Abby L Vandiver [Vandiver - South Seas Shenanigans

Chapter One

It felt likewhite-hot-fire was bouncing up and down my arm. My breath came in short quickspurts, I couldnt keep still, and a half moan/half whimper emittedinvoluntarily from my throat.

Awaken from mysleep, I jumped upright, and shook the limb as if I could fling the irritationaway.

Oh my, God! Iscreeched. What is wrong with me?

I hopped out ofthe bed and hit the light switch to the room. My arm was red, and that burningsensation seemed to be moving up my arm, and using my chest as a bridge, movedthrough my entire body like shock waves. I hopped over to the bathroom andturned on the shower. But as soon as I stepped in, the burning seemed tospread.

Aaargh! I turned off the water, balled myself up in acorner of the tub and just whimpered. What good is having a Voodoo herbalist asyour grandmother-in-law when shes nowhere around when youre in need?

I finally got thestrength to move, threw on some sweats and a T-shirt and climbed back into bed.

Whatswrong with you, honeybun? Miss Vivee asked. She waltzed into the room, Mac ather side, they were laughing and having a good time while I was being torturedin one of Dantes seven circles of hell.

Theyhad on wetsuits and Miss Vivee had her long braid pinned up to her head. Shecarried a bag that had flippers and a snorkel sticking out.

Ididnt think youd ever get here, I moaned. I had called her after the showerhadnt helped. My body is on fire.

Wewere just on our way snorkeling, Miss Vivee said.

Snorkeling?I scrunched up my face. When did they plan that? Can they even swim? Id onlyseen them wading in the water since wed been here.

Yes.Snorkeling, she confirmed. And what could have happened to you? We just sawyou at the Island BBQ Buffet not even two hours ago.

The buffet,filled to the brim with juicy and moist chicken and fish barbecued Fijianstyle, had a smorgasbord of salads, baked potatoes, tropical fruit salads anddesserts. It seemed like a distant memory. A painful memory.

Ihad eaten so much from the buffet that I had felt sluggish and had come back tomy room to take a nap. Now I was thinking that something Id stuffed myselfwith was rebelling.

Oh,Miss Vivee grunted and pointed to the yellow and orange stick plant in thecorner. Whered that come from? she asked.

Idont know. I thought maybe you had it delivered, I dipped my cloth in thebowl of ice water Id gotten from room service. I was trying to cool my skindown. It was at the door when I got back from dinner.

Holdout your arm, Miss Vivee said. Let me see.

Iobliged.

Thatsprobably whats wrong with you, she said.

What is whats wrong with me?I asked. I closed my eyes, trying to will the pain away.

That plant. And you wipingyourself with that cloth isnt helping any either.

I threw the cloth to the floor.What is that? I looked at the plant.

Euphorbiatirucalli, Miss Vivee said.

What?I said and scrunched my face even more. I didnt have the patience orwherewithal for her dilly dallying. I just wanted to know what was wrong withme and for her to fix it.

Euphorbiatirucalli, she repeated.

Iheard you the first time, Miss Vivee, I said writhing around on the bed. Ijust dont know what that is.

Firestick, Mac said. At least thats what its called insome parts of the world.

Itscalled Euphorbia tirucallieverywhere, Miss Vivee said. Thats its scientific name. Cant go wrongcalling it that.

Doyou store all that information in your head? I asked. Those little brainteasers she did sure were working, if only shed put that brain power to workfor me. I was now hanging over the side of the bed, head nearly touching thefloor. Maybe blood rushing to it would soothe my nerve endings. Anything to tryand make the pain go away.

Here.Let me help you, Mac said, lifting my head, he swung the upper part of mytorso back onto the bed.

Ofcourse I dont have all that information stored in my head, Miss Vivee saidand huffed. Why would I want to randomly store information about a poisonousplant from the other side of the world?

Poisonous!I screeched. I tried to hop out the bed, tangled up in the sheets I tumbledonto the floor with a thud! Scrambling, I popped up and ran to thebathroom. Am I going to die? I asked her. I stuck my face into the mirror andstared at my reflection. I guess I wanted to see how I looked dying. How longdo I have? Dont you have an antidote or something? I said, fear evident in myvoice.

Whywould I bring an antidote for a poisonous plant that only grows over here? Imon my honeymoon.

Oh. My. God. Really?

NowI was going to die before I even got a chance to do what I came to do. Tearswelled in my eyes.

And Bay! Oh my gosh. I thought about mywonderful, handsome fianc. Im never going to marry Bay.

Ifelt panic rising up from my stomach into my throat and I started to gag. Ibent over the toilet and tried to cough out my fear, and throw up the poison.

Ohgood Lord, Miss Vivee said. She came and stood at the bathroom door. What inthe tarnation is wrong with you?

Imdying, I cried, choking as the words erupted from my trembling lips.

Wasnt it obvious?

Ohpshaw! Miss Vivee said. Everybodys gonna die. She waved her hand dismissingme. You dont see me going around acting like that and Im closer to deathsdoor than you are.

Noyoure not, I said, my eyes big. You havent been poisoned.

Icant talk to her when shes like this, Miss Vivee said to Mac. See if youcant help the poor child.

Maccame into the bathroom and offered a helping hand. He gingerly wrapped hisrubber clad arm around mine, and led me, knees buckling, out of the bathroom andback to bed.

Yourenot going to die, Mac said covering half of me up with the tangled sheet andpatting me on top of my head. At least not from this.

MissVivee said that plant was poisonous, I said sniffing back my tears. I cut aneye toward her. Is it poisonous, Mac?

Hadthis old woman lied to me?

Thatplant-

Euphorbiatirucalli, Miss Vivee interjected. She sat downin a chair adjacent to me.

Yesthat, Mac gave a nod acknowledging Miss Vivees name for it. It can bepoisonous, but only if ingested. It can also cause blindness, if you get it inyour eyes. But it looks to me that you only got it on your skin. And if thatsthe case, it only causes severe irritation.