Beauty and the Beast

     It was a typical August day in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, when Tamra Shattuck, 50, was walking her two dogs. That is, until she felt a bite at her ankles. To her amazement she looked down and saw a 7-foot alligator! She and the dogs managed to get out of there - and fast. Tamra escaped with just minor injuries. Now it was time for her to take action. But what could she do?
     She called Hilton Head Island's Critter Management, of course. Joe Maffo, the owner of the wildlife control company, came right out but couldn't spot the gator. He told her that he would be out the next day. It was a restless night in Tamra's neighborhood with the alligator still loose. Everybody, and their pets, stayed inside.
     The next day, Joe showed up with his grandson, Joey, to try to capture the beast. Now Joe was 68 years old, too old to wrestle with gators! So you would think that his grandson would be in his 20's, right? Nope. A teenager?! Nope. Guess again. Joey Maffo is only 12! He was barely 5 feet tall and weighed in at 90 pounds, half the weight of the gator.
     They were able to spot it in the water and, with a pole, get it to shore. That is when Joey got on top of the gator and wrestled it until his grandfather could duct - tape its mouth and legs. And just like that, the nightmare was over.
     Afterwards Joey said, "I've never been afraid of alligators. I love it! It's just really fun!" Come to find out, he's been doing it for years!

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