Sea Nettle Attacks

My last swim in the creek was a pleasant surprise with the water cool, clear, and refreshing when it usually is tepid, murky, and salty in August.  So, when my grandsons came for a visit and wanted to swim, I grabbed swimsuits, towels, and suntan lotion.  We changed and sprayed lotion to arms and legs, and applied the white stick to the faces.  With noodles and swimmies, we ran to the water.

They jumped off the pier as I swam circles around them.  I noticed that the water was salty, irritating my skin, but this was the last swim for the season and they did not notice.  In the deep recess of my mind, I thought, no rain, salty, sea nettles.

Being boys, they were drawn to boats, trucks, and dirt.  Filling the tugboat with dirt seemed to add to the water fun.  Next, they smeared themselves with dirt and reveled in the feel as water slid over their skin with each jump.

Then came the scream.  I raced to my grandson.

“Something stung me. It’s on the ladder,” he sobbed.

I knew too well, what it was.

“Rub it with sand.  You’ve been stung by a sea nettle.  It may have left stingers in your skin.  That will help remove them.”

Screaming, with tears rolling down his dirty face, he rubbed his foot and leg.  I could not console him as he gazed at the growing red area dotted with white pimples.

“Hush, there, there.”

Then he blurted out in sobs, ”Will I get better? Will it go away?”

How would the young know? 

I answered.  His sobs ceased.