The Happy Dock

If my lifevest were a donut that floated, I could float and eat happily for a week. I was alone amid the choppy sea, baking under a watchful hot sun - Near me were scary fins; they stayed close but had not yet attempted to bother me. I drifted on the tubular float, my feet barely in waves. I saw in the distance a floating wood dock… Or maybe it was the smallest little island I had ever seen, only with no trees or shrubbery. I could not tell. By and by I drifted closer… And spotted a most unblemished figure standing alone with long flowing hair, long legs and bronzed buttocks to be sure, tanned coconuts by her feet. That much I discerned. I floated and bobbed on my donut tube and hoped that I might float to her and her happy dock – Two fins specifically came closer. Silver gray looming primeval fins slicing thru the water more pronounced and curious than the others, seemingly purpose-driven – The woman with coconuts on a level dock waved to me. She then signaled to me in warning that there were sharks in the water [as if I did not know]. I was only in seven feet of water - Red coral reefs were around me below the sharks…but it was to me perhaps the most beautiful inviting water in all the world. Even with these awesome man-eaters . . . I was closer to the dock now. Fifty meters. I was sure of it! I wanted to rip off the vest and make a quick marathon swim to the girl – I did not think I could make it. My lips were chapped and my skin (hot from sun, wind and tropical haze) hurt badly and peeled, floating into the island air and into green waves. My skin. I thought my skin was stinging, but . . . Something pulled at my foot. Burning pain crippled me. A fluorescent jellyfish had stung me. When I looked up, there was no woman on the dock. But still the goddamned fins - I splashed in quick turning circles to try and find her, this woman on the dock, goddess, figment of my imagination…whatever. I saw more fins, the same fins, but no girl. Then, lo, there was splashing. The girl was swimming to me . . . When at last splashing ceased, and I was calm, I noted a warm easy wave come over me 