24

The Waves

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"I've never been on a boat before," says Romie.

"Oh you'll be alright Good Lad! Help me get the bait and Petri," says Fitz.

"Who's Petri?"

"My snake."

*Looks of Excuse Me* "Umm..do you think we could leave Petri?

"Ahh, you scared, boy? She don't bite!"

"Yeah, but she sure chokes, pal!"

"Haha! Alright, tell you what, you load the bait. I'll lock Petri up so she doesn't get out."

"Sounds much better!"

25

Romie grabs the two buckets outside and brings them over to the boating docks. "Hey! Which one is yours?" He yells.

"The Blue one!"

"Hmm...I don't see...oh, nevermind." "Okay, got it!"

Romie walks over to the boat, places the buckets on deck, and hops aboard.

"Hssssss! Hssssss!" noises can be heard in the distance.

Romie gets up and walks over to the stern. A 16-foot anaconda can be seen in the distance slithering towards the boat. Romie jumps and runs to the ignition.

"What the heck, man! You said you'd lock that up!"

"What? Oh Petri! I am! See! She has her collar on."

"That's NOT locking her up. I meant inside the house!!"

26

"Well you're standing on it! Petri lives below deck. Dont' worry, she don't bite!"

"Ahhh!" Romie jumps up and runs towards the bow.

As Petri and Fitz get closer to the dock. Petri smells Romie and slithers fast aboard leaving Fitz behind. "Petri! Go inside! Do not bother our guest!" He says.

Romie sees Petri slithering aboard. He jumps up and climbs high up on the mast. Petri slithers to the base and curls towards the bottom.

"Ahhh!! Romie screams as Petri attempts to make her way up the mast. Romie climbs straight to the top. "Nice snake. Nice Petri."

Petri climbs near the top but is unable to reach Romie. She sticks her tongue out and wraps it around Romie's right foot. "AHHH!! HELP! I'M BEING ATTACKED!" Romie screams.

Fitz runs over and tugs on Petri's tail. "Get Down!"

27

"Hey, how about you get the boat running while I take care of Petri.”

“Who? Me? I don’t know how to drive a boat.””

“Boy, it ain’t hard. Here, lemme show you. Come down & hold this leash.”

“I’ll pass. I’ll figure it out like you said.”

“That’s my Co-Captain! All aboard!”

Fitz drags Petri to the hull. Romie climbs down and walks over to the ignition.

“Hmm…Start/Stop. This must be it!” Romie presses the button.

The boat accelerates at full speed thrusting Romie, Fitz, & Petri to the Stern with Petrie landing on top of Romie.

28

“Oooh you’re one of us.” Petri says.

“What?” Romie says aloud, staring in stupefaction at Petri.

“Boy! What! Get your ragged arse off me! That’s what!” says Fitz.

“I can’t! Your cursed snake lie upon me!”

“Aieee!! That be the extra weight there! Petri get off, girl!”

*GRIINNNDDDDDD*

*CRACK….CRACK…..BOOOOOMMM!!!!*

 

29
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The boat dock sounds as it separates from base.

“Aiieeee!! Boy! You didn’t untie my boat before you started!”

“I don’t know anything about boats! I told you this! AHHHHHHH!! Get this snake off me!”

*Hssss….Hssss!”

“Quiet. Look at me.” Petri says.

“Dude! I think your snake is talking to me!”

“Silly talk, boy. You ain’t heard a snake hiss before?”

30
Petrie slithers off Romie towards the bow & rests on the deck. Romie jumps up and runs towards the rope still pulling the dock. He grabs a boat knife on the way. He jumps on the pulpit, severing the rope. The rope falls but catches the right engine motor, getting entangled in it.

The dock begins to sink with the decreased tension in the rope. As the tension tightens again, the motor rips off. The boat comes to a sudden stop with water sinking the rear. Romie looks at the cockpit and sees the emergency rope. He yanks it causing the left motor to cease. The boat stops in place.

Romie looks around. The entire rear is flooded with water rushing towards the cockpit. Romie jumps up on top of the cockpit and climbs on the roof. Fitz is nowhere to be found. Neither is Petri.

“Oh no…This is bad…This is verrry bad.”

*Splash* Romie gets soaked with water as Fitz lands next to him. Romie kneels down. “Fitz! Hey! Wake up! Are you okay?”​

 

31

“Useless humans!” Petri says to herself slithering on the roof.

“Move over!” she says to Romie.

Romie jumps back. Petri slaps her tail on Fitz’ stomach. No response from Fitz. She does it again. No response. Petrie turns to Romie.

“You saw nothing.” Petri says. She turns around and sticks her tail into Fitz throat. Fitz begins to gargle. His stomach begins to thrust up and down. Petri's tail whips out nearly striking Romie across the face. Romie ducks.

Fits rolls over and throws up. “Aieee! Where are we? What happened?”

 

32
Romie stands in shock.

Petri sl.ithers down into the sea. The boat lifts up and starts accelerating.

“Holy My! I think Petri is driving the boat.” Romie says.

“What! My Petri? Move over, l gotta go check on her.” says Fitz.

​Fitz runs down to the cockpit but does not see Petri. He runs to the stern, and the motor is off. “Petri!” he yells. “Petri, come up girl!"

The boat slows down and comes to a complete stop. Petri slithers up and rests on the deck. Fitz throws a blanket on top of her. “Don’t you scare me like that again. You hear?”

 

33

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! No disrespect but can we get a blanket?” says Romie climbing down off the roof.

“Oh that’s right. Run on down to the cockpit & open the cabinet.”

Romie runs over to the cockpit, still soaked. He looks out in the distance to see enlarged ripples scattered across the sea. “What…is…that!” he says to himself.

Out in the distance, the ripples are being chased by intense waves and dark clouds. Dolphins, Gators, and Sharks are swimming hand in hand to escape the incoming storm.​

 

34

“AAAHHHH FITZ LOOK OUT OFF THE BOAT!” he yells.

Fitz looks out to see the incoming storm. “Oh mud. Now we’re really in for it.” he mentions quietly to himself.

“Run on down into the bedroom. Those sea creatures are about to rock us over! I’ll be down in a second with Petri.”

Romie runs down to bedroom and shuts the door behind him. He gets down on his knees and begins to speak soft words shaking his head fast paced. The boat begins to sway some. Water now begins to seep through the door. “Crud!” Romie says.​

 

35

Romie runs into the bathroom and looks for towels to place under the door. He finds an instant caulk and begins to place it around the door. The boat begins to rock now, harder and harder with every second. 

He finds a hairdryer below the sink. “C'mon. I know there’s a plug in here somewhere. Come on!” He sees an outlet just above the toilet seat.

“Of course, because charging your phone is way more necessary than doing your hair.”

​He plugs the hairdryer in and begins to dry the caulk. Water begins to seep under the door.

“Faster, Faster!” he yells. The water begins to stop.