Alyson Brokaw
Worst Case Scenario: How to Fend Off A Shark
I stood at the edge of the tank, the water sloshing back and forth as the sharks made their way through their watery homes. What have I gotten myself into? I wonder, as I wait for the signal to begin. A light ahead of me changes from yellow to green and I carefully slip into the water, ready for whatever fate may bring.
It began about a month ago, when a brochure for a new and upcoming reality T.V. show made it into my mailbox. At first I had dismissed the show as ridiculous, but a week later I found myself calling the office and scheduling an interview to be on the show. My mother tried to dissuade me of course, offering to pay for my return to college. I refused. Long ago I decided that I was done with college and no one was going to change my mind.
So after going through several screening processes, I now found myself swimming in a tank with three large toothed sharks. I have just one goal, as outlined by the show's director. I am to swim to the other end of the tank, where a large metal case sits just above the water level. There are four doors on that case, and I must pick one, earning the chance to win up to one million dollars. If I choose the wrong door, I may end up with as little as one dollar for my efforts. Oh, and I have to find the right key from under the water. It's worth a shot.
The water is cold and feels almost slimy, surely a figment of my imagination. I begin to move, slowly and carefully, fully aware of the pure, smooth muscle that swims below me. I am about halfway across the tank when the lights suddenly go out. I hear shouting and cursing behind me and I realize that the power has gone out. Fear washes over me and I force it back down, treading water while I gather my thoughts. Forget about this whole thing, just get to the end of the tank and get out! Instinct shouts that I am to get out of the water as soon as possible. I look around, trying to get my bearings and decide what to do. The cameramen seem to have forgotten about me, and the host has disappeared from the room completely. I don't blame him, I think. I finally decide to turn around and reach my hand out, groping in the darkness. The fear within me has been distilled and now a sense of adventure and thrill surges through me. I kick my legs, pushing against the water and begin to move forward, in what I hope is the right direction.
Bump. Something pushes up against me from beneath. I pause for a moment and wait. The water appears still and I relax, and continue my journey.
Bump. I feel the bump again. My hair stands on end and goosebumps appear on my skin. I shiver, though the water now feels warm and comforting. The water begins to swirl around me, as though following a circular current. I close my eyes, feeling the currents and feel a deep urge to relax and flow with the water. I feel my mind begin to slip away when I suddenly realize what is happening. A flash of white appears before my eyes and I duck out of the way as the great jaws close on empty air. My heart beats strongly, so loud that I swear that the sharks could hear it for themselves. I jab my hand out and strike the shark to the side. My hand meets little resistance as it hits the gills of the shark. As quick as possible I punch out again and again, repeatedly hitting the same spot on the shark. By now I am aware of the other two sharks coming closer. I spin in the water and give a strong kick to the gills of the shark and glide away towards what I hope is the side of the tank.
I flutter my legs, feeling the adrenaline rush through my veins, fueled by a mixture of fear and excitement. My eyes closed, I almost collide with the cement siding of the pool and feel a hand reach out to assist me. I open my eyes and look back, realizing that the sharks have not followed me. The power rushes from my body and I go limp with weakness. Another hand grabs my wrist and pulls me out in one swift motion. Emergency lights have gone on, casting dim, orange shadows in the room. I lean against the cold wet floor and lose consciousness.
I remember very little of what happened after the fight. A doctor was rushed to my side and I remained in bed for several days, weakened by the strain of stress and physical strength I had used. My mother worried for days, and is now afraid to let me go anywhere. I heard that not long after my incident the show was cancelled, something about fear of lawsuits from participants in the show. I didn't win any money, but feel that the once in a lifetime experience (an experience I only want to have once in a lifetime) was worth every terrible and exhausting minute.