Once there was a lazy alligator named Gertrude sunbathing on a log, outstretched across the river. She was lost in thought when a boat sped by and sent water at her in every direction. If this gator was able, she would have given a rather rude sign to the boat driver. Instead, Gerty decided to take out her anger on a nearby crane.

This crane went by the name of Bernard and was not prepared for a large scaly reptile to lunge at him. 

“What in the world do you think you're doing?” exclaimed Bernie as he flung himself into the air.

     Exasperated, Gertie responded,” trying to eat you, obviously.” She had landed hard back into the water with a splash.

 “Ya know, I’d rather not get eaten at this time, please and thank you,” said Bernie.

     “Why not, It’s not like there's much to this river anyways,” muttered Gerty

Bernie was taken aback. He flew down to a lower branch and exclaimed,” Not much! It’s amazing! There are always new things to see. I bet you didn’t even notice the family of baby turtles that were born yesterday!”

“You’re right I didn’t, because I don’t care. Every day I sit on a branch and get constantly soaked by those annoying boats,” snapped Gerty as she edged closer to the crane.

Bernie responded,” Maybe you should try something else for a change-” Just then, he noticed a glint in Gerty's eyes. A resounding “Snap!” echoed throughout the river. Luckily, Bernie had jumped just as Gerty’s gleaming white teeth snapped his branch in half.

Most cranes would have left after the first attack. None would have stayed after the second, but Bernie was no ordinary crane. His love for the river knew no bounds. He failed to understand why anyone, even an alligator, would hate it.

He flew across the river and said,” I’ll show you all the wonders of the river, as long as you promise not to eat me.” Bernie felt like he needed to help this alligator even if there was a chance of death.

“Why would I want to do such a stupid thing?” retorted Gerty.

“I’ll be here tomorrow when the sun is halfway across the sky,” replied Bernie as he shot over the trees. He would find a way to make this gator appreciate the river.

Gertrude sulked back to her log. She climbed up the brown bark, soaked in the sun, and closed her eyes. She continued her daily monotonous routine until dark.

While sitting in her usual spot, Gerty kept thinking about what a particular crane had said. She lifted her head and looked around the river she had lived in her whole life. New trees had grown where there had been grass, the moss encompassed more of the river floor, and a group of turtles sat beside the shoreline.

As the sun rose through the sky, Bernard drifted through the air towards Gertrude's log. The bright sun gleamed against the flowing river. He passed rapids twisting angrily around rocks as he approached their meeting place. He saw her lying upon log just as she had the day before. Bernie made a rattling crane call to alert Gerty of his arrival. 

Gertrude, unprepared for the outburst, was startled and slipped off her log! She grabbed onto it with her teeth, but the current was pulling the rest of her body away. There was a terrible flailing of her legs before she conceded to the river. 

Gerty felt the cold water rush past her and waited for her eventual death. There was a sharp pain in her tail as Bernie clamped his beak around it, flapping his wings like a madman to stop her progression. His efforts may not have done much, but it gave Gerty motivation to try and save herself.

Gerty attempted to maneuver her body against the current and dug her feet into the muck lining the river. She noticed that the moss at the bottom seemed warmer than usual. There was no time to dwell on that because the angry rapids were growing ever closer. Gertrude closed her eyes, preparing for impact when she felt strange weightlessness. Her back broke through the water. Before long her whole body was surging upwards towards the sky. Splashes of white foam licked her feet as she rose into the air.

Startled, Bernie dropped Gerty’s tail and flew beside her. Gertrude had risen to the top of the trees and floated there.

“How..wha..what is happening?” Bernie asked anxiously.

“I...I have no idea. I was trying to swim and noticed the moss-” Gerty looked down to find her feet covered in a sparkling blue goop. “Do you know what this stuff is?” asked Gerty, holding up her foot.

“Gasp...is that the mythical magic moss of Mithia?” 

“The what?” asked Gerty.

“Mithia was an ancient crane who gave her powers of flight to all cranes before turning into blue moss. Legend says that anyone who touches it will obtain her power until it dries up. All cranes have heard the story, but I never believed it, that is until now,” explained Bernie.

There was a pause as Gerty contemplated her situation. She tested out her new ability and did a flip through the air.

She flew higher up and gasped as she saw the world below her, “Wow, the river is beautiful from up here!” 

“What did I tell you, it’s amazing!” Bernie said, “Come on, let me show you all the beauty of our home!”

“It sure is beautiful up here... but I need to get back to my very busy schedule of sunbathing. Plus, you just almost killed me. If you could show me to my home, I’ll be on my way.” Gerty said.

“What if we take just a couple of detours on the way back?” asked Bernie. The pupils in his eyes expanded as he pleaded.

“Fine,” Gerty mumbled.

Bernie headed north, making sure to go slow enough that Gerty could keep up. Gerty pushed her stubby legs as if she were swimming, and her body burst forward. She gazed up at the open expanse, feeling as small as an ant but as powerful as an eagle. An eternity away, Gerty heard Bernie call her name. She looked ahead and followed the strange bird. From a distance, you would see a skinny crane leading a chunky Gator across the blue sky. 

During the journey home, Bernard showed Gertrude his favorite parts of the river. They passed clusters of trees and a rainbow of fish. With a “splash!” They saw a manatee break the surface of the river.  Furthermore, they observed a river otter doing a backstroke as water streamed past it.

Together Gerty and Bernie soared over their home. They whisked over treetops and dipped low to the water. They dodged jumping fish and saw tangles of plant life. Before long, a wide smile appeared on Gerty’s face. 

Last, they stopped to see a group of newly hatched turtles stumble across the sandy shore. Their necks craned to see everything, and their eyes were wide open to take in the world.

“They seem so happy just to be alive,” Gerty reflected.

“Aren’t you?” Bernie asked.

Gerty never responded because the sun had begun to set. The gold, purple, and red shone upon the river. The water rippled, sending swells throughout the reflection. As the world darkened, the light in Gerty’s eyes remained.

As the last bit of moss dripped off her feet, they arrived back at Gertrude’s log. For some reason, She felt disappointed to be home. She dropped to the water level and sat in her usual spot, but something felt very unusual.

“Well, I guess this is goodbye-” said Bernie, and he started to turn away.

“Wait!” Cried Gertrude without thinking. Bernard quickly turned around.

“Come back tomorrow and show me more of the river,” pleaded Gerty. She realized how much more to life there was than just basking on a log.

Bernard agreed and returned the next day to search for crabs with his new friend. They spent many of the following days seeing new parts of the river together. Once, they even saw a fish streaking across the sky, blue goo trickling down its fins.

Today Gertrude understands the joy of living and sees the world in a new way. She still spends time lazily sunbathing and gets mad at passing boats, but she also explores the river with her best friend. Together they will spend their days seeing the beauty in everything and living life to the fullest, that is, if Bernie doesn’t get eaten first.