Marsh Man, known for his super-strength and deep connection to the Lowcountry, squinted across the golden marsh grass. Beside him, Pizza Boy, whose suit somehow always smelled faintly of pepperoni, zipped a single loop in the air just to stretch his legs—which was easy since he was flying. They were perched on a high bluff overlooking the winding May River in Bluffton, South Carolina, a perfect spot to watch over their sleepy, oyster-loving town.
Suddenly, Marsh Man’s enhanced hearing picked up a frustrated, slightly muffled shout, followed by the distinct sound of a motor grinding in the pluff mud.
“Trouble on the river, Pizza Boy,” Marsh Man murmured, already pulling on his gloves. “Upriver from the Oyster Company, looks like someone got stuck when the tide dropped.”
Pizza Boy immediately shot upward, his eyes scanning the serpentine creek beds. “Got ’em. It’s a small skiff, deep in the mud next to a cluster of spartina grass. They’re stuck fast. Wait—that’s Mr. Henderson and Ms. Claire!”
Mr. Henderson was the town’s Environmental Engineer, and Ms. Claire chaired the Watershed Action Committee. They were two of the most knowledgeable people in Bluffton about the health of the May River. They had spearheaded projects to improve water quality and protect the oyster beds. Seeing them stranded felt oddly ironic.
Marsh Man took off, relying on his massive strength. When he reached the bogged-down skiff, the two officials were knee-deep in pluff mud, looking miserable and trying to push the heavy boat.
“It’s no use,” Mr. Henderson grumbled, his glasses slipping down his nose. “We were so focused on mapping that erosion site, we didn’t watch the clock. Low tide snuck up on us.”
Ms. Claire sighed, wiping mud from her hands. “We should have known better, of all people. We literally wrote the booklet on navigating these tides.”
Marsh Man and Pizza Boy exchanged a knowing look. They loved these two; they were heroes to the environment, but right now, they needed help.
“Stand back, folks!” Marsh Man called out, landing softly on the bank. He braced his legs in the firmest patch of earth he could find, reached down, and placed his super-strong hands gently against the bow of the skiff. With a slow, steady, impossible grunt, he lifted the entire front of the vessel just enough to break the suction of the thick mud.
At the same time, Pizza Boy swooped low. He concentrated, and a gentle, focused blast of controlled wind slammed into the stern of the boat, helping to pivot it out of the mud hole and push it toward the deeper channel.
In less than a minute, the small boat was floating free in the narrow creek, the engine sputtering back to life.
Mr. Henderson and Ms. Claire stared, dumbfounded, at the two young heroes, covered in river water but otherwise spotless.
“Marsh Man and Pizza Boy! Thank you!” Mr. Henderson exclaimed.
“We owe you one,” Ms. Claire said, shaking her head with a rueful smile. “It’s a little embarrassing, getting caught like that.”
Marsh Man shrugged, giving them a reassuring grin. “It happens to the best of us, Ms. Claire. Even experts miss a detail sometimes when they’re focused on the big picture.”
As the boat motored safely back towards the Bluffton Oyster Company docks, Pizza Boy zipped down next to Marsh Man.
“Guess they learned a tough lesson today,” Pizza Boy commented.
“They sure did,” Marsh Man replied. “The moral is clear: Even experts make dumb mistakes once in a while, so remember that they did a lot for a good cause. They may have gotten stuck today, but they’ve done more good for this river than anyone else in town, and that’s what truly counts.”
And with that, the two heroes soared back toward the bluff, ready for their next call—and hoping it wouldn’t involve any more embarrassed town officials.
The currents of the May River never truly rest, and neither do its protectors. Just beyond the golden marsh grass, the watery depths are forever stirring up new, mysterious challenges. Will Marsh Man need to grapple with a legendary pluff mud monster? Will Pizza Boy have to utilize his supreme flight skills to slow down a rogue shrimp boat threatening to crash into the town docks? Or perhaps the greatest, most delicious threat of all awaits them: a devastating pizza topping crisis that requires immediate, cheesy intervention. Whatever the danger, Blufftonians know they can rely on their unbelievable, local legends. To catch their next high-flying, mud-slinging adventure, be sure to tune in next time for the ongoing, epic saga of Marsh Man and Pizza Boy, heroes of Bluffton!
*parts of this are based on a true story