What Blooms in the Everglades

Flowers bloom year-round in Florida where the soil and sun bring forth a natural overgrowth of life. Some flowers bloom early on but are ugly in their death.

Peggy had a bulbous nose and thin, unwashed hair. When she walked, she dragged her feet. You could always hear her coming down the hall at school.

She lived down near the southern marsh in an old trailer park. She didn’t mind it as so many did. It was quiet and the trailers were spaced out far enough that you couldn’t see or hear your neighbors. She was an arthropod and this was her freshwater, especially since her mom left a year and a half ago. She had brought home another boyfriend and this one didn’t like kids. Peggy knew better than to think she would win out in that situation. One day, she came home from school to find all of her mom’s things were gone. A small note left on the table informed Peggy not to worry and that she would be back in a few months.

She felt guilty for not missing her mom but Peggy’s life had become peaceful since she left. She loved a good story in the novels she wrote but not within the four walls of her home. Nobody, not even the state, wanted the trailer or swampland. She made enough on the weekends stocking groceries at the Piggly Wiggly to pay for food. However, the plumbing had busted a few months ago and she couldn’t pay to have it fixed. Doing her business in the woods wasn’t so bad and she filled water bottles up at the school drinking fountain. Showering was a bit more difficult because she wasn’t signed up for any PE classes this semester. Now and then, she was able to sneak into the gym and use the facilities.

When she wasn’t at school or working she would meander by the swamp water, you couldn't call it a lake, and write stories in her black notebook. Her stories were much more interesting than real life and it became, for her, a second life.

Amanda was a girl who loved high school and the social ranking of her peers. Mostly because she knew she was at the top. Amanda and her friends couldn’t stand Peggy. Once, in 8th grade, Amanda took Peggy on as a pet project. She invited her to Jake Gilson’s party and even took her shopping and gave her a make-over like in the movies. She was so nice to her and Peggy acted as if she couldn't tolerate the evening.

Amanda found her at the end of the night huddled up in Jake’s little sister’s room writing in her black notebook. She was always writing in that damn notebook. Her friends thought Peggy was ashamed and shy about talking to so many popular people. Amanda understood that Peggy actually found them all dull.

It wasn’t like she was so interesting herself, Amanda thought. But she looked at the parties and her friends with scrutiny from that day on. Were they all having as much fun as they let on? Was she even interested in the same things her friends were interested in? She didn’t like thinking so much and Peggy made her think a lot. Peggy would have avoided Amanda’s company if given the choice but because of that Amanda couldn't leave her alone.

Nobody ever came down to the swamp. That was until recently. Flocks of kids from school had taken to hovering around the swamp area a few weeks ago. They always had gear in hand and cameras. Then one day, walking home from school, Peggy saw the sign posted on a pole.

From that day on Peggy started following and listening to everyone who came to the swamp. She jotted any leads down in her black notebook.

Rumors of the Everglades monster had been circulating for years. The 20k reward added fresh winds to the rumors. Amanda’s boyfriend and his friends had been down there twice now. They were planning a third expedition next week. Amanda was very encouraging of his efforts until she found out he planned to spend the money on college tuition, and not her. She decided she needed to take matters into her own hands.

“There is like, no way I’m going down there!” Margo whined shifting her weight from one foot to the other. “My parents say it’s way too dangerous anyway."

Amanda rolled her eyes. “I don’t care if you come, Margo. You wouldn’t be much help anyway. And aren’t your parents both journalists? They should be out in the Everglades themselves if there is a swamp monster.”

Margo stuck her lip out and before she could go into full tantrum mode Amanda appeased her. “You don’t need the money anyway sweetie, so why ruin a good pair of shoes in swamp scum?”

“Your parents have almost as much money as mine do. What would you do with the money?”

Amanda flipped her hair back over her shoulder hiding the irritation from her face. “If you must know, I’m moving to LA this summer so I can be a model and I need the money to set up my new place.”

“LA? Harvard is in Massachusetts. Your parents would never let you do that!”

“Exactly why I need to get a photo of this monster” She felt sorry for herself at that moment. She wished she had parents like Margo's parents. They didn’t care what she did with her life.

She planned a lone expedition for that weekend and left early on Saturday. She wore a green top with a deep v-neck and her short shorts that showed off her long, tanned legs. She had a safari hat her mom had brought back for her from one of her expeditions in Africa and shades. She admired herself in the mirror. Then ran to her mother’s closet to grab a silk geo scarf in beige to tie around her neck as well as the camera her father kept in his closet. She hoisted the camera strap on her left shoulder. It was big and bulky but she needed a quality photo if she wanted to win the money.

She parked her car in the dilapidated parking lot that was set up for visitors to the trailer park. It was early in the morning but the heat clung to her like a weight. She headed for the trail. She wondered how many people used this trail until she saw Peggy, of all people, walking toward the path.

Peggy’s eyes met Amanda’s for one brief moment. Amanda was hopeful. Nobody would know this swamp better than Peggy! Yet, Peggy’s eyes sizzled out into boredom. A look she often gave Amanda, and she turned on toward the path without a single word. Amanda’s chest tightened and her hands started shaking. She followed Peggy at a distance for a while.

It’s her pet. She lives with the thing in the Everglades. That’s why she stinks all the time! Amanda thought.

As Peggy made her way toward an old swamp bridge, Amanda started walking faster.

“Hey Peggs, it looks like you haven’t bathed in a week!” Amanda barked.

Peggy stopped and looked back with an annoyed, half bored look in her eye. The look enraged Amanda further.

“You smell like the pond scum below us. It’s disgusting.” She said this with teeth bared. They were both in the middle of the bridge now and Amanda was inches away from her face. Amanda unslung her camera and tossed it to the ground with disregard. Peggy’s eyes grew cautious.

“Why do my bathing habits concern you so much, Amanda? There must be something more interesting for you to comment on.” Peggy turned her back on Amanda and started shuffling onward.

“Is this interesting enough for you, BITCH!”

Amanda threw her bodyweight at Peggy and pushed her toward the bridge edge. She had her pinned against the guardrail now. Peggy’s eyes grew wider than she had ever seen them. They were two giant saucers of milk Amanda was ready to lap up. Amanda was trying to lift her over the bridge railing. She finally had her attention and she was not going to lose it now.

Peggy tossed her head back and then slammed it full force into Amanda’s head. Amanda tasted blood in her mouth and felt a tooth chip off. Rage filled her body as she lunged at Peggy but Peggy threw herself down on the ground. Amanda tried to redirect her weight but it was too late. She hurtled over the side but was able to catch hold of the rail. Her body slammed into the side of the bridge. Her ears were ringing now and she couldn’t think straight. Black spots covered her sight. She lost her grip and fell, plummeting down into the depths of the warm, moss-covered water.

It wasn’t deep but the smell of the stagnant water made her gag. There was moss in her hair and covering her face. She stood but her hair clung to her face and felt sticky. She gagged again and this time her stomach was more successful in expressing itself. She vomited in her hair that hung in her face. Instinctively she plunged her head into the water to clean the vomit off. She regretted this decision as more moss clung to her and she vomited again. Sounds were coming more into focus again as the shock wore off and she heard a voice from above.

“Amanda! Amanda! Get out! Get OUT!” As Peggy screamed she tripped over the discarded camera scrapping her arm bloody and threading her skin with several splinters. She picked the camera up with shaky hands.

Amanda finally extracted her hair from her view and her pale, wet face looked up in confusion. She started to turn and then felt the brush of something along her leg and felt the water move around her. It looked like a mud-covered tree trunk floating in the water, except trees didn’t bend like that.

Pinpricks made their way up her back and down her face. She couldn’t feel her feet or move. A numb, cold made its way from the depths of her belly and up her throat.

A click and flash of light came from above and confused her for a moment but her attention was pulled to the water again. Her eyes dilated and then she was plunging or rather being pulled backward. She knew she should fight but was paralyzed. She screamed out into the water as she was dragged along the bottom of the swamp floor.

- - -

A month later, Peggy was walking to class. Her hair was clean and shiny and she was wearing a new navy top and jeans. As she passed the main office she noticed an avalanche of candles, flowers, and stuffed animals around last year’s yearbook photo of Amanda. A small piece of paper was pinned to the cork-board nearby with a short obituary.

Amanda Vivianne Hawthorn was born in Hudgens county on October 27th, 1979. She passed away in Little Brook at the age of 17.

Amanda enjoyed her academic life at Ridge View Country High School. She was a straight-A student and member of the Honor Roll. She enjoyed hanging out with her friends and attending social gatherings.

She is survived by her father Marshall and her mother, Diane.

They left out the most interesting thing about her, Peggy thought. How she died.