LittleRibbie
Well-Known Member
We have a couple that have worked w/us for over 10 yrs. They are in their now late 70's, retired and just needing extra $. They live around the corner from our catering business and for the last 5 yrs. always walked to work. Even rainy and cold days like the days we have had lately. They dont work as much now basically b/c there is alot of heavy lifting required and we feel its alittle faster of a pace than they can do comfortablly. We love this couple and they have always been great workers and just really nice people so we often find just little odd things for them to do around the shop to give them alittle extra spending money and make them feel still appreciated.
We always joked that they must have a pet lion or bear B/c they always wanted to bring home all bones ( beef, pork, chicken fish ) and any scaps of meat we had left over from kitchen prep work. At the end of any catering event most of the food was divided up among staff to take home if they wanted. They would always take stuff home ( always more than what we thought 2 people could eat) but it was no big deal it would have just gone to waste anyway. She always said she makes wonderful soup and stews w/the bones and has even brought us in some to try. O.k. now you have a little bit of a back ground on this couple.
Around Christams time Helen called and said that they were both alittle under the weather w/the flu and would not be able to help out as often. Fine. My husband and I called them a couple of times and asked if they needed anything and brought over some dinners for them. She was alittle worried as she thought her husband needed to go see a doctor but wouldnt go into it much. BTW no family that we can contact. We have been inside their home about a dozen times but only into the living room...NO further, even when I have brought over food and wanted to help her into the kitchen w/it. It always seemed alittle strange but not freaky...she was as neat as a pin as far as I could tell.
2 nights ago they asked if we could come by as they wanted to ask a favor, we just figured maybe b/c of not working they needed a little loan. This time they invited us in their kitchen ( it too was spotless ) and it overlooked their back yard and small inground pool........but the pool was gross...not something a human would want to swim in. Their yard was completely surrounded by a big solid concrete about 8 ft. high fence and not much grass which was very different from the front of their house that was beautifully landscaped. Sort of reluctantly they explained their situation.
Mike found a baby alligator at a rest area about 6 yrs. ago..from what he said he was in very poor condition, he brought him home to nurse back to health and grew very attached and never wanted to release him. Long story short this gator is about 8 ft. long, huge, very fat and much wider than what I would have thought ( I know zero about gators ) Mike taps on the sliding glass doors and this monster gator comes walking over to the slider and puts his 2 front feet on the glass door ( at about this time I have to go change my pants ) Mike has a long board and taps him on the nose and tells him to back up then he goes in and starts feeding the gator while Helen stands at the closed door ready to let him back in after feeding. I thought I was truly on another planet watching them. He touches the gator all over and I guess they are buddies. Mike has got to go into the hospital next week and has asked if my husband would come over to feed 2x's a day b/c he doesnt want Helen to go in there ( Helen thinks she'll be fine and is not afraid ) He said that Skiff would not actually go into the yard he could just throw the meat into the pen......this all seems to wierd I know!! Skiff said he is fine w/that and it would not be a problem....I, on the other hand, have a HUGE PROBLEM w/my husband feeding a wild gator in a couple of senior citizens back yard!! These people should be making quilts and birdhouses!!
It is against the law here in Fl. to have a gator or wild animal as a pet...you are not even allowed to feed a wild one. THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT!! These people have lived like hermits for the last 6 yrs. keeping this thing a secret. The reason they do not use their car often is b/c it is blocking the only gate into the back yard. You can not open this gate b/c of the way they park the car right up to it. I do believe this gator is safely contained but if a burgler or just a kid ever decides to get into thier back yard...well ...thats very scary!! Helen insists that they are capable of taking care of this thing and feels that it would be worse for Mikes health at, if this time, they had to remove him...she is petrified of what it would do to her husband.
I plan on calling Fish and Game on Thurs. and I feel sick about it but I am afraid that if this man is in the yard and accidently slips or falls he's dead. I havent been able to sleep the last couple of night worring about what I have decided to do ( Skiff, my husband thinks I should stay out of it...he will go and help them out untill Mike is better )
I didnt mention one thing...Helen has a hand gun on her kitchen counter, loaded and she said she always stands at the door when ever mike is in cleaning or feeding their pet gator.....she insists that they are prepared for an emergency. This whole thing seems so wrong on so many levels.
What are your thoughts.....would you call authorities. Im going to thier home this afternoon b/c I feel I have to tell them I'm calling someone to "help" out...I feel like I at least owe them that but I do feel bad about the whole situation.
We always joked that they must have a pet lion or bear B/c they always wanted to bring home all bones ( beef, pork, chicken fish ) and any scaps of meat we had left over from kitchen prep work. At the end of any catering event most of the food was divided up among staff to take home if they wanted. They would always take stuff home ( always more than what we thought 2 people could eat) but it was no big deal it would have just gone to waste anyway. She always said she makes wonderful soup and stews w/the bones and has even brought us in some to try. O.k. now you have a little bit of a back ground on this couple.
Around Christams time Helen called and said that they were both alittle under the weather w/the flu and would not be able to help out as often. Fine. My husband and I called them a couple of times and asked if they needed anything and brought over some dinners for them. She was alittle worried as she thought her husband needed to go see a doctor but wouldnt go into it much. BTW no family that we can contact. We have been inside their home about a dozen times but only into the living room...NO further, even when I have brought over food and wanted to help her into the kitchen w/it. It always seemed alittle strange but not freaky...she was as neat as a pin as far as I could tell.
2 nights ago they asked if we could come by as they wanted to ask a favor, we just figured maybe b/c of not working they needed a little loan. This time they invited us in their kitchen ( it too was spotless ) and it overlooked their back yard and small inground pool........but the pool was gross...not something a human would want to swim in. Their yard was completely surrounded by a big solid concrete about 8 ft. high fence and not much grass which was very different from the front of their house that was beautifully landscaped. Sort of reluctantly they explained their situation.
Mike found a baby alligator at a rest area about 6 yrs. ago..from what he said he was in very poor condition, he brought him home to nurse back to health and grew very attached and never wanted to release him. Long story short this gator is about 8 ft. long, huge, very fat and much wider than what I would have thought ( I know zero about gators ) Mike taps on the sliding glass doors and this monster gator comes walking over to the slider and puts his 2 front feet on the glass door ( at about this time I have to go change my pants ) Mike has a long board and taps him on the nose and tells him to back up then he goes in and starts feeding the gator while Helen stands at the closed door ready to let him back in after feeding. I thought I was truly on another planet watching them. He touches the gator all over and I guess they are buddies. Mike has got to go into the hospital next week and has asked if my husband would come over to feed 2x's a day b/c he doesnt want Helen to go in there ( Helen thinks she'll be fine and is not afraid ) He said that Skiff would not actually go into the yard he could just throw the meat into the pen......this all seems to wierd I know!! Skiff said he is fine w/that and it would not be a problem....I, on the other hand, have a HUGE PROBLEM w/my husband feeding a wild gator in a couple of senior citizens back yard!! These people should be making quilts and birdhouses!!
It is against the law here in Fl. to have a gator or wild animal as a pet...you are not even allowed to feed a wild one. THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT!! These people have lived like hermits for the last 6 yrs. keeping this thing a secret. The reason they do not use their car often is b/c it is blocking the only gate into the back yard. You can not open this gate b/c of the way they park the car right up to it. I do believe this gator is safely contained but if a burgler or just a kid ever decides to get into thier back yard...well ...thats very scary!! Helen insists that they are capable of taking care of this thing and feels that it would be worse for Mikes health at, if this time, they had to remove him...she is petrified of what it would do to her husband.
I plan on calling Fish and Game on Thurs. and I feel sick about it but I am afraid that if this man is in the yard and accidently slips or falls he's dead. I havent been able to sleep the last couple of night worring about what I have decided to do ( Skiff, my husband thinks I should stay out of it...he will go and help them out untill Mike is better )
I didnt mention one thing...Helen has a hand gun on her kitchen counter, loaded and she said she always stands at the door when ever mike is in cleaning or feeding their pet gator.....she insists that they are prepared for an emergency. This whole thing seems so wrong on so many levels.
What are your thoughts.....would you call authorities. Im going to thier home this afternoon b/c I feel I have to tell them I'm calling someone to "help" out...I feel like I at least owe them that but I do feel bad about the whole situation.
