The "Perfect Shot" Story

It was an ordinary day. I was sitting watching the monkeys. We had arrived at the Divi Southwinds Resort in Barbados a few days ago and found that the green monkeys inhabit the resort at different times of the day. When we checked in we were given a room with a view of the parking lot and the tennis court. Boy, does that stink except for the neat entertainment that is offered! I walked out of the patio door and sat on the porch and saw the monkeys playing in the tennis court. At least a dozen of them. Directly across from the resort was a nature reserve where they lived, but they came to the Divi each day to brush up on their tennis. Up and down the net, over the fence, chasing each other to the delight of the patrons of the Divi. You didn’t dare get to close to them because they are wild and have big teeth. Most mornings I would get up early and try to get photos of them as they arrived in the morning. Next to the tennis court was a ten foot high wall that was about 40-50 feet away from our viewing point.They traveled on top of the wall to get to the trash cans of the Divi. This seemed to be their final destination each day. Every time I approached the fence they would let me know what my limits were. A show of the teeth was all I needed. I wasn’t satisfied with the photos I had, so I devised a plan to get the “Perfect Shot”. I got up EARLIER then they did and quietly left our room and sat under a very large tree about 20 feet from the wall. Had the camera ready with the long lens and was as still as possible. Here they come! One.....two......about a dozen of them. The leader is the largest and most muscular. He enjoys showing off for rest. Others are picking at each other, grooming themselves or enjoying jumping on each other. Mothers are carrying their young on their backs. Half of them seem overweight, a few obese while one actually looks anorexic. Kind of like humans, huh! They park themselves on the fence in front of me. Wow! What a shot! Then something hits me, physically. One has left the fence and is next to me throwing sticks toward me. Now what do I do? Throw them back at him? Nah! Take his picture! I move as slowly as possible and point the camera at him. CLICK! Again, CLICK! That’s enough he decides and starts toward me. Scares the crap out of me. This little monkey is intimidating me. The rest are watching from the fence. I let out a yell, hop to my feet and run as quickly as I can, not even looking back to see if he is gaining on me. Do you think they were all laughing at me? Just like humans! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.