Held Hostage by a Swan . . .

The offending hostage-holder post hostage-holding. Please note his grumpy expression of defeat with a hint of "I'll get you next time . . ."

It's true. Today, I was held hostage by a swan. My only crime was refusal to give up my picnic lunch. Now, they may look like beautiful creatures on the outside, but inside lies a devious and sinister heart waiting to prey on innocent picnickers seated nearby.

And this wasn't just a swan, this was Super-Swan. He was almost as tall as I am. And he just stared. Then he came closer and stared some more. Then he pulled himself up to full height and started HISSING!! I kid you not - he sounded like a rattlesnake ready to strike. Innocent passersby stopped to see the spectacle. Three students were even poised to intervene should things get too hairy. Time stood still as he held me and three of my friends hostage for at least five minutes. It was not a pretty sight.

Fortunately, he decided our lunch was not worth the effort. Off he ambled, although he did circle around to our back and tried to intimidate us from that front. Then, he stood guard at our flank. Finally, he went back to the River Thames and found his lunch where he was supposed to.

Now he may look friendly in the above picture, but if you look deep into his beady eyes you can see the malice he holds as he stares at us from the river. This picture was post hostage-holding. I could have taken a picture of him as he was holding us hostage and stretched to his full height hissing maniacally, but somehow it didn't seem prudent to flaunt the camera in his face. This picture was taken from a safe distance away after my heart had stopped pounding and my lunch was consumed - by its rightful owner.

Whew . . . what a close call.