Tyrone’s arm, and then helped him to the shore. Just as they both climbed out of the water, they heard a loud splash behind them. When they looked back, they saw the large head and body of a serpent plunging back down into the water.
“Was that an enormous snake?” Tyrone asked while clinging to the river bank.
“That doesn’t make any sense. Why would a snake that large be in this river?” Charlie sat back on the rocks.
“I don’t know man but I’m sure that’s what had a hold of me,” Tyrone looked at the blood that was gushing out of his ankle.
“Should we try and catch it?” Charlie looked at Tyrone.
“You can if you want to but my ankle really hurts.”
“Yeah you’re right. We should get you to the ER,” Charlie scrambled to get up.
Being careful not to slip back into the water, Charlie helped Tyrone get up and assisted him up to the road and into the car.
“I better drive. You look like you’re in a lot of pain,” Charlie closed his car door.
“Yeah man, I’m not going to die from this am I?” Tyrone began to shake.
Charlie tried to stay calm and start the car, “not all snakes are poisonous.”
“I sure hope not,” Tyrone laid his head back on the headrest.
On there way down the road, Charlie slowed down to a stop to warn the other fishermen about the large serpent that’s in the water. A couple of them laughed and thought Charlie was pulling their leg.
“I’m serious, my friend here was just bit by it.”
“Sure sure,” one of them men said.
“Come on let’s go. They can’t say that we didn’t warn them,” Tyrone moaned. “So much for a relaxing day off.”
I hoped you enjoyed this short story today. It was just a little thought that popped into my head after seeing the starting theme of the “Andy Griffith Show”. It’s nice to get outside and enjoy nature but be safe when you do because you never know what wild critter might be out there waiting for you.
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