waxing moon over the water

It's something about observation.  But I only remember two times the moon disappeared.  Both of them happened in Louisiana, both on the banks of the Mississippi. 

So dad pulled the car over to the side of the road next to a fence that surrounded the alligator pools.  Look Daddy, mom said, the beasties are watching the eclipse, too.  It was easy to believe that you could see them sticking their bumpy, long heads out of the shiny water to watch the shadow cross the moon. It was summer-sticky-hot, and dad was wearing only a tee shirt.   Mother put her arm around him.

Red Stick!  Was the picture on the moon really a face, or an old king sitting on his throne?

Dad pulled away from her and walked toward the entrance to the gator pools.  Still, black eyes in the golden water.   Then we saw that the ALLIGATOR FARM AND VOODOO MAGICK SHOP was open.  The owners and customers came wandering outside to see the eclipse, too....Oh, --let's stop.

Later he paced outside while she had the store owners make her a love potion right to order,  just for her.

 

eclipse: who knows where the shadow goes when it isn't on the moon?