Drawing by Tosh Bibb
Let us retell a story told to us by a Seminole friend,
Peter Billie Osceola, although the ladies call him Sweet Pete. Pete
was raised on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation and had to catch
a bus every morning to school in Clewiston, 32 miles away. One particular
morning, Pete was waiting at the bus stop and decided that he needed new
shoes. He thought a pair of alligator shoes, just like those of his
rich schoolmates, would be nice, so off he walked to the main canal to
look for a gator. As he walked along the canal, he saw many different
size gators lying on the bank, sunning themselves. Finally, he spied
one gator that looked about the right size. Pete crouched down low, so
that he could sneak up on that snoozing Gator.
The gator's head was facing the water and
its tail was pointed towards Pete. Pete waited until he thought he
would have the element of surprise on his side. Then, he lunged on top
of that gator. The gator was startled, and as expected, headed for
the water, with Pete on his back. Pete grabbed the gator by his tail and
pulled the gator back on the bank. The gator pulled Pete back into the
water. Pete pulled the gator back on the bank and the gator pulled Pete
back into the water. This went on and on for about 30 minutes.
Finally, Pete pulled one very tired and confused gator onto the bank and
rested on top of the gator's back. The gator must have been really
tired too, cause he did not try to get back into the water. Pete was sure
tired, but he knew he'd better hurry before the gator got it's second wind.
With all his might, Pete lifted the gator onto his side and finally pushed
the gator over onto it's back. And wouldn't you know it, the Alligator
wasn't wearing any shoes--nope, none at all...!
Original Drawing by Tosh Bibb