Hi, welcome to Peg Tales. Are you ready to travel? I hope so, because this Peg Tale will take you to the southern-most part of the United States... the Florida Keys.

The Keys are a string of islands that begin just south of Miami, Flordia with Key Largo. Like beads on a necklace, they are joined by many bridges, and go clear to Key West. They are like little gems, lying on a velvet ocean that is shaded with every color of green and blue.

It is very hot in the summer, but an ocean breeze helps to cool the keys.

So, be prepared for excitment as you read:

"NOAH'S SHARK"

Noah Weber and his sister, Carol, live on a Florida Key. Their mom and dad own a seafood restaurant located just past a bridge, south of Big Pine Key. It is on the Gulf side, or west side, of the highway.

During most of the year, a hustle and bustle of tourists stop to eat the wonderful seafood Noah's parents serve at "Weber's Wharf Restaurant". There you have a choice of eating inside, or outside at tables shaded by bright, yellow umbrellas. Seated outside, you may watch the Sea Gulls and fishing boats, and walk out to the end of the wharf to throw breadcrumbs to the birds, who scrap and scream for every last crumb.

In the summer months, the heat keeps most tourists away. The Weber's close their restaurant during August. That is when they relax, go out fishing on their boat, and swim in an ocean that is warm as bath water.

Ten-year-old Noah, and his sister, fifteen-year-old Carol, love to fish. Their dad taught them just about everything he knew about fishing. He taught them how to bait a hook (with great care), tie knots (how else can you secure a hook to a line?), and most difficult of all, how to skillfully cast that line into the water. Noah and Carol are very good fisher-kids. They also learned to identify many different kinds of fish.

They love to lie on their bellies on the wharf and look down into the clear water and watch the tiny, colorful, tropical fish that most of us see only in aquariums. There are, of course, big fish, too, like Grouper, Amberjack, Sharks and Dolphins.

Even though Noah and Carol live in the tropics, their lives are much like yours. They go to school, play sports, help out in the restaurant, do homework, and hate tests.

From June through October, they live with the hurricane season. Storms can boil up out of the Atlantic Ocean, the Carribbean, or the Gulf of Mexico. Then, the Webers must board up their restaurant and their home, and leave the Keys for a safe place. It may seem as if the Webers live in paradise, but a hurricane can turn all that beauty to destruction. Weather plays a big part in the Weber's lives.

Because "Weber's Wharf Restaurant" is near a bridge, schools of all kinds of fish can be seen swimming from the Atlantic Ocean side to the Gulf side under the bridge.

One August evening Noah and Carol were sitting on the end of the wharf. The tide was beginning to come in, and that always brought a variety of fish swimming in under the bridge for the night.

Noah jumped to his feet and pointed. "Look, Carol, there by the bridge. Look at that Shark's big dorsal fin. Wow, that's some big fish," Noah said.

"Oh, yeah," Carol said, shading here eyes with her hand. "That looks like a Bull Shark, Noah. Remember, we saw one once when we were fishing with Dad? They can be mean."


"Can you see the white scar on its dorsal fin? He's been in some nasty fight, I'll bet," Noah said.

They watched as the Shark swam closer to their wharf.

"I'll keep an eye on him, Carol, if you'll call Dad. He'd like to see this old Bull."

Carol ran down the wharf to where Mom and Dad were sitting at an umbrella table.

"Hurry," she called to them. "A giant Bull Shark just swam in under the bridge."

The Webers jumped and up and trotted down the wharf to stand with Noah and Carol. Noah pointed out the scarred dorsal fin as it glided through the water coming ever nearer to the wharf.

"You're right, kids, that Bull Shark must be twelve feet long. He's chasing after something. Probably looking for dinner," Dad said.

Mom stepped back from the edge of the wharf. "Oooh," she said. I don't care for Bull Sharks, and that's about the biggest one I've ever seen."

"How'd you like to catch him?" Noah asked. "He'd break your line and your rod. It'd be really awesome to hook that old boy."

Dad put his hand on Noah's shoulder and said, "Don't even think of trying to catch that Bull Shark. They're very dangerous and should be left alone. He's in here after that school of Snapper. Maybe he couldn't find enough to eat out in the ocean today."

"He's in here looking for dessert, Dad," Noah said. "Besides, I wouldn't want to catch him, he's bigger than I am."

"I hope we never see him this close to our wharf again," said Carol. He looks like a submarine."

Streaking through the water, the Webers watched as the Bottlenose Dolphins swam near the wharf. The four young Dolphins had been coming by for some time. When the restaurant was open, the diners would leave their tables to stand at the end of the wharf and watch the Dolphins swim in close. They could hear them singing and talking to each other.

The moment the Dolphins appeared, the Bull Shark swam away, slowly heading into the shallow waters of the "back country", as the coastal water on the Gulf side of the Keys is called.

"You know," Dad said. "I think we might be wrong about that Bull Shark. Female Bull Sharks go into shallow water when they have their babies. I'd say that was a female Bull Shark.

"How many babies do they have," Carol asked.

"As I recall from my fishing book, they have only one baby," Dad said. "Also, they have been known to attack bathers and spear fishermen. Probably because they smell the speared fish. Be wary, kids, when you're swimming."

The August weeks flew by for the Webers as they enjoyed their vacation month. They took one week to visit family in the mountains of North Carolina. When they returned home, Noah was eager to do some fishing. Dad planned a fishing trip for them into the "back country".

Noah put a new spool of fishing line on his reel. He wanted to be ready to catch a big fish the next day. He decided to test it out. He and Carol walked to the end of the wharf. Carol also took her fishing rod to make sure it was in good working condition for the trip.

Noah put an artificial lure on his line. It was heavy, and when he cast it out, the weight carried his line a long way from the wharf.

"Nice cast, Noah," Carol said. "Let's see if I can out-cast you." Carol cast, but her line snarled and tangled. "Oh, no," she said. "Looks like I'll need a new spool of line, too. That snarl will never come out."

"Too bad," Noah laughed. "Here, let me help you." Noah laid his rod down on the wharf with the line still in the water. He held Carol's rod while she cut out the snarl in her line and removed the leader and hook.

Suddenly, Noah's rod began jumping and sliding toward the end of the wharf. "Noah", Carol yelled. "Quick, you have a fish on your line. It's pulling your rod. Grab it."

Noah rushed to pick up his rod. Like a good fisherman, he held the rod tip up high, and began reeling in the line. Instead of the line reeling in, it zinged and sang, and whistled as the fish pulled it out.

"Wow." Noah yelled. "This is something big. Maybe a Grouper or a Jack."

With all his strength, Noah kept the rod tip up with both hands. He could not let go, even with one hand, to try and reel in his line.

"I'm going for Dad," Carol hollered. "He has to see this. I think you need some help, Noah."

Carol ran down the wharf toward the house calling for Mom and Dad.

Then, Noah's fish stopped pulling on the line. It stopped so suddenly that Noah, who had been leaning back, pulling against the fish, almost went over backwards. He struggled to keep his balance and not fall. In that instant, the fish took off again, pulling out more line. Noah ran forward with his rod, no longer in control of his fish. As he was pulled to the edge of the wharf, he stumbled and tripped, falling into the water. A moment before he hit the water, he saw the huge, scarred dorsal fin of the Bull Shark.

Once in the water, Noah tried desperately to hold onto his rod. "I'm not losing my rod," he thought to himself. With the rod in one hand, he tried to swim to the surface using his free arm and kicking frantically.

He reached the surface, coughing and spluttering, still holding his rod. Turning, he looked back at the wharf. Carol, Dad and Mom were running toward the end. He could hear his Mom screaming, "Noah! Noah!"

As he turned the other way, he could see the scarred, dorsal fin of the Bull Shark slicing through the water towards him. Noah's heart pounded, and fear nearly paralyzed him. He could hear the voice of his dad yelling, "Be calm, Noah. Tread water. Carol is throwing you the life preserver. I'm coming to help you."

Dad dove in the water. He swam underwater toward Noah trying not to make too much movement which would further anger the on-coming Bull Shark.

Noah watched the scarred dorsal fin move closer. As Dad came up behind Noah, a brilliant flash broke through the surface of the water. The snub-noses of the young Dolphins appeared, heading directly for the Bull Shark. They moved with jet speed between Noah and Dad and the Shark. The scarred dorsal fin turned and headed for the bridge and the open ocean. The Dolphins were in hot pursuit, chasing the Bull Shark away.

Dad grabbed the life preserver Carol had thrown them. With his arm under Noah's chest, he helped him keep his head above water. When they reached the ladder going up to the wharf, Dad gave Noah a boost up and Mom reached down to help him. Clutched in Noah's hand was his precious rod and reel.

"Noah, how did you manage to hang on to the rod and stay afloat?" Dad asked, breathing hard.

"I figured I'd poke it at the Shark if it came to close," Noah said. "So I held onto it. My hand is kind of frozen to it, right now."

Noah was hugged and kissed and patted on the back. He shivered and shook, looking out at the water for the ugly Bull Shark.

"The Dolphins saved us, Dad," Noah said. "The Bull Shark must have taken my hook and line when I cast out. It bit right through my line."

"The Shark wasn't alone, Noah," Carol said. "She had a baby shark swimming along beside her. You were right, Dad. That's why she was in the "back country". She had a baby. Maybe she was trying to protect it."

"Well," said Mom, wiping tears from her eyes. "I thought I was going to loose both my guys to that beast. We can thank the Dolphins for protecting us."

"Let's say goodbye forever to Noah's Shark," Carol said.

That's the end of my Peg Tale.

This story is dedicated to Rick, who lives and fishes in the Florida Keys.

Remember to share a story with friend...it's a gift!

See 'ya...bye,

Peg

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