Totally clueless, I stood around watching everyone else scramble like maniacs around the grove. Coconuts were falling everywhere. I tried to think what to do.

Then, I remembered my childhood; a great many rocks had been thrown at me as a child, so I had learned to throw them back again. With a great deal more accuracy than they appreciated, I'll warrant.

Strolling over to the grove, taking my time, I looked up at all the trees, scanning the coconuts through the branches until I found just the right one. It was pretty high up so I was fairly confident that it would still be there when I got back.

I turned and walked farther into the grove; towards the interior; rooting around on the ground until I found what I was looking for.

Strolling back out again, I walked over to the tree that I had chosen. Putting the armful of rocks at my feet, I held on to the best one; almost oblong in shape. It would be perfect.

I yelled out "If anyone grabs the coconut I'm fixing to knock out of that tree, I'll spank you myself!" then levered my arm back like a discuss thrower. The others had turned at the sound of my voice, and now watched me with avid curiosity.

Putting all my weight on my left leg, which was placed slightly in front of my right, I brought my arm forward with all my strength and watched as the rock headed for the sky.

The branch cracked audibly and though it now bentd drunkenly to the left side, I still hadn't gotten my prize.

The others applauded as the second rock I threw thumped against my goal and the branch cracked completely in two, sending the massive coconut tumbling to the ground. I extended my arm toward the remaining rocks.

"They're all yours if you want to try." I offered as I headed toward the coconut.

It was huge. Twice as huge as my head. I didn't know if what I had in mind was going to work, but damned if I wasn't going to try anyway.

Bending down, I took the netting in my hands and struggled mightily with it, teeth grinding tighter and tighter until I had torn it into two pieces. Then I took a piece of it and placed it under my foot, pulling and pulling until it thinned out and elongated, the hemp frayed and twisted. I tied the two ends into a slipknot leaving it loose enough that there was a small gap, just big enough for something thin to fit through. Perfect!

I did the same with the other. Then I slid both pieces under the enormous coconut, crosswise to each other, forming a perfect X. I took the two rubber bands (thank god they weren't the little skinny type!) and bit through them, each in turn. Taking one of them, I slipped one end through each end of the netting and then retied it, using 6 tiny knots; as tight as I could get them. Then, to make it more secure, I tightened the slipknot and tied three small regular knots after it.

I did the same with the other rubber band.

Taking care not to touch the coconut with my hands in any way, I slid my arm carefully through the netting and rubber bands, which now, more or less, resembled a sling, until they slid up to my shoulder. Pressing forward, down and under, I succeeded in getting the rubber band/netting to slide up over my shoulder.

I bent my chin forward and down, holding the netting in place; hoping that I would be able to rise to my feet without the coconut slipping out.

Luck was on my side.

I got to my feet, my arms behind my neck so that my hands would not be touching anything that would break the rules of the contest, and sauntered back to the boat.

"Hey, Jaden..." I said as I passed him by at an unhurried pace and made my way up the gangplank to the finish line.