Part 2:
Our Florida vacation had taken a weird turn.
Three oranges seemed to burst out of nowhere.
And they … wanted to fight us?
I gave chase after one of them, the one that hit Dale, but stopped after a few steps.
That’s when a more familiar sound grabbed my ears.
Instead of a disembodied voice, we heard the growling of a definitely bodied dog.
A snarling Doberman was the latest guest to the mad party.
Everyone froze as it surveyed us with pitiless eyes.
Three oranges seemed to burst out of nowhere.
And they … wanted to fight us?
I gave chase after one of them, the one that hit Dale, but stopped after a few steps.
That’s when a more familiar sound grabbed my ears.
Instead of a disembodied voice, we heard the growling of a definitely bodied dog.
A snarling Doberman was the latest guest to the mad party.
Everyone froze as it surveyed us with pitiless eyes.
The snarls hit a crescendo and the dog lunged, aiming not at us but the group behind.
Rick reached for the animal’s front shoulders, hoping to use his weight to pin it down.
That strategy immediately revealed painful flaws.
The Doberman slipped free, snapping at Rick’s legs as my brother kicked and flailed.
Unable to sink a solid bite, the dog headed for softer targets.
Jaws aimed for Rick’s head and he threw up his arms as teeth stabbed all around him.
As Rick nearly lost his face … there suddenly came a butt!
A head-butt, that is.
Dale rammed the dog with all his might!
The Doberman bounced in the weeds and rolled upright.
He glared with rage and charged.
Dale rose up and unleashed a slap across the dog’s face that spun the beast around, followed by a devastating kick to the ribs.
The Doberman shuddered and whined, briefly regained ferocity, then finally lost all zeal.
It slowly retreated until scampering away.
We sat shocked, barely believing our tranquil morning had gone so awry.
An orange had shot out of the brush and upended our vacation.
Rick reached for the animal’s front shoulders, hoping to use his weight to pin it down.
That strategy immediately revealed painful flaws.
The Doberman slipped free, snapping at Rick’s legs as my brother kicked and flailed.
Unable to sink a solid bite, the dog headed for softer targets.
Jaws aimed for Rick’s head and he threw up his arms as teeth stabbed all around him.
As Rick nearly lost his face … there suddenly came a butt!
A head-butt, that is.
Dale rammed the dog with all his might!
The Doberman bounced in the weeds and rolled upright.
He glared with rage and charged.
Dale rose up and unleashed a slap across the dog’s face that spun the beast around, followed by a devastating kick to the ribs.
The Doberman shuddered and whined, briefly regained ferocity, then finally lost all zeal.
It slowly retreated until scampering away.
We sat shocked, barely believing our tranquil morning had gone so awry.
An orange had shot out of the brush and upended our vacation.
Dale shook his head and plopped down beside me.
Instead of flying attacks, we were now pelted with gratitude.
“Thank you, thank you,” said a trio of voices.
We saw no mouths on them, no faces.
Just three normal oranges.
“You’re welcome. Can you … understand us?” I asked.
“Surely,” said a smooth male voice. “My name is Sal; thanks for interceding. I dare say that brute had a vociferous appetite.”
“I guess, yeah, I guess he did,” Rick replied.
“And I am Axxey,” chimed the lone female voice. “You all were wonderful, bravery blossoming like tulips. Tulips and roses and … zinnias!”
“Uh, thanks,” said Dale.
Instead of flying attacks, we were now pelted with gratitude.
“Thank you, thank you,” said a trio of voices.
We saw no mouths on them, no faces.
Just three normal oranges.
“You’re welcome. Can you … understand us?” I asked.
“Surely,” said a smooth male voice. “My name is Sal; thanks for interceding. I dare say that brute had a vociferous appetite.”
“I guess, yeah, I guess he did,” Rick replied.
“And I am Axxey,” chimed the lone female voice. “You all were wonderful, bravery blossoming like tulips. Tulips and roses and … zinnias!”
“Uh, thanks,” said Dale.
When the last one spoke, I recognized the scratchy voice we’d initially heard.
“Cray’s the name. Sorry for shootin’ out like that. Didn’t know you were there.”
“Apology accepted. I’m Josephine Hatcher-Hyung. This is my brother, Rick, and this is Dale.”
“We should get going,” Sal said. “There will be others.”
“You’re being chased by dogs?” Rick asked.
Cray spat a laugh and said, “We’re bein’ chased by everyone.”
“Do you want to come with us?” I asked.
Rick added, “Yeah, OK, sure. I need to change my shirt.” He gestured at the rips from the dog. "We’re going back to our hotel."
The oranges rolled away. Hushed voices discussed the offer.
They came back and declared they accepted.
We turned and headed down the path we’d just traveled, the oranges now trailing behind us like wobbly ducklings.
“Cray’s the name. Sorry for shootin’ out like that. Didn’t know you were there.”
“Apology accepted. I’m Josephine Hatcher-Hyung. This is my brother, Rick, and this is Dale.”
“We should get going,” Sal said. “There will be others.”
“You’re being chased by dogs?” Rick asked.
Cray spat a laugh and said, “We’re bein’ chased by everyone.”
“Do you want to come with us?” I asked.
Rick added, “Yeah, OK, sure. I need to change my shirt.” He gestured at the rips from the dog. "We’re going back to our hotel."
The oranges rolled away. Hushed voices discussed the offer.
They came back and declared they accepted.
We turned and headed down the path we’d just traveled, the oranges now trailing behind us like wobbly ducklings.