Dock Spider

It was a hot lazy summer afternoon. Because a rocky shore made access to the water difficult and the lake was very deep and cold, I figured I’d float around on top of the water awhile, while my companions were fishing. I secured my neon green air mattress to the boat dock with a long rope so I could safely float in a 15 ft radius and not get swept into the middle of the lake.

The sun was warm on my body as I closed my eyes and enjoyed the rocking of gentle waves beneath me. Once in a while I’d open my eyes and gaze at the few lazy clouds in the sky. Very relaxed, I almost dozed off. It was one of those rare perfect moments in life when a person consciously enjoys the reality of “now” It was a time to close my eyes and savor and I don’t know how long exactly this ecstasy lasted. Even the slight coolness that glazed over my face as the sun lost its bright glare, was welcome.

Then a light tickly feeling on my face startled my eyes open and I found myself gazing up at the underside of the dark dank dock just inches from my face. Floating underneath the dock I was attached to had definitely not been a part of the plan! It was very gross and dark under there, with creatures I couldn’t identify, hanging , clinging and clutching to the musty slimy Grey wooden boards. Sternly admonishing myself for lack of forethought, I was busy hand-paddling a hasty retreat when I noticed I had company on my little raft. . My sudden knee-jerk reaction caused me to lose balance and I almost fell into the cold water. There beside me, on my raft was this huge dark gray spider. I nearly dove off in my panic. In vain we struggled, me trying to flip him off I reminded myself that the water was very deep (about 12 feet), and since I’m not a great swimmer, my best option was to fight t for my life-raft. Still, in my arachnophobic mind it was a hard decision to make.

In panic, I frantically tried to swipe the monster off the mattress. In vain I struggled, trying to flip him off while maintaining my stability on my slippery floating raft.

He didn’t want to go and evaded my every swat, He was swift as he darted from side to side across the mattress and across my bare legs.. In some survival-induced state I struggled to keep my balance while trying to flip him off. (I feel creepy crawlies all over my as I’m writing this.) I somehow managed, after several jerky swats, to fling him into the water. To my amazement, he started running across the water back toward me. This was like the super-duper hero athlete spider of his species! I wildly splashed and paddled my way back to the dock and in a frenzy reminding me of those late-night horror movies roughly dragged myself up the sides and scrambled away from the gnashing eight-legged fanged creature. Just in the nick of time too!

And that’s my story and I’m sticking to it..