The Alligator Moon

Native Americans have names for every full moon. The first full moon of the New Year is the Wolf Moon. This was when, in the days of old, wolf packs would prowl over the snow searching for food. When the snow was especially deep and the winter very cold, the wolves became desperate enough in their hunger to venture into the villages and find the weakest of the tribe.

When January arrives in the land of the Marco Beach Boys and Girls, the confident natives and the unsuspecting travelers who share the land sometimes fall into the category of the same urban legend. The over-confident, the unsuspecting, and the spontaneously amorous, are often the subjects of folklore and the most likely to fall victim.

When the last of December came to the south Florida golf course community, the winter weather was the coldest in almost four decades. During the day, the winter sun was bright in the sky, but brought little warmth to the reptiles who lived beside the water hazards and the immaculate fairways. For the cold-blooded, the sunlight was life, but the darkness and cold brought only hunger and the primal desire to satiate and survive.

After four days of almost record cold, every alligator was searching for a place in the sun. Especially the big ones. Every creature with cold blood was desperate for the ball of light that was always dominating the sky, but to fathom why the light was not strong enough was an irritating mystery. Every reptile on every golf course was out in the sun and striving for the warmth of the shining light. The light brought life, and in the light, there would be warmth and food. When the land was cold, and the light was weak, there could be no other topics in the ancient ways of the reptile mind.

The overwhelming topic for the golfers on the last chilling day of the year was the sheer number of the dinosaur-like creatures that were out and openly basking in the sun. Another favorite topic for golfers was the famous New Year’s Eve party that was reportedly to be the biggest ever. The food for the celebration was already underway, and as every golf cart driver that was avoiding alligators knew, the delightful aroma coming from the country club was beyond compelling.

The sunset over the golf course became beautiful and dramatic by an infusion of clouds that blew in from the Gulf of Mexico. When the pastel colors finally faded with the sun, the rising full moon was a blur behind the overcast that came with the chilling wind.

By midnight at the country club, dinner was over and the staff were busy filling trash bags and a dumpster with the remnants of a five-star meal. Champagne was flowing, the natives and the travelers were joining in song and celebration, but when the countdown was finished, and the big ball dropped, Margaret and Mike, just in from the Midwest, decided that a private bottle of champagne on the nearby golf course would be a great way to celebrate the New Year.

It might be chilly by Florida standards, but Margaret and Mike knew about cold weather and even frostbite. With the full moon glowing behind the racing clouds, the newly met couple began to wander past the putting green with the same romantic desire that has propagated generations.

There was almost enough light to see, and soon the would-be couple popped the champagne cork and began to drink flattering toasts from crystal glasses. In the almost moonlight, the new couple finished the wine and began to share a New Year’s kiss.

During the romantic moments that followed, Mike shed his sport coat, a New Year’s plastic top hat, and took off his tie. Margaret took off her New Year’s party tiara and her high heel shoes. As the new friends sat on the sports coat beside the abandoned party favors, shoes, tie, wine glasses, and empty champagne bottle, the overcast clouds suddenly parted and exposed a full Alligator Moon.

When the new couple screamed together, no one could hear them but the alligators that were watching. When the clouds parted and the full moon was suddenly bright and shining, Margaret and Mike knew they were surrounded by every alligator on the golf course.

All the cold-blooded creatures with the teeth that they could not cover were gazing without patience at the food that was now waiting under the moonlight. The alligators understood that the light was life, but they could not fathom why the shining pale light did not offer the promised warmth. They could only understand - as a unit or a pack - that the scent of the food they had been savoring was now waiting before them. The group of massive reptiles were rising on their claws and straining upward to be closer, but the shining pale light was a false promise. 

When Mike began to run, Margaret was just as fast without her high heels. The alligators were cold, sluggish, and slow to react, but as the desperate couple ran, snapping jaws and teeth were following along with tearing claws and slashing tails. When the food became scarce, there were the sounds of a terrible struggle as the older alligators decided to turn on each other in the cold light from the moon. 

The following morning a terrible scene was waiting at the dawn of a New Year. A large group of alligators was basking in the sun beside the only remains of a reportedly missing couple. There were tatters of clothes, shoes, party hats and wine glasses, and even a broken bottle of champagne amid the torn-up green grass of what appeared to be a horrific struggle. The local police were everywhere searching for any other remains, while profession alligator wranglers were nodding sagely and contemplating the outcome of yet another Alligator Moon.

When Margaret saw the green’s keeper’s shack Mike was not far behind, but after the door was open and the couple was finally safe inside, a deadbolt clicked into place on a heavy steel lock. Margaret and Mike were not found until the next day when a new urban legend was born.