Seasons

from the perspective of a cloud

Down here in the everglades my job is simple

In reality I only work half the year

You see down here only two seasons are official

The wet one, summer, is when I appear  

It is not easy work dropping sixty inches of rain

Twenty-one million people rely on me for water

When the humidity and warmth rises causing me to expand in pain

I form a thunderstorm and with my roar yell to the rivers, be watered

Now winter, that’s dry, so I take a break

Near-freezing temperatures create quite the wind chill factor

From December to Mid-May I don’t have much rain to make

That’s when the people come, with tourist I’m a master

The droplets that come to visit tell many stories from up north

I just tell them I’m fine here, the everglades are where I have worth 

Richards Big Day

“Alligators are the most dangerous animals in swamps.” Something I have been told since I was born. My name is Richard and I am a 6-year-old Gator that lives in the Everglades.

I have many friends, Albert the stork, Macy the fish and many others. Every day is the same, we wake up, we say good morning, and then the people start coming in to come see us. I love seeing all the people and they love seeing me, but they’re scared of me.

A few times now, I have tried to swim up to one of the boats they ride in to say hi, but each time they scream out of fear. I just wish they knew that all I wanted was to say “hi” and to be friends but I never get the chance.

I heard that there is a classroom filled with kids coming to my home today I am so excited. Every time students come to the Everglades, all of us animals get overcome with excitement. The children love seeing us and we love seeing them, so we usually put on a show for them.

Albert usually flies around the boat the kids are in and then lands on a nearby tree. I usually just swim and open my mouth they love to see that, too. I am also so excited for them to come because I want them to learn to not fear me. I’m even thinking that today I may even get to actually talk to one of the kids!

Before each day starts, before all of the people come in, I have a few things I do to prepare for the day...

First, I brush and shine my teeth, oral hygiene is very important.

Next, I get my fish friends to get little lily pad brushes to brush and clean my belly and the storks use the same thing to clean my back.

After, I eat breakfast and get into position for all of the tourists to come the Everglades.

“Today is the day I am going to say hello to someone!” I said to Albert.

“Woah! Do not to do that, you look like you were about to eat me and they may feel the same. Listen Richard, I know you’re a nice Alligator but I just don’t think the kids will see that” sighed Albert.

Richard thought to himself, “I do not care what Albert said, I am going to say hi to someone today and they are going to like me!”

As Richard thought of different ways to seem friendly, the park opened up and tourists young and old started to flood in it was almost time for Albert to make his big move.

The classroom of students filled up an airboat and got ready for their tour of the Everglades. Albert noticed one in particular, a little boy who was holding a smiling stuffed animal alligator.

“He thinks I am nice! He is the one who will be my friend!” exclaimed Albert.

As the tour got to Albert he made sure to position himself on the side of the boat that he knew the little boy was sitting. As the boat came toward Richard he could not contain his excitement and started rolling in the water. All of the kids looked at him and started to giggle.

“Look at that gator! He is so awesome!” shouted one student."

“Remember in class we learned that alligators are beautiful creatures who are more afraid of us than we are of them.” said their teacher.

Richard thought to himself, “They don’t seem scared of me at all! That’s it, I’m going to do it, I’m going to smile and say hello.”

As Richard swam to the boat all of the kids watched with big eyes. Once he reached the boat and opened his mouth, he gave the biggest smile he had ever given. All of the kids gasped. Richard was afraid he may have scared them but just as he was about to swim away, all of the kids started laughing and clapping. They loved him.

Richard was so nervous and happy he could not say hi so he swam away with bliss.

“They really loved me” Richard thought.

As the day ended, Richard told all of his friends about his day and how he got people to laugh and smile instead of scream. He would remember this day for the rest of his life.

Since the cloud and alligator have had their time to share their perspective, it is time for the students' field trip to the Everglades!

“Come on Jason, you have to get up now if you want to make it to school on time to get on the bus for your field trip,” my mom shouts from downstairs.

        Today is the day my fourth grade science class is going to the Everglades National Park. It’s going to take us about an hour to arrive to the park so there will plenty of time to review our notes before embarking on our adventure.

Mrs. Kavanaugh has recently introduced us to ecosystems and the animals that live in various parts of the world around us. Since we live in Florida though, Mrs. K has emphasized on the wonders of the Everglades.    

“What are you most excited for today?”, questioned my mom on our drive to school.

Well, my favorite aquatic animal is a manatee and I know that you can find them in the Everglades. Mrs. Kavanaugh says they’re endangered though,” I replied. “I also know that the Florida Panther lives down there. There’s alligators and insects too.”

Today, the 8 minute drive to school seemed to be way longer than usual. Could it be because of my excitement or because the traffic light on 6th street was out?

As we turned left to join all of the other vehicles attributing to the exhausting car drop-off line, I see all of the neon orange t-shirts that were given to us to wear on our field trip. Orange is one of our school colors but the neon was suggested so our teachers could easily identify us when out in the wilderness. On the front of the our t-shirts was a picture of a smiling animated alligator. The back of our shirts had our teachers last name on the back. “Kavanaugh.”

At approximately 8:15, my class got ready to board the bus. All of us are crawling with excitement because of what’s in store for us. I sit in the middle of the bus with my friend Nico.

“Jason, what happens if we get chased by an alligator?” asked Nico.

“I think getting chased by an alligator should be the least of our concern. Those are one of my favorite animals so I know what to do if we did” I stated, even though I too, was worried about a giant beast submerging from the grassy, wetland out of nowhere.

We were driving swiftly down the winding back roads of south florida. There were tons of tall palm trees lining the medians of the roads. I could tell we were getting close to the entrance gate because you could see swampland for miles and miles. I was instantly overcome with a wave of excitement because I was ready for the journey ahead.