One day in a Florida swamp, Greg Grizzly went fishing with a pole and a net with him. He came upon an alligator who didn't want him fishing in the swamp because he was concerned that there wouldn't be enough fish for both of them the bear messing with his dinner plans in any way. The gator asked Greg to leave the swamp, but the great bear was pretty determined. So he kept marching through the swamp in his tall rubber boots, trying to find the best spot to find the fish. However, much to Greg's surprise, one of his boots got stuck in the deep mud and rocks at the bottom of the swamp. Greg tried to get his boot out, but couldn't. The gator laughed and then told Greg that he should pull his foot out of his boot, as it may be his only option of getting free. The big grizzly realized that he had no other option so he started yanking on his leg, but couldn't get his foot out by himself and discovered that his left boot was now also stuck in the muck of the swamp.

"Ha! Ha! You shouldn't have come out to the swamp the first place bear! But being that I'm such a generous gator I'll help you out! Ha! Ha!

"Grrrr, um, ok, thanks, but then I need to go back fishing, I'm one hungry bear!"

The gator sighed, "Well, ok then. With some struggle, he helped the huge bear pull his right foot out of his boot and Greg felt a sense of relief.

"Thanks for helping me out of this boot, you can put my leg down now," said Greg

"Ha! Ha! Why would I want to do that? You want to eat all of my fish in this swamp you greedy bear!"

"There's plenty of fish for everyone here!" growled Greg

Then the gator had sinister thought going through his mind. "Are you ticklish bear?"

"What? You wouldn't dare! Just put my foot down right now!"

The the brave gator started wiggling his fingers along the sole of the bear's bare foot! "Tickle! Tickle! Mighty bear!

Greg tried to hold it in but, "Argh! Wah! HA! HA! HA! HA! Knock it...HA! HA! HA! HA! Knock it off! HA! HA! HA! HA! I can't ....HA! HA! HA! Can't stand it! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!"

Greg was thrashing about and laughing his head off, but couldn't manage to reach the gator or free himself while his left foot was still stuck in the mud, plus he was afraid of falling in the water and possibly not getting out safely.

The gator laughed! "HA! HA! You're so adorable, giggling like a tickle me teddy bear! Do you give up now? I love seeing you wiggle an giggle like this! It's cute and funny at the same time!"

"HA! HA! HA! HA! Please! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! STOP Tickling HA! HA! HA! my... HA! HA! My Foot!"

The frogs and the raccoon in the swamp were also amused by watching the ticklish bear laughing and wiggling helplessly in the swamp.

"If I let you go you giggling grizzly, you have to promise to leave the swamp and leave the fish to me and my friends here. If you don't agree to this, well, I could tickle the heck out of you all day long until you're way to tired to do anything anyway and you'll have a lot of difficulty getting out by yourself! I could help you get out, what do you say Giggles?

"HA! HA! HA! OK! OK! HA! HA! HA! You.. HA! HA! HA! HA! YOU WIN! HA! HA! HA! HA!"

The gator did as he promised and helped Greg out of his other boot and onto the solid land nearby. Greg was embarrassed, but also did what he promised and left the swamp, he didn't like getting his foot tickled, but he knew that the gator did save him from getting stuck and not being able to get himself out so he left well enough alone. At least Greg and the gator had some laughs out of the situation!

Media: ink, markers, and color pencils on drawing paper

© by  walterringtail