Special Holiday Romance (Part III)

Lucas catches a taxi and goes to his new home. He sits his suitcase down on his bed and steps out onto a patio that was facing the beach. He scanned the area with a smile on his face. It was beautiful. The white sand reminded him of snow. He watched a sailboat in the distance. He had never seen one before except in pictures. He sat down in a chair and leaned back. It was so different that he couldn't force himself to get up and go unpack. He was enjoying every minute of it.

After a while he decided he had better get his things organized. He goes in and unpacks his suitcase. It had been a long journey from the North Pole. He realized that he was tired so he lay down and fell asleep.

The next morning, he gets up early.

After a bath and change of clothes, he calls a taxi to take him to where the boat takes people to Ship Island. That is where his father took his mother to renew their love so he decided to try his luck there.

He buys a ticket and gets aboard. It takes about forty-five minutes to get to the island. He watches the water as the boat cuts through it. In the distance he sees a porpoise breaking the water, another one follows behind it. A group of pelicans pass by in review as they make their way to the island. The seagulls followed closely as the tourist threw bread and popcorn up in the air. He watched as they made aerial maneuvers as they swooped to catch their breakfast in midair. He marveled at it all as he watched.

The excursion boat finally reaches its destination and pulls up to a long pier. He follows the rest of the crowd off the boat and makes his way to the island. He smiled at everyone he passed. " Good morning, how are you today?" He was happy to be away from the cold and snow for a while. It was his first time in warm weather and he was enjoying it. He walks into a snack stand and smiles at the young ladies behind the counter," Good morning, ladies. I guess I'll need something cold to drink before I head to the beach. Do you have any suggestions on what I might buy?" They looked at each other and back to him, " You must not be from around these parts?" He laughed and replied," No, I'm not. I'm from way up north. How did you know?" One of the young ladies pointed at an open ice chest,
" What you see is what we got. Take your choice." He picks a bottle up and examines it with curiosity," Are these for human consumption or do you feed it to the alligators?" Both girls start laughing." How far up north did you say you were from?"

" Go as far as the North Star and hang a left," he replied. The young lady shakes her head as she explains," I swear I think you just fell off a turnip truck. That drink is for us humans. You better drink one before you get in the hot sun." The other girl leaned close to her and whispered," I think it is too late for him. The sun's gotten to him already." They giggled as he paid for his drink. As he turned to leave he looked back and said," I just got off the boat. I haven't seen any turnip trucks."

After he walks out they look at each other," You think he was just pulling our legs?" "He had to have been. Even people from up north know what Gator Aid is. He was kinda cute wasn't he?" " If he comes back, it's my turn to wait on him!"