Demons and Dragoons
I turned about and paddled downstream with the ebbing tide. Past the rotting gator. Through the Narrows. Stopping to breathe only when I was around the big bend in Black Mingo Creek, the hairpin turn that was like passing through a wormhole in time.
The sun glittered like diamonds on black velvet, their mirage parting to let the front of my kayak slice through it. A graceful white egret burst from the line of green up ahead, dancing on the wind and dipping its downy feathers like it was waving to me. In the stillness of that corridor of atmosphere, between dark liquid and open sky, I inhaled a sense of peace. A split second later, the biggest gator I’d ever seen torpedoed into the soft side of my kayak flailing its toothy maw, its jaws crunching through canvas and rubber, through fiberglass and plastic, through skin and —–
“Miz Watkins! Miz Watkins! Yoo-hoo! Yeah! Sleepin’-in-history-class-girl! I am TALKIN’ to you! Which Red Coat gave General Francis Marion – the esteemed namesake of this institution of higher learnin’ from which you hope to earn a no-count piece of collegial sheepskin – which one of them British harridans gave him the name ‘Swamp Fox‘?”
Silence. Shuffling paper.
“Stop lookin’ in the text book for the dang answer! If you don’t know, just say ‘I did not come to class prepared, Dr G Wayne King, oh mighty esteemed and most overlooked candidate for the title of Prof of the Year in the history of this university’……..Say it! SAY! IT! Dr G Wayne King should be Prof of the Year! In fact, ever body get up in your seats – RIGHT NOW – and shout it as loud as you can! All together now………DR G WAYNE KING SHOULD BE PROF OF THE YEAR!”
That’s what I got for taking Benadryl. It was my first and only experience with what turned out to be – in my whacked system, anyway – a powerful hallucinogenic drug.
This week’s series of fiction is set in historic Black Mingo Swamp. To start the series at the beginning, click here. To read more about the history of Black Mingo, click here. Thank you for reading, for commenting and for sharing my blog. Oh, and if anyone cares who gave General Francis Marion the nickname ‘Swamp Fox,’ it was British General Banastre Tarleton.
Great story! I fell right into the trap!
Thanks Lottie.
What a spectacular picture. Fantastic history lesson Andra; fascinating.
Thank you, Helen. I am glad you enjoyed it. I never know how things based in US history will be taken.
Just brilliant!
He made history entertaining. That’s for sure.
This explains everything, that and the 6 gross of benadryl that I saw at your house that you apparently use as daily vitamins. Always knew writers were a strange bunch.
This is amazing. I think Andra will watch this and die laughing. She will at least snort her coffee.
I do not snort. Much.
I do not buy or use Benadryl.
You should buy snortadryl.
Let’s go waaaaay back to the part where I cannot blow my nose, Lou.
And now for a different point of view…
And stop calling me Shirley.
Haha!
Love it, Robert!! I have never seen this series. I now have something to catch up on with a long day of travel. Thank you.
Hi Andra, I always loved the Swamp Fox as a kid. Beautiful pics and a nice story this week.
Obviously, I did, too. Such a character.
Well, THAT was wholly unexpected; a 180-degree turn to a very lighthearted ending! I was expecting sooo much worse and then, like “Dallas,” it was just a dream!
These are great fun when I can make them turn out. Glad you liked it, Karen.
That is too funny. Love it.
OK, and now for something completely different, welcome to public education:
I cannot watch this on my phone, but the title seared my eyeballs, Carnell.
You need to watch it. And yes, you can watch YouTube on an iPhone. You are just skeered….
Loved slipping throgh that worm hole! I hadn’t expected it either.
Hugs,
Kathy
Glad it was a good surprise, Kathy.
Bravo! I wasn’t expecting such a hallucinogenic ending here, Andra. A most wonderful element of surprise.
Always glad when these things take unexpected turns, Penny.
well, you had me going on this…totally did not expect this!
It was an odd turn of events, wasn’t it?
I love it. What a surprise.
So glad you liked it, Lori.
Although history is wonderful and all…when I hear the words “Swamp Fox,” I want to go to Myrtle Beach…
How many things are named Swamp Fox in this part of the state? This is a cool one, Andrea.
Wait a minute! You can’t just leave us in a dream ending! That’s not fair. What a wild experience, though. Hallucinating from Benedryl would suck, as it’s how I get to sleep in ragweed season!!
I’ve never taken Benadryl since that time. I think I was a junior in college. Ragweed allergies suck, Jessie. So sorry.
See, you can do it better!
Loved that twist. Just the perfect kayak ride.
Was DR G WAYNE KING PROF OF THE YEAR??
He always proclaimed himself Prof of the Year.
I grew up in Indiana, and lived here much of my adult life, yet I NEVER knew until just now (or I’ve forgotten since some childhood Indiana history class), that the town of Marion IN (just 95 miles from here) was named for the Swamp Fox! Thanks for that Disney link, Robert!
Like you, I did not realize so many of the Marions around the US were in his honor.
Ha!
You clever minx.
Minx. A high compliment. Thank you.
Brilliant
Your dialogue just sparkles.
I found a video of Dr King online, but he was using his high-faluting voice.
Loved the rotting gator. That so set the scene in my mind!
Ya got me! You have some wild dreams, girl!
For a moment though, I was afraid of a Jaws repeat! 
My. I’m not sure if I should be relieved or disappointed that Benadryl doesn’t do anything to me!