The Traveling Corpse by Double Edge Press Page A

season—goes from now ta
August, Doc says ya can tell when it’s that time of year ‘cause tha
front of tha male ostrich’s legs turn pink. His beak turns pink,
too; some days they are pinker than others. I don’t know jest
why.”
    â€œIt’s fun to watch that big male show off,”
Annie said. “He dances around and lifts up his wings, pumps them up
and down a little on his back. They look like huge black and white
fans that he doesn’t quite open up all the way.”
    Barb said, “There’s a huge alligator in
Crescent Pond, but those big birds aren’t the least bit afraid of
him.”
    â€œYah, he jest seems ta do his thing, an’ they
jest do theirs!” DeeDee laughed. “Actually, Doc says those big
birds have a powerful kick an’ that tha big toe stickin’ outta each
foot can rip a person open. Ya don’t wantta mess with ‘em.”
    A crescent-shaped pond ran south along the
boundary of the fifth hole and curved around into a farmer’s field.
A sagging wire fence divided the top of the water into two
sections.
    â€œI wish people wouldn’t feed that ‘gatah,”
Verna said as she hunted in her bag for some tees. “They should let
wild animals be wild animals. It’s not safe to feed an alligatah,
and I don’t think it’s good for it, eithah.”
    â€œThere’s one man,” Barb said, “I’ve seen him
myself, he throws chicken bones, and I don’t know what else, out
there. He must save up his garbage and then bring it with him. When
he sees the alligator, he unzips a pocket in his golf bag, pulls
out a plastic bag, and goes over and dumps it near the pond. Guess
he likes to see the ‘gator go for it. Those pre-historic beasts can
run really fast when they want to. I think it’s a very stupid thing
for him to do.”
    â€œI do, ta,” DeeDee agreed. “That wire fence
doesn’t look very sturdy ta me. If that ‘gator got riled up, I jest
bet he could push it down if he wanted ta.”
    While Verna was pulling her golf glove on her
left hand, she said, “Oh, by the way, Von and I saw the crocodile
aftah you left this morning.”
    Barb interrupted, “Don’t you mean
alligator?”
    â€œNo. It’s a crocodile, and it’s swimming over
in Memorial Pond. Its head looks different than a ‘gatah’s. From
the side, it almost looks like it has a pig’s snout on the end of
its long, narrow nose. It was gliding through the watah. Von and I
watched and watched it. We’d nevah seen one in Florida before.”
    DeeDee explained further, “Doc says tha
American Crocodiles didn’t used ta come this far north, but we’re
beginning ta have more of ‘em up here.”
    â€œYour Doc knows so much about animals. He
told me once,” Verna said, “when we were playing this hole, that
raising those ostriches and emus is a school project. The Future
Farmahs of America, the FFA, I think it is, is sponsoring
them.”
    â€œThat’s interesting,” Barb said. Then she
changed the subject, “Do you want to walk the course or take the
golf cart, Annie?”
    â€œLet’s walk. The exercise will do us good,
and it will warm us up, too.” She loosened the strap that held her
golf bag and its attached pull cart and lifted them down off the
rear of Barb’s cart. Next, she stepped on a lever to release the
wheels of the pull cart, and they spread apart. Raising the pull
handle, she tightened a screw and was ready to go.
    As Barb was taking her clubs off, she asked
DeeDee and Verna, “Are you girls going to walk or ride?”
    Verna looked at DeeDee, “Are you up to
walking the front nine?”
    â€œActually, I don’t think so. My sciatica’s
startin’ ta act up some. Do ya mind if we ride?”
    â€œFine with me.”
    Barb reminded them that they hadn’t signed in
yet. As she