It started out to be a beautiful August Saturday then, BOOM, lightning flashed, thunder rumbled across a darkening sky and the rain came.   Weekend shoppers scurried for shelter as did two strangers who would meet for the first time.  The handiest cover was the canvas awning of a sidewalk cafe where one table for two remained vacant.

“Hi.  I’m Jim,” stranger one said to stranger two, extending his hand.  “I’ve lived here all my life and know everybody in town but I don’t know you so I guess you’re either a tourist, here on business or just passing through.”

She did not accept his hand but rather fished her compact from her purse and checked her hair for rain damage.  Oh, Lord, he’s going to talk my ear  off, she thought to herself.  “My name’s Jennifer.  I’m here with a church group from South Dakota on a missionary  campaign.  I’d heard of the antique shops in town and thought I’d do a little window shopping on my own.”

Jim mulled that over in his mind.  She didn’t look churchy.  She was beautiful with shoulder length dark hair and a body that could have modeled unmentionables.  “Sounds pretty heavy.  I guess even missionaries get the weekend off, huh?”  He ordered two iced teas while the weather continued its outrage and prevented Jennifer’s escape.

She sipped her tea while Jim did most of the talking, explaining that he was a free lance journalist who made his living from the state as a nuisance alligator trapper.  That got her attention.

“What in the world is that?”  she asked, half thinking it was a gag of some sort.  She  caught herself thinking he was petty good looking in his khaki outfit and suddenly did not mind if he wanted to talk.

Jim explained that he would be called upon from time to time to remove alligators from porches or patios or parking lots and relocate them to a river or swampy area where they would not get into trouble with humans.  The rain began to slacken and the iced tea was about to run dry.

The sun broke through the clouds as quickly as the rain had begun earlier and the couple walked the sidewalks of the small town, looking in windows and marvelling at the murals.   Jennifer found herself feeling oddly comfortble in the company of this man she had met only an hour earlier.