fire balls

[bayou girl]

not sure where this goes, but here is the story.  as told to my by my great grandfather (i was in my 20's before he died) and all my life, he never varied in how he told it.

when he was a youngish man, fishing the bayous to support his family, he would often go out, alone, after dark.  one night, a foggy mist came up.  as he was catching fish, he kept poling his boat (this was before gas motors, and parts of the bayou were too shallow anyway) farther and farther following the fish.  as he followed the fish, the fog got thicker and thicker.  before long, he knew he had gotten out into the bay and back into another bayou, but it wasn't "his" bayou.  and didn't look familiar at all.

as he had the night's catch to feed his family, and hopefully sell some, he really needed to get home.  but the fog was so thick, you couldn't see your fingers in front of your face.  the only way he knew he had fish was the feel of the net.

just about that time, a big (maybe 4-5 ft across) fireball came up just past the bow of the boat.  at first, he was frightened, what would he do if the boat caught fire?  but the fireball was just past.  not touching the boat.  and he could see the water under the fireball.  so, he poled a little closer (really just inches) and the ball moved away.  just inches.  so he got closer.  back and forth, he and the fire ball went.  before long, he was sure he was really, really lost.  but, he kept following the fireball.  as the sun came up, and the fog started to lift, the ball disappeared and he was at the mouth of a strange bayou he had never been in before.  but he could see the landmarks he used for the bay to get back to his bayou.

he swore until his death that if it weren't for the fire ball, he'd have died that night.  and would have been 'gator bait.  i believe him.

the questions are, where did the fire ball come from, what was it, and why didn't it go out in the foggy mist?

[Dianna]

Sounds like someone, or something, was trying to guide him to safety to me...

[sunsoaker]

Very interesting. Was this in Fla.?  Lots of strange things happen in the bayous around here.  And the woods, and the foggy eerie evenings and mornings. Well, you know. You used to live around here. Sounds like some one/thing was looking out for him.

[Tina]

Spooky but in a nice way. i'm glad he followed the fireball because where would you be if he hadn't?

[bayou girl]

dianna, yes.  he "got religion" and started preaching not long after that.

barb, it was in the bayous off choctawhatchie bay.  between portland and freeport.  if you know where that is.

yes, tina, you are right about that!

[sunsoaker]

Yup. Born and raised in FWB --- lived on the bay! Not a bayfront house -- my folks always had boats and every minute they weren't working we were on the boat.

[bayou girl]

i've got a singer sewing machine that was floated across that bay on a barge from p'cola.  belonged to the other great grandmother.

knowing that area, you'll be interested in fire ball story #2 which involves that great grandmother.

[sunsoaker]

Has it been posted?  I don't see it.

[bayou girl]

Has it been posted?  I don't see it.

not yet.  that will be my next story.