Photo: Neil, his Cape Dory Astrid, and the kayak cruising in Florida Bay (with Angel and Rebecca)

The bow of his yellow kayak effortlessly sliced through the shallows of Florida Bay. Gulls called in the distance. Neil inhaled the brine scented breeze and felt the sun's warmth on the bare skin of his back and shoulders. A white heron glided past on silent wings.

Schools of minnows darted from his approach and spiraled in the translucent water below. Creating their own wakes, a group of ballyhoo arrowed just under the surface, their long, sharp lower jaws hungrily nosing through bits of floating sea grass. Neil paddled in a deep channel, a tidal flat on one side and an uninhabited mangrove isle on the other. An escape into nature was just what he'd needed.

The kayak’s approach startled some of the fish and a few jumped out of the water, landing with plopping splashes. Neil continued paddling, amused by the silvery shapes leaping around him and slapping back into the sea. One of the fish failed to make it. The spear-nosed ballyhoo lodged into Neil’s back instead.

Howling in surprise and pain, Neil nearly dropping the paddle. The fish had situated itself, lawn dart style, in a spot Neil couldn’t reach. Fins uselessly flapping in place, it protruded from his back.

Making a distressed noise, Neil twisted around, first one way, then the other, trying in vain to reach behind him. He entertained the horrifying image of having to flee to the nearest civilized shore with a fish jammed in his back. Then he’d have to find someone to pull it out.

As he struggled to use the paddle in an awkward attempt to dislodge the fish, it wiggled free. Flipping into the water, it darted away, no worse for the wear.
Back stinging, Neil hunched forward and slowly paddled to his sailboat. So much for a relaxing day off work.

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