Part of this story is true and part fiction -- you will have to figure out which is which. The main thing is that I hope you enjoy the story.
Permission to print the story for personal reading.

 

ALLIGATOR ALLEY

  Let me set it up visually so you can sorta see how the High School is laid out.  The front of St. Augustine High School faces Varella Avenue and across the avenue are woods and marsh -swamp land.  In the front of the school is a circle drive with parking and a retention pond with a water sprinkler in the middle that keeps the pond aerated.  

I was out in the back part of the high school around the portable class rooms catching two students for smoking on school grounds when I received a radio call from Mike saying; " Unit 12 to Unit 2"; I replied ;" Go ahead Mike" he replies; ," I need you in the front hall right away, put a rush on it".   I knew something was up by the tone of his voice, he sounded frantic.  Back to the radio I call unit 7 and tell him to meet me on the back hall and suspend these two boys for smoking on school grounds.  The boys look at me with wide eyes and say,'" BUT Mr. D.--you smoke don't you.?" I reply; "Yes, But I Don't Get Caught".  I am now walking double speed to the front hall where Mike is standing. He is motioning me to hurry and get there, so I take off in a run.  Being winded as I turn the corner I run face to face with a Baby 6 Foot Alligator.  Oh my God Jerry, back up.  This thing is feisty and lunging and snapping at any and everything.   What to do,,What to Do.??  

There is a commercial on TV where a young lady is sitting in a chair and a alligator passes or crawls over her. This is the sight you can vision as this 6 foot gator is walking the school halls. I think to myself;  Jerry, you better do something and it better be quick.  I call Joe the custodian; "unit 2 to unit 34," he replies" "go ahead unit 2"; I yell back, "Joe, bring me one of your big floor mops and put a hurry on it".  I tell Mike to go get some electrical tape or duck tape, so off he goes.  The girls in the front office are standing up looking.  I motion for one to come out to me and I tell her to go to room C-12 and get a student named Stratton for me, then go to room G-4 and get Braddock.  

Joe brings me the mop and Mike is back with the tape.  The lady ran back inside  the office and now I have Stratton and Braddock with me.  By this time the word is getting out that there is an Alligator in the school halls.  Here comes Mr. Wells the Media Specialist and a group of students that make up the yearbook.  Wells is taking a video and the yearbook students are taking snap shots for the annual.  Stratton and Braddock get along side me and say; " What's Your Plan Mr. D?"  Out steps two students from the boys bath room,--Pomar and Andreu.  I motion for them to come to me.  I now have my Minorcan students with me and feel like I have a TEAM ready to make the move.  

I say; " OK Guys, Here Is How We Are Going To Catch This Little Critter."   " I Am Going To Tease Him Into Biting The Cloth End Of The Mop----Stratton, You are going to straddle his back and grab his mouth shut,  Braddock, you are going to grab his tail to keep the Gator from slapping Stratton. Now Pomar and Andreu, you are going to jump on top of the Gator and keep him from rolling and twisting.  For God sake Stratton, don't let loose of his mouth."  Braddock asks; "Mr. D, what happens then?" "I say;   "I will slide in there and tape up his mouth with the duck tape, he will have his mouth clamped down on the mop and Stratton is holding it shut,---I HOPE."    " Look Guys, If this doesn't work be ready to jump off,"  Stratton comments to the others;  " Guys, This is like a walk in the park, nothing to it huh.!!"  

I start teasing the Gator with the rag end of the mop but don't let him latch on to it just yet.  I keep this up for awhile until I know I have his total attention on the mop. Now the time is getting close.  "OK guys; get Into Position To Do Your Part."  " This next time is for the Touch Down."  Again I tease and poke the mop at the Gator and he latches on to it and I yell out "NOW GUYS."  The Gator is twisting, turning and trying to roll .  Stratton and the guys look like they are riding a bull in the PBR competitions.  The 8 second whistle blows and it worked like a charm,,,Stratton has the Gator's mouth shut, Braddock has the tail and Pomar and Andreu are holding the Gator down.  I fall to my knees and slide real fast up to the Gator and Tape his mouth shut for good.  We tape his feet and legs together and the front hall comes alive with hopping and yelling from the 30+ people gathered around.  Mr. Wells is taking more video and I tell Stratton to turn the Gator over, rub it's stomach and put it to sleep.  We take the Gator into the front office, put it on the couch and I call Bruce, my Conservation buddy to come get the Gator.  

The Superintendent calls and wants to know "What's Going On." I explain what has happened and his general comment was ; "Thank God I Have People Working For Me That Know How To Take Care Of Critters."  This is not the end of the story.  

Mr. Wells, the Media Specialist edited the video tape and played it during school announcements on Friday morning... He used the theme song from Jaws and worked it into the presentation.  He did not stop there, NO, NO, he made great big hero badges  for the Gator Catchers and they loved the attention...The girls were all over them wherever they went.  

As for me, I just went back to my regular routine of taking care of Small Problems that came up each and every day.  

Jerry Delany
Story (c) 2001