Over a hill in Parua Bay, down a long muddy track in his own private pool, lived Neil, the pampered eel. Neil was a metre long and as thick as your arm. He loved to sink his needle-sharp fangs into the chicken necks, raw eggs or roast beef that people
brought him.
One day this week he was quietly slithering about his pond, shaded by ponga and nikau, when some visitors arrived.
It was Aleisha and Sarah Halvorson and their mum Teressa from Little Munro Bay.
Neil waited patiently as they went to the neighbouring pools to feed fresh water crayfish and other friendly eels. But by the time they reached Neil, all the food was gone.
Nine-year-old Aleisha came closer and closer to Neil's pool. She stretched out her tasty looking finger to pat him when snap, hiss, Neil jumped up and grabbed hold.
Aleisha screamed with pain, and pulled her hand away. Her finger was bleeding and full of little holes. "He must have thought my finger was a worm," she cried.
She went home and cleaned up her wounds.
Now, whenever Aleisha visits Neil, she always makes sure she takes plenty of food.
"The moral of the story," said Mrs Halvorson, "is never trust a slimy creature."
Aleisha is expected to make a full recovery.
